Australian artist Trevor Ashley has been nominated for a prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for his role in a West End production.
Ashley was nominated for ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical’ for his role as Roger DeBris in the West End production of The Producers in London.
He’s one of two Australians to be nominated, the other being Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett.
Ashley, who competed on the second season of Queen of the Universe, found out the news while trapped in Abu Dhabi.
“It has been very scary, but here we are,” Ashley told The Daily Telegraph from the UAE.
“It does feel like a movie, things don’t normally happen like this. This was always my dream.”
Ashley had been on a week-long holiday in the region to visit friends and said he found out the news via text from the producers.
“It is completely surreal. I cried, I just sat there sobbing (when I found out).”
The Olivier Awards are similar to the Tonys in the US and are among the top honours for theatre globally.
“I was a little boy from Arncliffe, Rockdale, Bexley, it is insane, it is kind of crazy,” Ashley said.
“I can’t get over it. This is really special for me, the Brits can see what I can do. It doesn’t feel real. When I came to London to try to be a West End actor, they were so welcoming, the whole community has been incredible to me … I feel extremely grateful.”
Ashley said he was desperate to get back to London and be on stage, and thanked everyone for their support.
“I promise I’ll get back to all of you. Thank you so much for your messages. I’m completely overwhelmed,” he wrote on Instagram.
