Why did Rebecca Trehearn win the Olivier?

I definitely think Magnolia is the lead and Julie is supporting - the plot of Show Boat follows Magnolia's life and Julie barely appears in Act Two, only really coming on to sing her 11 o'clock number 'Bill'.

I'm very happy that Rebecca Trehearn won the Olivier - she was by far the stand out member of the cast for me. Not only was her voice flawless, but she brought out all of Julie's vulnerability behind the mask of her confidence. Her appearance in Act Two was really heartbreaking.

This was the only category in the Oliviers where i had seen all four performances, and it was a very close contest. Haydn Gwynne was brilliant in Threepenny, brought some nice comedy to the role, but I didn't leave thinking her performance was the stand-out like I did with Show Boat and Rebecca Trehearn. Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is a force of nature, and will surely have plenty of brilliant roles coming her way very soon. I did think that she was the stand-out in Murder Ballad, but that role didn't quite require the same emotional depth as Julie. As for Emma Williams - she will get an Olivier one day, I'm sure of it, but her role in Half a Sixpence is a bit thankless. She doesn't get much to work with, and in lesser hands the character would be clichéd and weak, so she does good work to give Helen real agency instead of just serving as a plot device. However, her beautiful voice doesn't really get the chance to properly shine.

So, in my opinion, the Olivier went to the right person.

She definitely deserved to win that Olivier. Julie goes on a very dark journey from Act One to Act Two but with very limited time on stage. Rebecca's performance of 'Bill' was just heartbreaking.

I saw all four performances and she certainly deserved it, despite the competition being superb. She was also sublime as Hooley in City of Angels at Donmar.

I think of all roles where this gets debated this one is pretty firmly in the supporting category. Surely Louise in Gypsy is a much more contentious one yet nobody seemed to kick up a fuss about that being classed as supporting.

I agree, Louise is co-lead in Gypsy, no question. And correct me if I am wrong, the actress has equal stage time to Rose anyway? 

The Girls

Absolutely deserved - she was phenomenal in Show Boat (loved it all to be honest) and has been consistently phenomenal in everything I've seen her in. Hopefully this won't be her only award - first of many to come methinks.

I thought she was marvellous and yes, absolutely deserved the award.

I think it's absolutely fair enough that Louise is supporting. The actress playing the role barely gets anything to do till act 2, and what she does have doesn't carry anywhere near the emotional heft that Mama Rose gets. Definitely the right distinction.

Because Alice Fearn wasn't nominated? 😇 (Ducks)

Rebecca is a class act and deserved it.

Gina Beck was sensational in the show and should have been nominated. I was seriously stunned by her performance

Just couldn't agree more on both counts. Gina was radiant, Rebecca's performance was just sublime and heart-rending.