Rosamund Pike hails theatre as her ‘first love’

Rosamund Pike has praised live performance and theatre as her “first love”, and has described theatre as her “homecoming”.

The 47-year-old actress picked up the gong for best actress at The Olivier Awards on Sunday for her role in Inter Alia at the National Theatre, which marked her return to the stage after almost 14 years.

Pike, who is best known for her screen roles including Die Another Day (2002) and Gone Girl (2014), called her theatrical return a “huge, exhilarating risk” as she picked up her prize during the ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall.

During her acceptance speech, Pike said: “This is by far the most nerve-wracking performance I will make in the next few weeks.

“It is one thing to stand on stage and do 100 minutes of somebody else’s beautifully written words. It is quite another thing to be relying on my own words.”

The award-winning actress added: “I haven’t done any theatre for 14 years. It was a huge risk, an exhilarating risk, to come back and be invited by the National Theatre – the home of so much great, wonderful work – to do this special play.”

Pike was up for the prize against nominees including Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett, as well as Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Julia McDermott and Rosie Sheehy.

Speaking to the Press Association ahead of the event in London, Pike reflected on her return to the stage and said: “I think (the theatre) has always been my first love, and it always provides a kind of homecoming to me.

“It’s where I feel, paradoxically, quite safe – even though it’s such a risk. I enjoy that interaction with a live audience. I think I enjoy the truth of it.”

Pike explained the excitement around live performance, and said: “It’s nerve wracking. It’s a risk for both performer and audience.

“That’s happening live, you know, are they going to enjoy it? Are they going to is the audience going to feel something they can’t contend with?

“It’s much more public than the privacy of your own home or the darkness of a movie theatre. At the end, however you’ve been moved or stirred by a play is available for everyone to see, and the same thing for a performer.”

Pike wore a draped, silky navy dress and a scarf detail, accessorised with ornate earrings and slicked back, wet-look hair, to the event at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Inter Alia sees Pike star as Jessica Parks, a trailblazing London crown court judge who is determined to change a system she knows isn’t always just, as she balances balances motherhood, friendship and the notion of “having it all”.

Pike will also make her Broadway debut later this year, as Inter Alia heads to New York following its success in London.

Speaking to PA, Pike said her nomination was a “miraculous, wonderful thing” and recalled the moment she found out about it.

She said: “I was in rehearsals for our West End transfer, and I couldn’t understand why my phone kept buzzing.

“It was people texting because I’d been nominated for an Olivier, which was very special and the last thing on my mind at that moment. It was thrilling.”

“And, of course, being nominated is the best pitch because, as an actor, you don’t actually want to be singled out – you’re much happier in a group.

“A group of nominees is a very nice place to be.”