Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter

Sunset Boulevard has earned seven wins at the Olivier Awards last night following a starring turn from Nicole Scherzinger.

The US actress and singer won the best actress in a musical gong at the Royal Albert Hall as the reinterpretation of the 1950 black comedy of the same name also picked up best director and best musical revival.

Tom Francis also won the best actor in a musical gong for his role in the show at the Savoy Theatre.

Referring to her almost tripping before accepting her award on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, Scherzinger said: “Thank God for saving me from that trip right there,” before adding that she was “nothing without him”.

The Pussycat Dolls singer also said that “coming from really humble beginnings I always wanted to be a singer and do musicals”.

She added that she wanted to do “so many roles” and joked that the failing Hollywood star, Norma Desmond, depicted in the original film, was not “one of them”.

An In Memoriam segment paid tribute to Harry Potter film series star Sir Michael Gambon, Drop The Dead Donkey actress Gwynne, Australian comedian Barry Humphries, theatre producer Bill Kenwright, Coronation Street star John Savident and singer Tina Turner.