One Man, Two Guvnors’ James Corden crowned a year of achievement last night when he collected the award for Best Actor in a Play at the 2012 Tony Awards ceremony in New York. The coveted accolade came just days after Corden received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play.
Corden was clearly overjoyed at his triumph. Taking the podium at the Beacon Theatre to 
deliver his acceptance speech, the 33 year-old star dedicated his award to his girlfriend Julia. "I would not be holding this if it wasn't for her,” he said. “She made me say 'us' instead of 'I' and 'we' instead of 'me' and I love her.”
Corden’s performance as dimwitted-but-loveable Francis Henshall made him a firm favourite with both audiences and critics during One Man, Two Guvnors' runs at the National Theatre, Adelphi Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket and on UK tour, and since its transfer to Broadway’s Music Box theatre last April. His Best Actor Tony marks a definitive step up to international stardom for the London-born star, who first found fame on these shores in BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey.
Elsewhere at the Tonys, race relations satire Clybourne Park won Best Play, adding further kudos to the Pulitzer Prize for Best Play it picked up last year. Nina Arianda won Best Actress in a Play for her performance in Venus In Fur. The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess won Best Revival of a Musical and Audra McDonald won Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Bess.
Here’s the full list of last night's winners:
Best Musical: Once
Best Book of a Musical: Enda Walsh, Once
Best Original Score, Music and Lyrics: Newsies, Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Best Play: Clybourne Park
Best Revival of a Musical: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Best Revival of a Play: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Best Actress in a Musical: Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Best Actor in a Musical: Steve Kazee, Once
Best Actress in a play: Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur
Best Actor in a Play: James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get it
Best Featured Actor in a Play: Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher
Best Featured Actress in a Play: Judith Light, Other Desert Cities
Best Direction of a Musical: John Tiffany, Once
Best Direction of a Play: Mike Nichols, Arthur Miller's Death of A Salesman
Best Choreography: Christopher Gattelli, Newsies
Best Orchestrations: Martin Lowe, Once
Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Bob Crowley, Once
Best Scenic Design of a Play: Donyale Werle, Peter and the Starcatcher
Best Costume Design of a Musical: Gregg Barnes, Follies
Best Costume Design of a Play: Paloma Young, Peter and the Starcatcher
Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Natasha Katz, Once
Best Lighting Design of a Play: Jeff Croiter, Peter and the Starcatcher
Best Sound Design of a Musical: Clive Goodwin, Once
Best Sound Design of a Play: Darron L. West, Peter and the Starcatcher
Special Tony award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Emanuel Azenberg
Regional Theatre Tony Award: Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, DC
Isabelle Stevenson award: Bernadette Peters
Special Tony award: Actors' Equity Association and Hugh Jackman
Tony Honours for Excellence in the Theatre: Freddie Gershon and Artie Siccardi and TDF Open Doors
