We’re just a few weeks away from this year’s Tony Award nominations — and it could be a big day for Heartstopper star Kit Connor.
After a star turn as Romeo in a revival of Romeo + Juliet opposite fellow Gen Z darling Rachel Zegler, Connor could be up for one of theater’s biggest awards. His performance was lauded by critics (and by the internet, which lived for the queer flair he brought to the character), meaning Connor could earn a Tony Nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play.
Beyond being a major milestone for Connor, the nomination could also break a Broadway record: depending on who else is in the category, it could be the first time three leading actors are nominated for roles in Shakespeare plays.
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After shaving each other’s heads and getting matching tattoos, this cheeky moment was the natural next step for the “Warfare” stars.
“I’d take my shirt off and see camera flashes from the audience,” Connor said. “There was something quite seedy about that.”
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That’s because in addition to Romeo + Juliet, this Broadway season featured a revival of Othello starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Both are contenders for the category, and if both Washington and Gyllenhall make the cut with Connor, it would mark a breakthrough for the Bard along with all three actors.
Normally, five actors are nominated for Best Leading Actor in a Play. The odds of all three of Connor, Washington, and Gyllenhaal making the cut are slim — but we’re still rooting for Shakespeare to dominate the category. It might be tough with the likes of Cole Escola in Oh, Mary! also up for the award; GoldDerby currently predicts that Escola will take home the gold, with Gyllenhaal and Washington also in the top five for the category and Connor further down in eighth place.
Still, anything could happen. We won’t know for sure until the nomination ceremony, which will take place live on Thursday, May 1.
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