Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow is among the nominees for this year's Evening Standard Award for Best Actress. Paltrow is nominated for her recent portrayal of Catherine in the Donmar Warehouse production of Proof, David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The London debut production — which also starred Richard Coyle, Ronald Pickup and Sara Stewart — was directed by John Madden. Paltrow is also scheduled to star in the film version of the play for Miramax Films.

Paltrow's competition for the Evening Standard Award includes Clare Higgins and Helen McCrory. Higgins portrayed Ursula in the National Theatre's production of Vincent in Brixton, and McCrory received her nomination for her role as Yelena in the Donmar Warehouse's production of Uncle Vanya. That production is also responsible for Sam Mendes' nomination as Best Director. Mendes is actually nominated for his two farewell productions at the Donmar, Vanya and Twelfth Night. His competition includes Tim Carroll, nominated for his production of Twelfth Night at The Globe; and Dominic Cooke, nominated for The Royal Court's mounting of Plasticine.

Nominees in the Carlton Television Best Musical category include Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of Bombay Dreams, which features music by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Don Black and a book from novelist-writer comedian Meera Syal; the Gershwin musical My One and Only; and the London production of The Full Monty, which will end its West End run on Nov. 23.

The Evening Standard Awards will be presented at the Savoy on Monday, Nov. 25; Carlton Television in the U.K. will broadcast the ceremony at 11:30 PM on Thursday, Nov. 28.

Nominees follow: Best Actress
Gwyneth Paltrow (Proof)
Clare Higgins (Vincent in Brixton)
Helen McCrory (Uncle Vanya)

Best Actor:
Tom Georgeson (Frozen)
Daniel Craig (A Number)
Simon Russell Beale (Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night)

Best Director:
Sam Mendes (Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night)
Tim Carroll (Twelfth Night)
Dominic Cooke (Plasticine)

Best Stage Designer:
Stephen Brimson Lewis (Much Ado About Nothing)
Bill Dudley (The Coast of Utopia)
Ian Mac-Neil (Plasticine and A Number)

Best Play:
Caryl Churchill (A Number)
Martin McDonagh (The Lieutenant of Inishmore)
Peter Gill (The York Realist)

Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright:
Anthony Neilson (Stitching)
Charlotte Eilenberg (The Lucky Ones)
Vassily Sigarev (Plasticine)

Outstanding Newcomer:
Jochum Ten Haaf (Vincent in Brixton)
Alison Pargeter (Damsels in Distress)
Jake Gyllenhaal (This Is Our Youth)

Carlton Television Best Musical:
Bombay Dreams
My One and Only
The Full Monty