The Actors Who Inspired The Stars of Tomorrow — from Ian McKellen to Helen McCrory
It’s the award every young actor covets — a chance to follow in the footsteps of previous winners like Rebecca Hall, Rory Kinnear, David Oyelowo, Cush Jumbo and Tom Hollander, and recipients such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen McCrory and Eddie Redmayne.
The Ian Charleson Awards celebrate the best stage performances by actors under 30 in a classical role and were established by The Sunday Times and the National Theatre in recognition of Charleson, who died of Aids aged 40 in 1990, weeks after giving an astonishing final turn as Hamlet. He inspired the Sunday Times critic John Peter to create the awards.
This year’s prize was awarded this week by the actress Sophie Okonedo and the judges were the actor Fisayo Akinade, the casting director and former head of casting at the RSC, Hannah Miller, the deputy artistic director at the National Theatre, Robert Hastie, and the head of casting at the National Theatre, Alastair Coomer. We asked the 13 stars of tomorrow to pick the actor who has most inspired them.
Finalist Madeleine Gray
Nominated for Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Orange Tree Theatre
The daughter of an army officer, Gray, 30 (29 in role), used to cast her family in productions of King Lear. She studied theatre at University of Leeds followed by the Drama Centre London. Determined to land her role in Uncle Vanya, she sent countless emails asking for an audition.
Madeleine in Uncle Vanya
The actress who inspired me
Helen McCrory. I saw her in The Last of the Haussmans at the National Theatre. She had this magical presence and a depth of emotion: you couldn’t help but be entranced by her.
Helen in The Last of The Haussmans at the National Theatre
You can read the rest of the article in The Sunday Times
You can read the interview in its entirety 
