Best known as Sporty Spice in the chart-topping quintet, Chisholm impressed critics with her performance, and her nomination pits her against three actors from the Royal Court - Daniel Kaluuya, Isabella Laughland and Shannon Tarbet - and "You Me Bum Bum Train" created by Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd.

Elsewhere in the nominations, two musical stars are short-listed for the best actress award for the first time - Sheridan Smith for "Legally Blonde" and Elena Roger for Stephen Sondheim's "Passion."

Also nominated for the award, which is named after the late Natasha Richardson, are Nancy Carroll ("After the Dance") and Sophie Thompson ("Clybourne Park"). The Royal Court leads the nominations with 11, including a clean sweep of the best play category, and the National Theater follows with 10.