Jodie Comer has been named the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in British Theatre Award, recognising her performance in Prima Facie. The award will be presented at the UK Theatre Awards 2026, sponsored by Encore, on Monday 12 October.
Homecoming performance in Liverpool
The 33-year-old ended her four-year run as Tessa in the one-woman play at the Liverpool Playhouse in March, bringing the character back to her home city. The theatre's official account paid tribute to Comer on social media after the announcement.
It said: "A huge congratulations @jodiemcomer who has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in British Theatre Award. The Prima Facie tour was a landmark moment for British theatre, and we are incredibly proud that its journey finished with a homecoming at Liverpool Playhouse."
Impact beyond the stage
The theatre added: "In addition to a remarkable central performance, the production created space for vital conversations, from the role of regional theatres in bringing world-class work to communities, to consent workshops and discussions around some of the play's most challenging themes. Its impact reached far beyond the stage, and we're proud that those conversations happened here in Liverpool."
Fans praised Comer in the comments. Stuart wrote: "It was a truly mind blowing performance and I doubt I'll ever see better." Jen posted: "A true treasure, an amazing actress who poured her heart out on that stage as Tessa. What a voice Jodie gave to such an important matter. Congrats for the award & recognition."
"Tess was coming home and I was coming home"
In an exclusive interview with the ECHO ahead of the release of The Death of Robin Hood, Comer spoke about performing as Tessa one last time in the Williamson Square theatre. She said: "To go back to Liverpool with Prima Facie. I don't really have the words for it. What was amazing about it was I feel like London, Broadway and the entire tour was all leading up to that final week because Tess was coming home and I was coming home."
She added: "There was an innate understanding from the audience about who this woman was and the familiarity that they were seeing within the relationships and the humour. I just felt so held. Because of that, I think I was at my most playful. I learnt in theatre that the more you intellectualise, the more you get in your own way."
Comer, who previously worked part-time on the checkouts at the Woolton Tesco, said she feels no different now that she is an A-list star. She told the ECHO: "We have such a strong sense of who we are and a belief in ourselves, but with such a lack of ego and with a lot of humility. It's something I really admire in the people that I meet from home and there is an inherent warmth and sense of support, so I feel like that's how it's shaped me."
