A sobbing Nicole Scherzinger accepted her first ever Broadway honor at the star-studded 78th Annual Tony Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday.

The Pussycat Dolls singer, 46, won the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award, for her performance of fading Hollywood star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, based on the 1950 film noir of the same name by Billy Wilder.

‘Growing up I always felt like I didn’t belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last,’ she shared in her acceptance speech, before thanking her fiancé Thom Evans, adding he ‘believes in me when I forget to believe in myself.’

She received the honor from media mogul Oprah Winfrey

 

Darren Criss, 38, won big, earning his first Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, written by Will Aronson and Hue Park.

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The play — which explores themes of love, loneliness, and mortality and follows two ‘Helperbots’, robots designed to assist people, named Oliver and Claire — also won the top honor for Best Musical, with producer Jeffrey Richards accepting the award.

Meanwhile George Clooney, 64 — who was nominated for Good Night, And Good Luck — was shockingly snubbed, when he lost the Best Actor in a Play award to Cole Escola, 38. The star, who uses they/them pronouns, won for their performance in Oh, Mary! which they wrote and star in.

The show, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, celebrated Broadway’s brightest talents in singing, acting, dancing and more.

Nicole started her acceptance speech by telling the audience: ‘First of all, I just have to thank God, for carrying me every step of the way. I give you all the glory.’

‘I’m so honored to be recognized alongside these exceptional warrior women in this category. I want to thank you all so much for making this little Hawaiian/ Ukrainian/ Filipino girl’s dream come true. So proud to represent.’

She also thanked her family, including her mom, stating she ‘had me at 18 and gave everything up for me.’

Nicole Scherzinger, Ariana DeBose, Brooke Shields and Lea Michele lead red carpet at the Tony Awards

She then thanked composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, sharing: ‘It has been such an honor to be able to create with you the past 15 years.’

Later she gave a shout out to producer Jamie Lloyd: ‘Jamie, you saw in me what no one else did. You have given us all new ways to dream and you have changed my life forever.’

Nicole wrapped up her inspiring speech, sharing, ‘If there’s anyone out there who feels like they don’t belong, or your time hasn’t come, don’t give up.’

‘Just keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.’

‘This is a testament that love always wins. Thank you so much. God Bess you,’ the singer added at the end.

In the Best Leading Actor in a Musical category, Criss beat out Andrew Durand for Dead Outlaw, Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard, Jonathan Groff for Just in Time, Jeremy Jordan for Floyd Collins, and James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.

Darren Criss, 38, won big, earning his first Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, written by Will Aronson and Hue Park

In his acceptance speech, Criss gave a shout out to his wife Mia Swier, as well as actress Helen J. Shen.

‘I share this with one of the best leading actresses is in a Broadway musical the season, Helen J. Shen,’ he said. ‘I am so proud of you and your Broadway debut is for the books. This is where you belong.’

He then thanked his wife: ‘The real hero for this remarkable journey is my wife, Mia, who took a massive swing on allowing me to do this and to allow this crazy upheaval in our life to make this logistically possible, and for bearing the brunt of raising two tiny friends under three so that I could raise a singing robot at the theater eight times a week.’

‘Mia, you are the very pedestal that upholds the shiny spinny bit in our lives, and your love and support for me and our beautiful children combined with the miracle working at something as magical as “Maybe Happy Ending” has been and will always be award enough.’

He finished his speech by dedicating his Tony Award to the memory of his father, Bill, and his brother, Chuck.

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