Well folks, the inevitable has happened…

Beloved actresses Jessica Chastain and Jodie Comer will go head-to-head in the Best Leading Actress in a Play category at this year’s Tony Awards.

The theatrical equivalent of the Oscars, the prestige awards group unveiled their list of nominations today with both stars contesting a tough category.

Oscar-winner Jessica is acknowledged for her acclaimed performance as scorned housewife Nora Helmer in the revival of Henrik Ibsen’s 19th-century classic A Doll’s House. The show itself scored six nods overall including Best Revival of a Play.

For Emmy, BAFTA and Olivier winner Jodie, the Liverpudlian actress lands a first nomination for her tour-de-force turn as Tessa Ensler, a brilliant lawyer who becomes the victim of sexual assault in the powerful play Prima Facie.

The former Killing Eve star will be looking to follow in the footsteps of renowned British stars like Dame Helen Mirren, Eddie Redmayne, Dame Angela Lansbury and Mark Rylance in winning both an Olivier and Tony award for the same role.

However, Prima was surprisingly overlooked in the coveted Best Play category though it does contest three other awards; Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play and Best Sound Design of a Play.

Jessica and Jodie are joined in an exceptional Best Actress line-up by six-time winner Audra McDonald for Ohio State Murders, and Jessica Hecht for Summer, 1976.

The rest of the nominations can be found here: https://variety.com/2023/legit/news/tony-nominations-2023-full-list-1235600841/

The 76th Tony Awards will be held at the United Palace in New York City on 11 June.