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Welsh actor David Thaxton has been nominated for an Olivier Award for his role in the Donmar Warehouse production Passion.

The actor, and former member of Welsh choir Only Men Aloud, has been nominated in the Best Actor in a Musical category for his portrayal of Giorgio in the Stephen Sondheim musical.

Scarlett Strallen (Clara) and David Thaxton (Giorgio) in Passion. Photo: Johan Persson

Thaxton was born in Neath in south Wales and trained at the . He went from his two season-stint as Enjolras in Les Misérables to play army officer Giorgio opposite fellow Oliver Award nominee Elena Roger - a man at once disgusted by, yet drawn to, the obsessive Fosca.

He is shortlisted with four other actors for the award: Alex Gaunmond for Legally Blonde - The Musical at the Savoy theatre; Michael Xavier for Love Story at the Duchess theatre; Ramin Karimloo for Love Never Dies at the Adelphi theatre and Sahr Ngaujah for Fela! at the National Theatre Olivier.

David Thaxton and Elena Roger in Passion. Photo: Johan Persson

He has previously starred in theatre productions including The Tailor's Daughter (Wales Millennium Centre), Trial by Jury (³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ National Orchestra of Wales), The Cunning Little Vixen (Cardiff Sherman) and Sweeney Todd (Norwich Playhouse).

Thaxton's nomination comes just a year after two fellow actors from Wales were successful at the 2010 Olivier Awards: Aneurin Barnard and Iwan Rheon both scooped the prestigious prize, each for a role in the musical Spring Awakening.

Read more about the Olivier Award nominations on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News website and visit for a full list of the 2011 nominees.