OXFORD actor Tom Hiddleston was named the best newcomer in a play at the Laurence Olivier Awards in London on Sunday.

Mr Hiddleston received two nominations in the category for his role as Cassio in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse and for his performance as Posthumus in Cymbeline at the Barbican, which clinched the award.

The 27-year-old actor was brought up in Oxford, where his parents still live. His father, James, set up Oxford University's Intellectual Property Company in the early 1980s, while his mother, Diana, has worked with Garsington Opera, Oxford Playhouse and The Watermill Theatre, on development.

Mr Hiddleston's acting career began with plays at The Dragon School.

After completing a classics degree at Cambridge, he attended RADA.

He made his London stage debut in Yorgjin Oxo: The Man at Theatre 503 in 2005, before appearing in The Changeling with Declan Donnellan's company, Cheek By Jowl, in 2006.

Another winner at the Olivier Awards was Rory Kinnear, the son of the late actor Roy Kinnear, who attracted wide attention as a student actor during his days at Oxford University.

He was recognised for his part in The Man Of Mode, winning best performance in a supporting role.