National Television Awards Select All-Female Shortlist for Drama Acting Award

The National Television Awards have made history by selecting an all-female shortlist for the best drama performance category. This marks the first time in the award's history that the nominees in this category are all women.

The five nominees include Sheridan Smith, who played campaigner Ann Ming in ITV true crime drama I Fought The Law, and Ruth Jones for her role in Netflix thriller Run Away. Vicky McClure gets the nod as Trigger Point's Lana Washington, while Ella Bruccoleri is shortlisted for alternative period drama The Other Bennet Sister, and Judy Parfitt is nominated for playing Sister Monica Joan in Call The Midwife.

The nominees were chosen in a public vote from an initial longlist that also included stars like David Tennant, Gary Oldman, Idris Elba, James Norton, and Tom Hiddleston.

The nominees for the best drama performance category are:

| Nominee | Role | | --- | --- | | Ella Bruccoleri | Mary Bennet, The Other Bennet Sister | | Judy Parfitt | Sister Monica Joan, Call the Midwife | | Ruth Jones | Elena Ravenscroft, Run Away | | Sheridan Smith | Ann Ming, I Fought The Law | | Vicky McClure | Lana Washington, Trigger Point |

A second stage of voting is now open to pick the winners in the NTAs' 15 categories. The winners will be voted for by the public between now and midday on 8 September, the day of the ceremony.

The National Television Awards, which recognise the best in British TV over the past twelve months, first launched in 1995. The event will take place at London's O2 arena and will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX from 20:00 BST.