Sarah Caroline Sinclair ( Colman; born 30 January 1974), known professionally as Olivia Colman, is an English actress. Known for her comedic and dramatic roles in film and television, she has received various accolades, including an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

, a British Academy Film Award, two

Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

, three British Academy Television Awards and three

Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

. A graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Colman's breakthrough came in the

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a fourth television service ...

sitcom '' Peep Show'' (2003–2015). Her other comedic roles on television include '' Green Wing'' (2004–2006), '' That Mitchell and Webb Look'' (2006–2008), '' Beautiful People'' (2008–2009), '' Rev.'' (2010–2014), ''

Flowers A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

'' (2016–2018), '' Fleabag'' (2016–2019) and '' Heartstopper'' (2022). Colman received the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for the comedy programme '' Twenty Twelve'' (2011–2012) and Best Supporting Actress for the crime programme '' Accused'' (2012). She was acclaimed for her performance in the ITV crime-drama series ''

Broadchurch ''Broadchurch'' is a British crime drama television series broadcast on ITV for three series between 2013 and 2017. It was created by Chris Chibnall, who acted as an executive producer and wrote all 24 episodes and produced by Kudos in asso ...

'' (2013–2017), for which she received a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress. Colman also appeared in the

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...

thriller miniseries ''

The Night Manager ''The Night Manager'' is an espionage novel by British writer John le Carré, published in 1993. It is his first post- Cold War novel, detailing an undercover operation to bring down a major international arms dealer. Plot summary Jonathan Pin ...

'' (2016), for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. She played

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

from 2019 to 2020 in the

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a ...

period-drama series ''

The Crown The Crown is the state in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth realms and their subdivisions (such as the Crown Dependencies, overseas territories, provinces, or states). Legally ill-defined, the term has differ ...

'', for which she received a

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Other dramatic roles on television include ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its origin ...

'' (2019) and ''

Landscapers Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including the following: # Living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly called gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal ...

'' (2021). For her portrayal of

Anne, Queen of Great Britain Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 8 March 1702 until 1 May 1707. On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union, the kingdoms of England and Scotland united as a single sovereign state known as ...

in the period black-comedy film ''

The Favourite ''The Favourite'' is a 2018 period black comedy film co-produced and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, from a screenplay by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. Set in early 18th century Great Britain, the film's plot examines the relationship bet ...

'' (2018), Colman received the

Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film released that year ...

. She received additional Academy Award nominations for her performances in '' The Father'' (2020) and '' The Lost Daughter'' (2021). Other notable film credits include '' Hot Fuzz'' (2007), ''

Tyrannosaur Tyrannosauroidea (meaning 'tyrant lizard forms') is a superfamily (or clade) of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs that includes the family Tyrannosauridae as well as more basal relatives. Tyrannosauroids lived on the Laurasian supercontin ...

'' (2011), '' The Iron Lady'' (2011), ''

Hyde Park on Hudson ''Hyde Park on Hudson'' is a 2012 British historical comedy-drama film directed by Roger Michell. The film stars Bill Murray as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth, and Laura Linney as Margaret "Daisy" Suckley, a cousin and ...

'' (2012), '' Locke'' (2013), ''

The Lobster ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (2015), '' Murder on the Orient Express'' (2017), '' The Mitchells vs. the Machines'' (2021) and '' Empire of Light'' (2022).

Early life and education

Colman was born in

Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the Episcopal see, See of ...

on 30 January 1974, the daughter of nurse Mary (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Leakey) and chartered surveyor Keith Colman. She was privately educated at Norwich High School for Girls and

Gresham's School Gresham's School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school) in Holt, Norfolk, England, one of the top thirty International Baccalaureate schools in England. The school was founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham as a free g ...

in Holt, Norfolk. Colman's first role was Jean Brodie in a school production of '' The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'' at age 16. She cites her mother's interrupted career as a ballet dancer as an inspiration to pursue acting professionally. Colman spent a term studying primary education at Homerton College, Cambridge before studying drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, from which she graduated in 1999. During her time at Cambridge, she appeared in the

series '' The Word'' in 1995 under her nickname "Colly", auditioned for the Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club and met future co-stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Colman had to adopt a different stage name when she began working professionally, because

Equity Equity may refer to: Finance, accounting and ownership *Equity (finance), ownership of assets that have liabilities attached to them ** Stock, equity based on original contributions of cash or other value to a business ** Home equity, the diff ...

(the UK actors' union) already had an actress named Sarah Colman. "One of my best friends at university was called Olivia and I always loved her name," Colman told ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...

'' in 2013. "I was never Sarah; I was always called by my nickname, Colly, so it didn't seem so awful not to be called Sarah." Colman was a subject of the UK genealogy programme '' Who Do You Think You Are?'' in July 2018. Although she expected that her family tree would mainly relate to Norfolk, it was discovered that her fourth great-grandfather Richard Campbell Bazett was born on the island of

Saint Helena Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constit ...

and worked in London for the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Sou ...

. Bazett's son, Colman's third great-grandfather Charles Bazett, married Harriot Slessor. Researchers discovered that she was born in the Indian city of Kishanganj, lost her British father at age three and made the journey to England alone. Slessor's passage was paid for by her paternal grandmother. The episode speculated that Slessor's mother might have been Indian, but did not present proof. After the episode aired, the

Berkshire Record Office The Berkshire Record Office is the county record office for Berkshire, England. It is located in Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of letters, symbols, etc., especially by sight or touch. For educators and res ...

published the will of Slessor's mother; her name was Seraphina Donclere (evidently of European origin) and she died in 1810.

Career

2000s: Early work

Colman made her professional acting debut in 2000 at age 26 as part of the

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream a ...

comedy sketch show, '' Bruiser''. She has appeared in a number of BBC, ITV and

television series, such as '' People Like Us'', '' Look Around You'', '' Black Books'', ''

The Office ''The Office'' is a mockumentary sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, first made in the United Kingdom, then Germany, and subsequently the United States. It has since been remade in ten other countries. The original ser ...

'' and ''

The Time of Your Life ''The Time of Your Life'' is a 1939 five-act play by American playwright William Saroyan. The play is the first drama to win both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The play opened on Broadway in 1939. Ch ...

''. Colman provided the voice-over for Channel 5's poll for ''Britain's Funniest Comedy Character''. She regularly appeared on

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC's ...

comedies Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term origin ...

, such as ''Concrete Cow'', ''

Think the Unthinkable ''Think the Unthinkable'' is an audience sitcom about hapless management consultants, written by James Cary and first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2001. It starred Marcus Brigstocke, David Mitchell, Catherine Shepherd, Emma Kennedy and Beth Ch ...

'', ''

The House of Milton Jones ''The House of Milton Jones'' is a radio comedy series which was first broadcast in 2003 on BBC Radio 4. It was written by Milton Jones and James Carey, and starred Milton Jones as himself, Olivia Colman as Milton's sister Susan, Nigel Lindsay ...

'' and '' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency''. Colman was the voice of Minka, the Polish secretary in the Radio 4 comedy '' Hut 33'' set in a fictional code-breaking hut at

Bletchley Park Bletchley Park is an English country house and estate in Bletchley, Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire) that became the principal centre of Allied code-breaking during the Second World War. The mansion was constructed during the years following ...

during World War II. Colman appeared as Bev, with Mark Burdis as Kev, in a series of television advertisements for AA car insurance. She provided voices for the Andrex "be kind to your behind" and Glade fragrance advertisements (playing a

gorilla Gorillas are herbivorous, predominantly ground-dwelling great apes that inhabit the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. The genus ''Gorilla'' is divided into two species: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla, and either four ...

). On several projects, Colman has worked with the comedians

Mitchell and Webb Mitchell and Webb are a British comedy double act, composed of David Mitchell and Robert Webb. They are best known for starring in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Peep Show'' and their radio and TV sketch shows ''That Mitchell and Webb Sound'' and ''T ...

. She joined them in 2003 to play Sophie in the Channel 4 comedy '' Peep Show''. Other joint ventures have included radio's '' That Mitchell and Webb Sound'' and its television version, '' That Mitchell and Webb Look''. She decided to leave the programme after her agent suggested that she was becoming too closely associated with their work and needed to widen her horizons, a decision which was made "with tears". Colman continued to appear on ''Peep Show'' less often until it ended in 2015. She had a recurring role in the surrealist comedy '' Green Wing'' from 2004 to 2006. One of her earliest film credits is naturist Joanna Roberts in the 2006 mockumentary film '' Confetti'', a role she has described as "the worst experience of my life". In 2007, Colman starred as Alice in the comedy '' Grow Your Own'' and as PC Doris Thatcher in the action comedy '' Hot Fuzz'' and she played a lead role in Paddy Considine's short film ''

Dog Altogether ''Dog Altogether'' is a short film written and directed by Paddy Considine. The term "Dog Altogether" comes from an Irish expression that Considine's father used to use when situations got really bad. It was filmed on 22 January 2007 in Glasgow ...

''. She appeared in October and November 2008 in the BBC sitcom '' Beautiful People'' (based on the life of Simon Doonan) as Debbie Doonan, Simon's mother. Colman made a guest appearance in the episode " Naomi" of the series '' Skins'' as Naomi's mother, Gina.

2010s: Breakthrough and worldwide recognition

Colman had a lead role in 2010 as Alex Smallbone, the wife of an inner-city vicar, in the BBC sitcom '' Rev.'' starring Tom Hollander; the series ran from 2010 to 2014. She guest-starred that year in " The Eleventh Hour" episode of ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...

'',

Matt Smith Matthew Robert Smith (born 28 October 1982) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor in the BBC series '' Doctor Who'' (2010–2013), Daemon Targaryen in the HBO series ''House of the Dr ...

's debut as the

Eleventh Doctor The Eleventh Doctor is an incarnation of The Doctor (Doctor Who), the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC Science fiction on television, science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. He is played by Matt Smith in three series as well as fi ...

. Colman appeared the following year in the BBC drama ''

Exile Exile is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suf ...

'', written by Danny Brocklehurst and starring John Simm and Jim Broadbent. From 2011 to 2012 she played Ian Fletcher's ( Hugh Bonneville) lovelorn secretary Sally Owen in '' Twenty Twelve'', a comedy series about planning for the 2012

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a multi ...

in London. Colman rejoined Considine in 2011 for his feature-film directorial debut, ''

'', receiving the BIFA Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film and the

Empire Award for Best Actress The Empire Award for Best Actress is an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine ''Empire'' to honor an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role, while working within the film industry. The Empir ...

. She played Carol Thatcher that year in the

-winning drama '' The Iron Lady'', with Meryl Streep and Jim Broadbent, for which she received the London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actress of the Year. In 2013, Colman began playing DS Ellie Miller in ITV's ''

''. The crime-drama series, set in the fictional Dorset town of Broadchurch, follows the residents of a tightly-knit community after a young boy is found dead on a beach under suspicious circumstances. She was nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Actress and received a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for her performance. Colman starred (with

Vanessa Redgrave Dame Vanessa Redgrave (born 30 January 1937) is an English actress and activist. Throughout her career spanning over seven decades, Redgrave has garnered numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Television Award, tw ...

) that year as Margaret Lea in the BBC television film, '' The Thirteenth Tale''. She starred in Yorgos Lanthimos' 2015 absurdist dystopian film, ''

'', with Rachel Weisz and Colin Farrell. The film premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or and received the Jury Prize. Colman was nominated for the London Film Critics' Circle Award for Supporting Actress of the Year and received the BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress. Colman was praised for her performance as Angela Burr in the 2016 AMC-BBC miniseries ''

'', for which she was nominated for a

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

and received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. She starred as Deborah Flowers that year in the Channel 4 black-comedy series, ''

''. Colman voiced Strawberry in the

-BBC animated miniseries, ''

Watership Down ''Watership Down'' is an adventure novel by English author Richard Adams, published by Rex Collings Ltd of London in 1972. Set in Berkshire in southern England, the story features a small group of rabbits. Although they live in their natural ...

''. She played Hildegarde Schmidt, Princess Dragomiroff's lady's maid, in Kenneth Branagh's 2017 remake of

Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fiction ...

's '' Murder on the Orient Express''. In 2018, Colman starred as Queen Anne in Lanthimos' film ''

'' with

Emma Stone Emily Jean Stone (born November 6, 1988), known professionally as Emma Stone, is an American actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. In 2017, she ...

and Rachel Weisz. In preparation for the role, she gained 2 st 7 lbs (35 lb, or 16 kg). For her performance, Colman received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, the

BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Best Actress in a Leading Role is a British Academy Film Award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding leading performance in a film. * From 1952 t ...

, and the

. Her awestruck, humorous Academy Award acceptance speech was widely covered by the media. Colman received positive reviews for her supporting role as Madame Thénardier in the 2018 BBC miniseries ''

'', an adaptation of the novel of the same name. In August 2019, she was confirmed as a guest star (as Lily) in the thirty-second season of the animated comedy series ''

The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, ...

''. In October 2017, Colman was cast as

for the third and fourth seasons of the

historical drama A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and s ...

series ''

''; the third season was released in November 2019. For her performance, she received two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The fourth season was released on 15 November 2020, to critical acclaim.

2020s: Continued acclaim

Colman starred with

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

Florian Zeller Florian Zeller (; born 28 June 1979) is a French novelist, playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, and film director. He won the Prix Interallié for his 2004 novel ''The Fascination of Evil'' and several awards for his plays. He wrote and ...

's 2020 film adaptation of his stage play, '' The Father'', which focuses on an elderly man dealing with memory loss. The film premiered to critical acclaim at the

Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,6 ...

and was picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures Classics. It began a limited release on 26 February 2021, after originally being scheduled for release on 18 December 2020. Hopkins and Colman received widespread praise for their performances, as did the film for its accurate depiction of

dementia Dementia is a disorder which manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually surfaces when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, which negatively affe ...

. It received six

nominations (including Best Picture) and Colman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2021, she had roles in the drama films '' Mothering Sunday'' and '' The Electrical Life of Louis Wain'' and in the science-fiction animated films '' The Mitchells vs. the Machines'' and '' Ron's Gone Wrong''. Colman was executive producer and starred with David Thewlis in the HBO true-crime miniseries ''

'' created by her husband, Ed Sinclair. The series and Colman's performance, were critically praised. Colman also starred that year in

Maggie Gyllenhaal Margalit Ruth "Maggie" Gyllenhaal (; born November 16, 1977) is an American actress and filmmaker. Part of the Gyllenhaal family, she is the daughter of filmmakers Stephen Gyllenhaal and Naomi Achs, and the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenh ...

's psychological drama '' The Lost Daughter'', an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante. Her performance was critically praised and she was nominated for the

Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...

and

. In 2022 Colman appeared as Sarah Nelson in the

coming-of-age series '' Heartstopper'' and received the inaugural

Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performance The Children's and Family Emmy Awards, or Children's and Family Emmys, are a part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the National Academy of Television Arts a ...

for her performance in the first season. Colman was cast in the lead role in April 2021 in the romantic drama film '' Empire of Light'', directed by

Sam Mendes Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes (born 1 August 1965) is a British film and stage director, producer, and screenwriter. In 2000, Mendes was appointed a CBE for his services to drama, and he was knighted in the 2020 New Years Honours List. That s ...

. That month she joined the cast of the

Disney+ Disney+ is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned and operated by the Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. The service primarily distributes films and television se ...

miniseries '' Secret Invasion'', set in the

Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published ...

, which is scheduled to premiere in 2023. She was cast in September in the musical '' Wonka'', which explores

Willy Wonka Willy Wonka is a fictional character appearing in British author Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' and its 1972 sequel '' Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator''. He is the eccentric founder and proprieto ...

's origins as a prequel to the

Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter ace of Norwegian descent. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Dahl has be ...

novel '' Charlie and the Chocolate Factory''. The film is scheduled for release on 15 December 2023. Colman has been signed to star in the coming-of-age comedy film '' Joyride'' and as

Miss Havisham Miss Havisham is a character in the Charles Dickens novel ''Great Expectations'' (1861). She is a wealthy spinster, once jilted at the altar, who insists on wearing her wedding dress for the rest of her life. She lives in a ruined mansion with ...

in the FX and BBC series ''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip (the book is a ''bildungsroman''; a coming-of-age story). It ...

'', based on

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian er ...

' novel of the same name. She has a starring voice in the DreamWorks animated film '' Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'' and in

's ''Scrooge: A Christmas Carol''.

Personal life

While performing in a late-1990s Footlights production of Sir Alan Ayckbourn's '' Table Manners'', Colman met Ed Sinclair, a third-year law student who had become disillusioned with law and preferred to write. Colman and Sinclair married in August 2001 and have three children. They live in

South London South London is the southern part of London, England, south of the River Thames. The region consists of the boroughs, in whole or in part, of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sut ...

. Since 2013, Colman has been a judge of the

Norwich Film Festival Norwich Film Festival is an annual short film festival founded in 2009 and held in Norwich, England, which showcases films by local, national and international filmmakers, both independent film, independent and mainstream. Various films have go ...

. In August 2014, she was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter to ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...

'' opposing

Scottish independence Scottish independence ( gd, Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba; sco, Scots unthirldom) is the idea of Scotland as a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom, and refers to the political movement that is campaigning to bring it about. ...

in the run-up to the September 2014 referendum on the issue. She signed an open letter in November 2020 condemning violence and discrimination against trans women.

Philanthropy

Colman presented two of the 2013 Mind Media Awards, which celebrate accurate, responsible and sensitive portrayals of mental health across the media. Colman believes that "the media industry has huge influence and with that comes a responsibility to contest the stigma that sadly still exists, through accurate representation". She has spoken openly to the ''Big Issue'' about her experience of

postnatal depression Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth, which can affect both sexes. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability, and ch ...

after the birth of her first child. Inspired by her research for the film ''Tyrannosaur'', in 2014 Colman became the patron of the UK charity Tender, which uses theatre and the arts to educate young people about preventing violence and sexual abuse. Colman has said that domestic-violence prevention can make a difference in the lives of young people. Other charity work included participating in the Alzheimer's Society's

Holkham Hall Holkham Hall ( or ) is an 18th-century country house near the village of Holkham, Norfolk, England, constructed in the Neo-Palladian style for the 1st Earl of Leicester,The Earldom of Leicester has been, to date, created seven times. Thomas ...

Memory Walk in September 2013. Colman's great-grandmother suffered from dementia and her mother was involved in running a nursing home for patients. She has also supported charity campaigns for the

Marie Curie Marie Salomea Skłodowska–Curie ( , , ; born Maria Salomea Skłodowska, ; 7 November 1867 – 4 July 1934) was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the fir ...

Great Daffodil Appeal The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie (Charity), Marie Curie's biggest annual fundraising campaign. Every March, millions of people across the UK support this fundraising event by giving a small donation to wear a daffodil pin. This makes it one ...

for the terminally ill. In December 2014, Colman was involved in a BBC Radio documentary about the plight of women in Afghanistan for

Amnesty International UK Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says it has more than ten million members and sup ...

. Several women who told their stories to journalist Lyse Doucet were unable to appear because their lives might have been at risk; Colman read their stories as part of the documentary and said that the UK must not abandon Afghan women to the Taliban. An ambassador for

UNICEF UK UNICEF UK, also known as the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, is one of 36 UNICEF national committees based in industrialised countries. The national committees raise funds for the organisation's worldwide emergency and development work. In 2 ...

since 2015, she became its president in 2020. Colman became patron of the Anthony Nolan blood-cancer charity in 2018, which she said helped a friend of hers.

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Accolades

Colman has received a number of awards, including an

, three British Academy Television Awards, a British Academy Film Award, four British Independent Film Awards, three

, two Critics' Choice Movie Awards, five

Satellite Awards The Satellite Awards are annual awards given by the International Press Academy that are commonly noted in entertainment industry journals and blogs. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The award ceremonies take place ...

, two

Screen Actors Guild Awards Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...

, a

, a Volpi Cup, and a BFI Fellowship. For her performance in the miniseries ''

'' (2016), she received a

and was nominated for a

. Colman received another

nomination for the comedy series '' Fleabag'' (2016–2019). For her portrayal of Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states durin ...

in the

period drama series ''

'' (2019–2020), she received two

, a

, and a

. For her portrayal of

in the period black-comedy film ''

'' (2018), she received the

, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, and the

. For her performance in the drama film '' The Father'' (2020), she was nominated for the

, the

Critics' Choice Movie Award The Critics' Choice Movie Awards (formerly known as the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award) is an awards show presented annually by the American-Canadian Critics Choice Association (CCA) to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. Writ ...

, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. For her performance in the psychological drama film '' The Lost Daughter'' (2021), Colman was nominated for the

, the

, and the

. She was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) in the

2019 Birthday Honours The 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as ...

for her services to drama.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Colman, Olivia 1974 births Living people 20th-century English actresses 21st-century English actresses Actors from Norwich Age controversies Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Alumni of Homerton College, Cambridge Audiobook narrators Best Actress AACTA International Award winners Best Actress Academy Award winners Best Actress BAFTA Award winners Best Actress BAFTA Award (television) winners Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (television) winners Best Female Comedy Performance BAFTA Award (television) winners Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Best Supporting Actress AACTA International Award winners Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Award (television) winners Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (television) winners British people of Anglo-Indian descent Commanders of the Order of the British Empire English film actresses English people of French descent English stage actresses English television actresses English voice actresses English women comedians European Film Award for Best Actress winners Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners People educated at Gresham's School People educated at Norwich High School for Girls Volpi Cup for Best Actress winners