One of the highlights of the Golden Globes was British actress Olivia Colman’s speech. She won Best Actress for her role as Queen Anne in The Favourite, and she thanked “my bitches,” her costars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. She called it so much fun working with them and said she misses it. She also enthused about riding on a private jet and eating constantly to gain weight for the role. I haven’t seen The Favourite yet, but I know her from The Lobster. (She’s also on The Crown as a middle-aged Queen Elizabeth, she has tons of TV credits and she’s been on Broadchurch and The Night Manager.) I found an interview she did with Entertainment Tonight after her big win, that video is above, and she was just as genuinely excited, lovely and down-to-earth as during her acceptance speech. It was a joy to watch.
In the opener to her speech she said “thank you for the sandwiches,” which was a reference to the ham sandwiches Melissa McCarthy handed out before the show. (Apparently guests are fed early in the evening which leaves the bigger stars, who come in later, without food. Melissa knew this and brought food in for people!) ET’s Kevin Frazier asked her about the sandwiches and she explained how good they were.
On playing Queen Elizabeth
I got to do an impression of Claire [Foy] and The Queen. It’s so much fun to do.On working on The Favourite
We had such a ball. We genuinely got on so well. I think we will be friends for life. Really gorgeous women.Her favorite part of playing Queen Ann
I loved being able to eat a load. I needed to put on weight to play her. So that was really enjoyable.On the sandwiches
Melissa McCarthy brought sandwiches. She had a massive bag. On the previous years she said she got so hungry so she brought a big bag of sandwiches. [They were] really good. Ham and brie on french bread. They were on the table when we got there. Melissa McCarthy thank you so much. You stopped me from being too drunk.
My idea of a ham sandwich involves sliced bread and swiss cheese from a package. I shouldn’t be surprised that Melissa passed out fancy catered sandwiches with brie on French bread but I pictured a pedestrian sandwich like I would make. In fact they were all prepackaged in their own wrappers and were from Joan’s on Third in LA.
Now I want to see Olivia Colman in all the things! She’s so likable and real. The Favourite isn’t out on demand until next month so I’ll have to see it in theaters. I feel so behind this year as I’ve barely seen any of the films likely to be nominated. I am never going to see Green Book, so there’s one movie I don’t have to bother with.
photos credit: WENN
Start with Peep Show if you want a real treat and of course to see this fabulously gifted woman’s range. I’m so thrilled to see her getting the international attention she deserves.
eta – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387764/
Second this – adore Peep show
Also Hot Fuzz. Olivia is an absolute treasure.
@Jewell I loved Hot Fuzz! I didn’t realize she was in that!
I just binge rewatched all the Peep show that exists and while M&W are always incredible Olivia Coleman makes so many storylines so rich with her talent.
She is also on at least one of the Mitchell & Webb sketch shows.
Seconding the Peep Show recommendation, the Mitchell and Webb recommendation, and she had a recurring role on Green Wing, a hospital comedy which I think is currently on Hulu — it’s surreal but very funny if you like absurdity. Bonus: it’s got Michelle Gomez as a legitimately insane HR director — she was Missy in Doctor Who, and Madame Satan in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and she is fucking delightful.
Yes!!! I was going to recommend Green Wing. She was fantastic in that, in fact the entire cast were amazing.
Oh, yes! Loved Green Wing, and Olivia had some hilarious scenes in it.
You MUST check out Green Wing. It is perfection, and everyone you love is in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAssh20BF-k
She was an absolute riot in Peep Show. That’s what I know her from too. I’m so excited to see her making waves across the pond. She was a delight in The Favourite, in a really juicy, layered role. She looked so glorious at the Globes too. I think it’s safe to say that her Oscar nom is on lock, no?
Peep Show is GREAT! She is also in my favorites ‘Rev.’, ‘Beautiful People’, and ‘That Mitchell & Web Look’! I went to see The Favourite just because she was in it. (Wasn’t she also in The Iron Lady?)
She was brilliant and amazing in The Night Manager, excellent in Broadchurch- though be warned that show is bleak.
And I loved The Favourite. Can’t wait for the new season of The Crown.
Hot Fuzz.
Tyrannosaur.
(Bev ‘n’ Kev…. just kidding…)
She’s got range in spades.
She’s fantastic in Fleabag, a Pheobe Waller-Bridge miniseries, as PWB’s evil stepmom.
Yes! Loved Fleabag and she really did a wonderful job of being a hateful stepmom – I wanted to slap that smirk/fake smile off her face even though I love her as an actress!
I could watch her ask Hugh Laurie if he’s feeling discombobulated in TNM on an endless loop. She had some great scenes with Tobias Menzies too so I’m really looking forward to them together in The Crown.
Wasn’t she just fantastic in The Night Manager. She was the best thing about that series.
Went to see The Favourite last night (cheap tuesdays!) and I was surprised by how much I liked it. The acting is great. It’s probably Emma Stone’s best acting to date (which means she only got an Oscar because the Academy likes self-congratulations with that terrible movie La La Land).
Also, french ham is delicious. So add that to brie and baguette and it’s on another level.
She was also great in “Rev,” “W1A,” “Twenty Twelve,” and “The Lobster.” It’s so wonderful people are appreciating her. She’s great at both comedy and drama.
Just watched the W1A and loved it. Will have to check out Twelve twenty. Currently bingeing Line of Duty, so I’m on all British tv watching streak.
She stars in “Rev” with Tom Hollander, the same person who was in “The Night Manager” with her. Talk about totally different roles for each of them.
She is great! I forget where I first saw her act, she is incredible. Can’t wait for the next season of The Crown.
I watched Graham Norton’s NYE special last night and she is so down to earth and genuine.
If you have a chance, do watch her Who Do You Think You Are. She is every bit as charming and delightful as one would expect “in real life.”
She’s been on Graham Norton a few times. She usually can’t remember the names of the characters she’s played 🙂
I saw her on stage in London in a fantastic play called Mosquitoes (about a very dysfunctional family). She was mesmerising. Managed to combine humour and pathos on a very dark story.
Melissa was channeling Sookie with those sandwiches.
watch her in Flowers(on Amazon I think – mebbe netflix) – very ,very dark but also absolutely excellent.
She was in The Lobster? I do not remember her in that weirdo movie but I also did not know who she was at the time. She played the hotel manager but the only people I remember are Collin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, and Léa Seydoux. I discovered her in Broadchurch (and she is SO GOOD in that which is the only reason I’ve decided to start watching The Crown).
God bless the Brits! They place talent ahead of looks and so we get to enjoy marvelous performances from women like Olivia who are not possessed of conventional Hollywood beauty. No wonder my most satisfying and memorable Netflix viewing has included Broadchurch, Shetland, Happy Valley, River, etc. Not a raving beauty in the bunch, but God what acting! Hollywood, take note.
I was prepared to love The Favourite, but I must admit I got bored. The performances are certainly stellar and I think these ladies deserve the recognition they’re getting, but without getting into spoiler territory, the environment and the some of the back-and-forth in the plot left me feeling tired. I think it would have been better were it about 20 minutes shorter.
I watched the Night Manager but I would not have put two and two together, but now that you have mentioned that then of course, that was her! I think I might be a little bit in love with her after her speech.
However, talking about the sadwitches, I would have stayed hungry, I hate white bread. I come from Lithuania (which is a small state that is about to get fucked by Putin because of pro-expansion policy enabler of Vlad – the orange tyrant), we are spoiled here with variety of dark bread. It is fantastic. I wish you all could try sandwiches with it.
I remember a cameo she did in the Five(ish) Doctor reboot she and Sean Pertwee were discussing whether they were invited to appear and she made a comment about being in everything.
She has been in so many things over the years it is just lovely that she is finally getting more recognition for her work.
I first noticed her in a small part in The Office (UK). I saw The Favourite and it was FANTASTIC.
I highly recommend Rev – I think it’s still on Hulu. It’s with her and Tom Hollander. I LOVE Olivia and am very excited to see her play Queen Elizabeth.