Biography
Who is Olivia Colman?
Early life and education
Born Sarah Caroline Colman in Norwich, United Kingdom, she is the daughter of nurse Mary Leakey Colman and Chartered Surveyor Keith Colman. She attended Norwich High School for Girls and completed her sixth form education at Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk. During her time at school, she performed in a production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at age 16.
Before pursuing acting full-time, Olivia attended Homerton College to study primary education. She eventually enrolled at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where she graduated in 1999. While at university, she auditioned for the Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club and met future collaborators David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Because an actress named Sarah Colman was already registered with the actors union Equity, she adopted the stage name Olivia Colman.
Television career
Olivia Colman began her professional career in 2000 with the BBC sketch show Bruiser. She became widely recognized for her role as Sophie in the long-running Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show. Throughout the 2000s, she appeared in various British television series including Green Wing, That Mitchell and Webb Look, Beautiful People, and Rev. She also gained critical attention for her work in the crime series Accused and the comedy Twenty Twelve, the latter of which earned her a BAFTA Award.
Her television work continued with significant roles in Broadchurch, where she played DS Ellie Miller, and The Night Manager, where she portrayed Angela Burr. In the Netflix period drama The Crown, she took on the role of Queen Elizabeth II for two seasons. Her television credits also include appearances in Les Misérables, Landscapers, Heartstopper, and The Bear.
Film career and awards
Her transition into major film roles brought her global recognition. She starred in the 2018 black-comedy film The Favourite, portraying Anne, Queen of Great Britain. This performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Olivia also received Academy Award nominations for her work in the dramas The Father and The Lost Daughter. Earlier in her career, she received acclaim for her role in Paddy Considine's directorial debut Tyrannosaur. She appeared as Carol Thatcher in the film The Iron Lady alongside Meryl Streep.
Over her career, Olivia has received numerous accolades for her performances across stage, television, and film. These honors include an Academy Award for Best Actress and several BAFTA Awards for leading and supporting roles. She has won multiple Golden Globe Awards, both for her work in television dramas and musical or comedy films. Also, she received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival. Her recognition extends to European cinema, having won the European Film Award for Best Actress. She was also honored with a Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown.
Birthday and age
Olivia Colman was born on January 30, 1974, which makes Olivia 52 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Olivia shares the date with 52 other famous people.
Explore more
