ENDEARING OLIVIA
HOW SHE WON EVERYONE OVER
How she won everyone over
Heading into the Oscars, she certainly wasn’t the favourite to win Best Actress – despite it being the name of the film she starred in.
But Olivia Colman proved the bookies wrong and took to the stage to receive the gong, ahead of the likes of front-runner Glenn Close and Lady Gaga, with the English star’s speech breathless and bewildered but entirely lovable. The 45-year-old has been busily working away for years, after getting her first break in the TV series The Mitchell and
Webb Situation.
Here in New Zealand she really came to our attention in the gripping TV series Broadchurch as well as The Night
Manager and has been in demand ever since. Shortly after her win, the mum of
three revealed how she’s feeling about her magical moment and what’s coming up next.
Congratulations! How does it feel to be an Oscar winner?
I don’t know! I just can’t believe it. I’m honestly stunned. It’s going to take a long time for this to sink in.
What was going through your mind when your name was announced as the winner?
Just pure shock. Everything else was a blur of trying not to trip over and to remember to thank everybody – which hopefully I did!
You mentioned your first job as a cleaner in your acceptance speech. What kind of cleaner were you?
A very good one, I like to think! Yes, I was a cleaning lady back in my
college days
before I met Mitchell and Webb. I had dropped out of teacher training and was cleaning just to earn a little money. I know people usually say how much they hate their first jobs, but I actually loved mine. I loved cleaning skirting boards and things like that. It was pure job satisfaction.
What made you stick with acting in the end?
Because it’s the only thing I’ve ever been good at. I always wanted to act and, despite how hard it was to get work early on, I never gave up hope. I remember my mum saying I should give it a year before maybe trying something else. I ended up giving it 10. That’s how long it took and how hard this business can be.
Of all the stars congratulating you on your win, was there one that perhaps left you a little starstruck?
Oh lots. Julia Roberts was probably the big one. I have been watching her forever on screen and then suddenly there she was in front of me saying congratulations!
She was so lovely.
Does it feel like you are now, finally, getting the recognition for all those years of hard work?
I really don’t feel like this is something I deserve because everyone works hard. More than anything, I feel surprised and incredibly lucky to have worked with the people I have, and to have the support that I’ve got.
How are you coping with the new level of fame this has brought you?
I’m not! The fame thing is hard. It’s not that people aren’t kind, because they certainly have been, but I like anonymity.
All of this is very new to me. Being home with my husband and the kids is much more me, but it’s something we’re having to get used to.
Do you enjoy all the glitz and glamour that comes with awards season?
To a degree. It’s been great having our little gang together from
The Favourite to
help get me through it all, but the posh dresses and high heels aren’t really me.
What is it about your portrayal of Queen Anne that won over audiences and critics?
I like to think it was me, but I think mostly it was in the writing and the direction. My Queen Anne is a lot less reverential than anything we have seen on screen before. She swears, she’s more modern and there’s lots of sex, which isn’t something you usually get to experience in a period drama.
Did you ever imagine this film would be such a success?
I knew as soon as I read the script that it was beautifully written and that it was going to be a very special film, but no, never in my wildest dreams did I think it would lead to any of this. I just knew it was the kind of project I like and an absolute dream of a role.
You’ve been filming your role as Queen Elizabeth II for
The Crown during this awards season. Can we expect another stunning royal performance from you?
I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see how it turns out. You never know, I might be terrible!
Has it been odd getting all this attention for
playing one queen while playing another?
Well, I’ll only play queens now, so it’s something I’ll have to get used to! No, seriously, Queen Elizabeth II is very different to Queen Anne in just about every way possible, so other than having to do all this while working, it hasn’t been too odd.
What are you looking to do now in terms of movie roles given all the offers that are going to be coming your way?
Well, we’ll have to wait and see about that too. I’m just looking for what I have always have – characters that speak to me... I have to admit, I’m a little nervous because I’ve always had this thing where I worry I might not get any more work at all. Even now I don’t take anything for granted.