Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Star Olivia is Taylor made for Oscars...
WIN or lose, Oscars hopeful Olivia Colman has already added a third glittering prize to her BAFTA and Golden Globe – an unlikely friendship with superstar singer Taylor Swift.
And, amazingly, the British actress – nominated for Best Leading Actress at tonight’s awards – and her new best buddy bonded doing KARAOKE.
Olivia, 45, co-starred with Taylor’s British boyfriend Joe Alwyn, 28, in The Favourite and they celebrated her Bafta win this month belting out hits with fellow actress Melissa McCarthy, 48.
But it was 50million album-selling Taylor – 16 years her junior – who really hit it off with Olivia.
A source revealed: “After the Baftas, Taylor sang up a storm with Olivia, Joe and Melissa at a London hotel. They had their own room and Olivia and Taylor were behaving like best buddies.
“Taylor thinks Olivia is amazing – she loves her and the sing-song wasn’t a one-off. They’ve already made plans for Oscars week. They’re getting back together for a rerun of the karaoke, and Olivia has even been to Taylor and Joe’s home in Los Angeles too.”
Olivia made time for a family day out to Disneyland in California yesterday. Led by a VIP
tour guide, Olivia, actor husband Ed and kids Finn, 14, and Hall, 12, rode on the Mad Tea Party cups, Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride and Gadget’s Go Coaster.
And they enjoyed Cajun-inspired cuisine at the Blue Bayou restaurant.
Sadly for 4-1 shot Olivia, rival Glenn Close, 71, has raced past her as the hot favourite for a gong for her role in The Wife. Major bookies now have Glenn as a cert for her first Oscar after losing out six times before.
Expert Johnny Avello said Olivia was the hot tip after winning a Golden Globe in January but “since then momentum has shifted and Glenn is now a pretty strong favourite with odds of 1-8.
“The Wife is nowhere to be found in the Oscars except this category, which shows how strong her performance was.
“There is also a sentiment that she deserves to win for her catalogue of great work. There’s no question voters are sympathetic to those who’ve missed out in the past. But Olivia does have a chance – The Favourite was liked by the Academy as it is down for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress.”
Johnny, of DraftKings’ Sportsbook, also predicts double British disappointment
Welshman Christian Bale, 45 – Dick Cheney in Vice – is likely to be pipped to Best Leading Actor award by Rami Malek, 37, who plays Freddie Mercury in Bohemian
Rhapsody.
The 91st Academy Awards are on Sky Cinema at 10pm tonight