OLIVIA COLMAN ON
OLIVIA Colman is tipped to walk off with a Golden Globe tonight, turning her from a British national treasure into a global superstar. So hubby Ed had better get the kettle on.
Her stunning performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite could see her reign supreme at the glitzy bash in Beverly Hills.
But she admits that triumphs at awards nights just make her want to go home for a cup of tea after pulling off her big knickers.
Laughing about her last big success in 2013, with two Baftas in one night, she says: “That was amazing that night because I had been nominated for things before and just never got them.
NORMAL
“That was unbelievable. No one expects to get one, but to get two? It was a little bit too much. And I just needed to be normal and take the massive Spanx off – you know the big pants? – and just calm down. So I went home and had a cup of tea.
“Because there’s suddenly a sea of people you don’t know who are talking to you and asking questions and I just wanted to be normal.”
So she chose to unwind with husband Ed Sinclair rather than rub shoulders with A-listers at champerspopping parties. “I just wanted Ed and a cup of tea – let it sink in.”
The mum of three remains modest about tonight’s nomination for best actress in a comedy or musical, saying it was all an enormous surprise.
And the Norwich-raised star, who turns 45 later this month, admits that actor and writer Ed is a key reason for her success. She says he is her unofficial vetting agent, giving her the nod on what roles to take.
And she has been in hit after hit, from Peep Show and 2012 to Broadchurch and The Night Manager.
“Ed always reads everything. We have similar tastes. So I’ve got that sounding board, which is lovely.”
Tonight, the pair will walk down the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton event, alongside Hollywood royalty.
She is up against Emily Blunt’s Mary Poppins, as well as actresses Elsie Fisher, Charlize Theron and Constance Wu. But she reckons the day will be a giggle no matter what.
“When you get nominated for something, for me it always comes as a massive surprise and then an enormous, ‘Oh.’
“It’s really incredibly exciting and you can’t quite believe it, and in all honesty, as a little girl it’s all, ‘Imagine if I won an Oscar?’”
Her Bafta double was for the drama Accused and hit comedy 2012, roles Ed knew were perfect for her.
And she knew Ed was perfect for her when they met when they were both 20.
Just like in the movies, it was love at first sight. She says: “He didn’t really stand a chance.”
They married in 2001. “I had thunderbolts,” she says. “I saw his right-hand profile. I went, ‘I’m going to marry him.’ Poor Ed.” Their older children, Finn and Hall, aged 12 and ten, are not interested in her fame.
“They don’t really care and I’m really pleased. They’re not that bothered. We’ve made a point of it. It’s not the important part of our day. Mummy has a job and she loves it and she’s very happy.
“I want them to have a work ethic and to know that work is not work if you really love it, and the y ’ r e deliciously sort of