Olivia Colman is an English actress born on 30 January 1974 in Norwich, Norfolk, with around 120 screen credits. She is best known for playing Queen Anne in The Favourite (2018) and Queen Elizabeth II in the series The Crown. Her film work also includes Hot Fuzz, The Lobster, Locke, Murder on the Orient Express, The Father and Wonka, alongside voice roles in The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Simpsons.
Her honours include the 2019 Academy Award, BAFTA Award and European Film Award for Best Actress, the 2018 Volpi Cup, Golden Globe Awards in 2019 and 2020, and a 2021 Primetime Emmy Award. She has also been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Her upcoming projects, due between late 2026 and early 2027, are Elsinore, The Fox, Pride and Prejudice and Bollywoof.
New & upcoming work
- Elsinore · 20 Nov 2026 · as Margaret Johnson
- The Fox · 26 Nov 2026 · as The Fox (voice)
- Pride and Prejudice · 3 Dec 2026 · as Mrs. Bennet
- Bollywoof · 22 Jan 2027 · as (voice)
Frequent co-stars
- Jessie Buckley · 3 films together: Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, The Lost Daughter, Wicked Little Letters
- Rafe Spall · 2 films together: Hot Fuzz, I Give It a Year
- Antonio Banderas · 2 films together: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Paddington in Peru
- Rachel Weisz · 2 films together: The Lobster, The Favourite
- Colin Firth · 2 films together: Mothering Sunday, Empire of Light
- Mark Gatiss · 2 films together: The Favourite, The Father
Awards won
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2021)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (2020)
- Academy Award for Best Actress (2019)
- BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (2019)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (2019)
- European Film Award for Best Actress (2019)
- Volpi Cup for Best Actress (2018)
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Chortle Awards
Nominations
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (2023)
- Academy Award for Best Actress (2022)
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (2021)
- European Film Award for Best Actress (2019)
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (2019)
- Academy Award for Best Actress (2019)
Career at a glance
First credit: Comic Relief (1988) · Credits: 115
Roles played
Titles reviewed on Drama4U
Wicker2026 · FisherwomanReviewed
Other work
Jimpa2026 · Hannah
Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping2025
The Roses2025 · Ivy Rose
Paddington in Peru2024 · Reverend Mother
Wicked Little Letters2024 · Edith Swan
Wonka2023 · Mrs. Scrubbit
Change the Ending2023 · Narrator
Secret Invasion2023 · Sonya Falsworth
Great Expectations2023 · Miss Havisham
Empire of Light2022 · Hilary
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish2022 · Mama Bear (voice)
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol2022 · Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
Joyride2022 · Joy
The Bear2022 · Chef Terry
Heartstopper2022 · Sarah Nelson
Superworm2021 · Narrator (voice)
The Lost Daughter2021 · Leda Caruso
Landscapers2021 · Susan Edwards
Mothering Sunday2021 · Mrs Clarrie Niven
Show all (60 more)
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain2021 · Narrator
Ron's Gone Wrong2021 · Donka (voice)
The Mitchells vs. the Machines2021 · PAL (voice)
Rosie Jones' Trip Hazard2021 · Voiceover
Cinderella: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas2020 · Fairy Godmother
The Father2020 · Anne
Staged2020 · Olivia
Them That Follow2019 · Hope Slaughter
Les Misérables2018 · Madame Thénardier
Watership Down2018 · Strawberry (voice)
Let's Dance2018 · Segment: "Coffee to Go"
The Favourite2018 · Queen Anne
Thomas & Friends: Here Comes the Steam Team!2018 · Marion (voice)
Unexpected Item2018 · The Till (voice)
All The World's a Stage2018 · The Narrator
Murder on the Orient Express2017 · Hildegarde Schmidt
National Theatre Archive: Mosquitoes2017 · Jenny
We're Going on a Bear Hunt2016 · Mum (voice)
The Crown2016 · Queen Elizabeth II
Thomas and Friends: Ultimate Friendship Adventures2016 · Marion (voice)
Thomas & Friends: Full Steam to the Rescue!2016 · Marion (voice)
Thomas & Friends: Tinsel on the Tracks2016 · Marion (voice)
Fleabag2016 · Godmother
Flowers2016 · Deborah Flowers
Thomas & Friends: Start Your Engines!2016 · Marion (voice)
The Night Manager2016 · Angela Burr
Sugar Free Farm2016 · Narrator
The Lobster2015 · Hotel Manager
Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure: The Movie2015 · Marion (voice)
London Road2015 · Julie
Thomas & Friends: Dinos and Discoveries2015 · Marion (voice)
The Secrets2014 · Pippa
Pudsey the Dog: The Movie2014 · Nelly the Horse (voice)
Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave2014 · Marion (voice)
Mr. Sloane2014 · Janet Sloane
Locke2014 · Bethan (voice)
W1A2014 · Sally Owen
The Kármán Line2014 · Sarah
Cuban Fury2014 · Sam
Duck Quacks Don't Echo2014
The 7.392014 · Maggie Matthews
Thomas & Friends: Signals Crossed2014 · Marion (voice)
The Thirteenth Tale2013 · Margaret
Run2013 · Carol
The Murder in Angel Lane2013 · Susan Spencer
Broadchurch2013 · DS Ellie Miller
I Give It a Year2013 · Linda
Hyde Park on Hudson2012 · Queen Elizabeth
Bad Sugar2012 · Joan Cauldwell
The Iron Lady2011 · Carol Thatcher
Tyrannosaur2011 · Hannah
See Me2011 · Miss
Exile2011 · Nancy Ronstadt
Twenty Twelve2011 · Sally Owen
Accused2010 · Sue Brown
Rev.2010 · Alex- Mister Eleven2009 · Beth
Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee2009 · Olivia
Consuming Passion2008 · Janet / Nurse Violetta Kiss
Beautiful People2008 · Debbie Doonan
and 35 more
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Profile based on TMDB and Wikidata facts and checked against public sources. Career information only.