Amongst a graceful list of gifted actresses, Olivia Colman continues to cement her legacy as one of the very best that Hollywood has to offer. The Academy-Award winning actress has easily become one of the most sought-after talents of the modern generation, and rightfully so, given that her remarkable performances will go down in cinematic history as highly memorable roles. While several of her roles feature dark, gritty performances, she has become widely known for her rapier wit, as seen during her exceptional acceptance speeches at award shows.
As her already successful career continues to blossom, the British actress has received numerous accolades for her emotionally-driven performances that have beautifully graced the silver screen. Most recently, she won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Queen Anne in The Favourite, and an Academy Award nomination for her role in The Father, alongside Anthony Hopkins. Her latest role as Leda Caruso in The Lost Daughter, for which she recently earned a Golden Globe nomination, is set to premiere in theaters in a limited release on December 17, and will stream on Netflix on December 31. Here are Olivia Colman’s best performances so far.
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8 The Lobster
Via: IMDb
Before collaborating on the award-winning period drama in The Favourite, Colman and Lanthimos first teamed up in The Lobster, a dystopian black-comedy extravaganza where single people are placed in the same setting of a hotel and given 45 days to fall in love or be transformed into animals. Colman memorably played the Hotel Manager, an absurd preceptor-type of authority that provides the hotel guests with odd instructions and keeps a tight leash on the rules and restrictions. Despite her character’s general lack of humor and outright blandness, the British actress managed to deliver a healthy dose of comedic relief in one of the most appealing performances of her successful career.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 The Night Manager
Via: SBS
Based on the novel by John le Carré, The Night Manager features a notable cast, including Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. Colman stars in the lead as Angela Burr, an impressive task force operative who enlists the aid of Jonathan Pine (Hiddleston), a former British soldier now serving as the night manager of an opulent hotel in Cairo, for a mission of infiltration. The spy-drama construct proved to be a concrete source of entertainment, despite its run being unfortunately short-lived. Colman’s performance is brilliantly cunning, and went on to win her a Golden Globe.
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6 Tyrannosaur
Written and directed by Paddy Considine, Tyrannosaur is an emotionally-heavy drama that depicts the troubles of severe alcoholism and domestic abuse. Colman portrays Hannah, a warm-hearted Christian shop employee who meets Joseph, a struggling alcoholic with a world full of regret and sorrow. Together, they try to help each other along the way of their stressful, yet completely opposite lives. Critically praised for her haunting performance, Colman portrays the stressful grief and turmoil that abuse victims endure, while still selflessly lending a hand to others in need.
5 Broadchurch
Via: The Killing Times
In the action-packed British crime drama, Olivia Colman plays DS Ellie Miller, a no-nonsense type of detective that finds herself in dramatic situations that test her loyalty and commitment to the difficult job. Opposite the magnificent David Tennant, Colman’s obvious dedication to the role is the reason fans adored her character from the very beginning. Critically praised for its imperative character development, many would argue that Broadchurch was the breakout role that resulted in Colman becoming a household name.
4 The Crown
Via: Radio Times
When it comes to flourishing in British monarch portrayals, Olivia Colman is certainly no stranger to the pressure. Critics and audiences alike applauded the wildly impressive and staggering performance that Colman delivered in her role as Queen Elizabeth II in seasons 3 and 4 of The Crown. Colman’s season 3 portrayal of The Queen takes place from 1964-1977, while her decorated portrayal in the fourth season takes place from 1979-1990. Colman expertly navigates the monarch’s quieter moments, including moments of self-doubt and reflection, between the series’ grander exploration of despair, burden, and reputation.
RELATED: The Crown Becomes Netflix’s Streaming Jewel with Multiple Emmy Award Wins
3 The Father
Via: HeyUGuys
In Florian Zeller’s critically-acclaimed masterpiece, Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins give the performances of their lives when they portray a father and daughter whose relationship becomes strained as the father’s awareness slowly begins to slip. The Father captures a particular aura of hopelessness and the bitter sense of loneliness upon the tragic effects of dementia. Colman’s outstanding performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and it’s a role that is still being discussed nearly two years later.
RELATED: Anthony Hopkins Is Now the Oldest Actor Ever to Win an Oscar at 83
2 Fleabag
Via: Deadline
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s pioneering series continues to create controversy years after the conclusion of Fleabag’s award-winning second (and so far final) season. Colman portrays the overambitious, antagonistic stepmother to Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag. Colman’s Godmother is insanely manipulative and narcissistic, though undoubtedly shines in hilariously funny moments between her character and Fleabag herself. Despite her distaste for Fleabag’s reckless lifestyle and self-absorbed choices, Colman’s stand-out performance easily rings in as one of the best in her illustrious career.
1 The Favourite
Via: Indie Wire
In the role that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, Colman once again portrays a notorious British monarch in the form of Queen Anne in The Favourite. Colman portrays the British Queen amidst professional and personal problems which have deeply affected her judgement and character. She breathed life into the notable presence, with many critics and audiences alike deeming it as the most impressive and breathtaking performance of her career. This period masterpiece marked the second collaboration between Colman and director Yorgos Lanthimos, with the latter believing that Colman took on the role she was destined to play.
