Photo: Soccer Aid for UNICEF / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Olivia Colman proves my pet theory that comedy is the hardest training ground and the best one. She spent years in British comedy before the world caught up, and when it did, with the 2018 Volpi Cup and then the 2019 Academy Award for The Favourite, she accepted it all with a disarming, giggly bewilderment I find genuinely moving. From a queen in The Crown to the barbed godmother in Fleabag, she layers cruelty, warmth, and absurdity into a single glance. No working actor toggles between hilarious and devastating with less visible effort. She is, for my money, the finest argument for the late bloomer.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Olivia Colman
- Name (Japanese)
- オリヴィア・コールマン
- Reading
- おりゔぃあ・こーるまん
- Born
- January 30, 1974 (age 52)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Tiger
- Origin
- Norwich, United Kingdom
- Occupation
- actor / comedian / stage actor / film actor / philanthropist
2. Background
- High school
- Norwich High School for Girls
- University
- Homerton College
Awards & achievements
- 2018 Volpi Cup for Best Actress
- 2019 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
- 2020 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Chortle Awards
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Favourite | — | |
| Notable work | The Crown | — | |
| Notable work | Fleabag | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Olivia Colman born?
Born January 30, 1974 (age 52).
Where is Olivia Colman from?
Olivia Colman is from Norwich, United Kingdom.
What does Olivia Colman do?
Olivia Colman works as actor, comedian, stage actor, film actor, philanthropist.
What is Olivia Colman known for?
Notable works include The Favourite, The Crown, Fleabag.
Actor — see all → · Comedian — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.