| Olivia Colman |
| Born |
Sarah Caroline Colman
(1974-01-30) 30 January 1974 (age 38)
Norfolk, England, UK[1] |
| Occupation |
Actress |
Olivia Colman (born Sarah Caroline Colman; 30 January 1974) [2] is a BAFTA nominated English actress, best known for her supporting roles in various comedy shows, such as Sophie Chapman in Peep Show, Alex Smallbone in Rev. and Harriet Schulenburg in Green Wing. She gave a breakthrough performance in the 2011 film Tyrannosaur for which she received outstanding critical acclaim.[3]
Colman was born in Norfolk and educated at two local independent schools: Norwich High School for Girls and Gresham's School in Holt. She went on to Homerton College, Cambridge and spent a term doing a primary school teacher training course. While at Cambridge she first met future co-stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb[4] and "accidentally" auditioned for the Footlights.[5] Eventually she decided to switch to drama and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[6]
Colman has appeared in roles in numerous comedy films and other BBC, ITV and Channel 4 television programmes such as Bruiser, People Like Us, Look Around You, Black Books, The Office, The Time Of Your Life and provided the voice-over for Five's poll for Britain’s Funniest Comedy Character. She regularly features in BBC Radio 4 comedies, such as Concrete Cow, Think the Unthinkable, The House of Milton Jones, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. She is also the voice of Minka, the Polish secretary in the Radio 4 comedy Hut 33, set in a fictional codebreaking hut of the real-life Bletchley Park during World War II.[7]
Her film credits include the British mockumentary film Confetti (in which she plays a naturist with Robert Webb - she has described the role as "the worst experience of my life"),[6] Alice in Grow Your Own, Doris Thatcher in Hot Fuzz, and I Could Never Be Your Woman. Colman appeared as 'Bev', alongside Mark Burdis as 'Kev', in a series of television adverts for AA car insurance. She provided voices for the Andrex "be kind to your behind" adverts and Glade fragrance adverts, where her character is a gorilla.
In October and November 2008, Colman appeared in the BBC sitcom Beautiful People, based on the life of Simon Doonan, as Debbie Doonan, Simon's mother. She also made a guest appearance in Skins, in the third-series episode "Naomi" as Naomi's mother Gina. In 2010, Colman took a leading role as Alex Smallbone, the wife of an inner city vicar, in the BBC sitcom Rev. Also in 2010, she played "Mother" in Matt Smith's debut Doctor Who story.
In January 2011, Colman won a Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Breakout Performances for her role in the film Tyrannosaur.[8] In spring 2011, Colman appeared in the BBC drama Exile, written by Danny Brocklehurst and starring John Simm and Jim Broadbent.
Later that year, she starred alongside Meryl Streep and Jim Broadbent in the Academy Award-winning film The Iron Lady. In her BAFTA acceptance speech for Best Actress, Streep thanked Colman and heralded her as "divinely gifted."
Colman is a central member of comedians Mitchell & Webb's acting ensemble. Colman met the duo when they were all students at Cambridge University, and has collaborated with both or one of them on various projects.[6] She has appeared with them in numerous TV and radio projects, such as radio's That Mitchell and Webb Sound, and the television version, That Mitchell and Webb Look. She decided to leave the programme after deciding that she was becoming too closely associated with the duo and needed to widen her horizons: a decision that was made "with tears".[9] She will continue to appear on Peep Show.
Colman is a major collaborator of actor/director Paddy Considine's acting ensemble. Colman met Considine when they were both acting in Hot Fuzz, and she has stated that he "is extraordinary and amazing".[10] She has acted with Considine in two films, Shane Meadows Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee and Hot Fuzz. Colman was also a leading cast member in Considine's first two directorial exploits; Dog Altogether and Tyrannosaur. It is for her role in Tyrannosaur that Colman has won several awards including; World cinema special jury prize, dramatic for breakout performance at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, and the 2012 Kermode Award for Best Actress (joint with Tilda Swinton for her role in We Need To Talk About Kevin. Her shock omission from the 2012 BAFTA nominations list led to outcry among her fellow industry professionals.
Colman lives in London with her husband Ed Sinclair, whom she met at Cambridge[5], and their two children.[6]
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Colman, Olivia |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
30 January 1974 |
| Place of birth |
Norfolk, England, UK |
| Date of death |
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