The 10 Best Olivia Colman Roles

Olivia Colman has built a wide-ranging screen career across British television, international cinema, and acclaimed streaming dramas. Her work spans historical biopics, sharp-witted comedies, and tense thrillers, often anchored by collaborations with filmmakers and creators known for distinctive storytelling—among them Yorgos Lanthimos, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Florian Zeller. Across these projects she has received major industry recognition, including Academy Awards, BAFTA Film and TV Awards, and Golden Globes.

This list gathers ten standout roles from films and series where Colman’s characters are central to the story’s momentum—whether as a sovereign at the heart of a court struggle, a detective in a seaside community, or a conflicted academic on holiday. You’ll find key context on each title—creators, directors, networks or distributors, source material, and notable honors—plus concise details on the character’s place in the plot so you can quickly decide what to watch next.

‘The Favourite’ (2018) – Queen Anne

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, ‘The Favourite’ is a period drama set during the War of the Spanish Succession, following political maneuvering inside the court of Queen Anne. The film was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures and features a principal cast including Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. It earned multiple major awards across international festivals and year-end ceremonies, with Colman receiving the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Colman plays Queen Anne, around whom the rivalry between Sarah Churchill and Abigail Masham intensifies as both seek power and influence. The narrative charts alliances, patronage, and policy choices that shape the queen’s household, with Colman’s role positioned at the center of decisions that affect court appointments and wartime priorities.

‘The Crown’ (2019–2020) – Queen Elizabeth II

‘The Crown’ is a Netflix historical drama created by Peter Morgan, chronicling the reign of Queen Elizabeth II across multiple decades with different actors portraying the monarch over time. Colman portrays the queen for the show’s third and fourth seasons, joining a cast that includes Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, and Josh O’Connor. During her tenure on the series, she won major television honors, including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Across her two-season span, Colman’s Elizabeth II is depicted navigating political transitions, international relations, and family developments depicted in the show’s timeline. Her episodes cover state duties, constitutional protocols, and interactions with prime ministers, while storylines integrate documented public events and dramatized private encounters.

‘Broadchurch’ (2013–2017) – DS Ellie Miller

Created by Chris Chibnall for ITV, ‘Broadchurch’ is a crime drama set in a coastal town where a single case opens broader questions about community, trust, and media scrutiny. The ensemble includes David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker, and the series ran for three seasons. Colman received prominent UK television recognition for her performance on the show, including a BAFTA Television Award.

As DS Ellie Miller, Colman partners with DI Alec Hardy on investigations that span multiple seasons, with the first season focused on the death of a local boy and its repercussions. Her character’s responsibilities and personal circumstances intersect with case developments, positioning Miller at key turns in interviews, community relations, and procedural follow-through.

‘Tyrannosaur’ (2011) – Hannah

‘Tyrannosaur’ is a British drama written and directed by Paddy Considine, adapted from his short film ‘Dog Altogether’. The feature premiered at major festivals and garnered multiple British Independent Film Awards, including Best Actress for Colman. The film co-stars Peter Mullan and Eddie Marsan and was distributed in the UK by StudioCanal.

Colman plays Hannah, a charity shop worker whose interactions with Joseph, a man grappling with anger and grief, drive the film’s core relationship. The role involves storylines concerning domestic abuse and faith, with scenes that connect Hannah’s personal life to the film’s exploration of violence, remorse, and the possibility of change.

‘The Father’ (2020) – Anne

Based on Florian Zeller’s stage play ‘Le Père’, ‘The Father’ is a drama directed by Zeller and co-written with Christopher Hampton. The film stars Anthony Hopkins and was released by Sony Pictures Classics in the United States. It received multiple Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay, and Colman earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Colman’s character, Anne, manages caregiving decisions and practical arrangements surrounding her father’s worsening memory condition. The film’s structure presents shifting locations and timelines, and Anne’s scenes are central to how the audience experiences the story’s perspective changes and the challenges of long-term care planning.

‘Fleabag’ (2016–2019) – Godmother

Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and produced by Two Brothers Pictures, ‘Fleabag’ originated from Waller-Bridge’s one-woman stage show and was distributed by the BBC and Amazon. The series ran for two seasons and won major international television awards, with a cast that includes Sian Clifford, Andrew Scott, and Bill Paterson. Colman appears across both seasons in a recurring role credited as the Godmother.

As the Godmother—later the protagonist’s stepmother—Colman’s character is positioned within family gatherings, exhibitions, and relationship negotiations that recur through the series. Her scenes tie into plot threads about inheritance, weddings, and art-world events, linking personal dynamics to public milestones in the family’s calendar.

‘The Lobster’ (2015) – Hotel Manager

‘The Lobster’ is an English-language feature by director Yorgos Lanthimos, co-written with Efthimis Filippou. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize, and it was distributed internationally by companies including A24. The cast features Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Léa Seydoux, and Ben Whishaw, with Colman in a key supporting role.

Colman portrays the Hotel Manager at a resort where single guests must pair up under strict rules within a set timeframe, a premise that drives the film’s social framework. The character oversees enforcement of the institution’s regulations, appearing in orientation scenes, compliance checks, and disciplinary moments that define the setting’s operational logic.

‘The Night Manager’ (2016) – Angela Burr

A BBC and AMC co-production, ‘The Night Manager’ is a miniseries adaptation of John le Carré’s novel, developed by David Farr and directed by Susanne Bier. The ensemble includes Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, and Tom Hollander. Colman received a Golden Globe for her performance, and the series collected multiple awards for acting and direction.

Colman’s character, Angela Burr, is an intelligence officer coordinating an operation to infiltrate an arms network using a hotel night manager as a source. Her scenes cover inter-agency coordination, source protection, and the planning stages of surveillance and cover identities, including plotlines that integrate logistical and legal considerations.

‘The Lost Daughter’ (2021) – Leda Caruso

‘The Lost Daughter’ marks the feature directorial debut of Maggie Gyllenhaal, adapted from Elena Ferrante’s novel of the same name and released by Netflix. The film’s cast includes Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, and Ed Harris, with production taking place in Mediterranean locations that mirror the book’s seaside setting. Colman received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for this role.

As Leda Caruso, Colman plays a literature professor whose holiday becomes intertwined with a young family, prompting recollections that structure the film’s flashback-driven narrative. The role links present-day encounters with earlier life episodes, and the character’s academic background features in scenes involving translation, lectures, and professional commitments referenced in dialogue.

‘Peep Show’ (2003–2015) – Sophie Chapman

‘Peep Show’ is a Channel 4 sitcom created by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, produced by Objective Productions across nine series. The show is notable for its first-person perspective technique and long-running central duo played by David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Colman appears in the cast throughout the show’s run as a regular and recurring presence in key arcs.

As Sophie Chapman, Colman’s character is involved in workplace, friendship, and relationship plots that recur over multiple seasons, including storylines about office hierarchies, weddings, and co-parenting. Her appearances intersect with major milestones for the protagonists, placing Sophie at the center of developments that affect living arrangements and career changes.

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