The actress, who is the 'Queen Elizabeth' of the TV series "The Crown", recited a poem for earthquake victims in Turkey: Who is Olivia Colman?

Her full name is Sarah Caroline Colman, she was born on January 30, 1974 in Norwich. She was born the daughter of her mother, nurse Mary, and her father, contract surveyor Keith Colman. She made her first role at age 16 as Jean Brodie in a school production called "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie". As an inspiration to herself, she talked about her mother's interrupted career as a ballet dancer.

She started her education by taking a one-term primary education at Homerton College, Cambridge. Colman continued her education in drama at Bristol Old Vic Theater School, graduating in 1999. During her time at Cambridge, she appeared on the Channel 4 TV show "The Word" in 1995 under the pseudonym 'Colly'.

She made her professional debut in the 2000 TV comedy sketch show "Bruiser" for BBC Two. Throughout her career, Colman has appeared in several BBC, ITV and Channel 4 television series at different times. These include the fake documentary "People Like Us", the parody "Look Around You", the sitcom "Black Books", the TV mockumentary sitcom "The Office" and the TV series "The Time of Your Life". 

In addition, she regularly appears in productions on BBC Radio 4 such as the comedy "Concrete Cow", the sitcom "Think the Unthinkable", the radio comedy series "The House of Milton Jones" and "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" based on the detective novel.  She also voiced Polish secretary Minka in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom "Hut 33". Working with comedians Mitchell and Webb on several different projects, Colman played Sophie on the 2003 Channel 4 tv sitcom "Peep Show." In addition, Colman appeared on the comedy sketch show "That Mitchell and Webb Sound" and the sketch comedy television show "That Mitchell and Webb Look".

From 2004 to 2006, she appeared as Harriet Schulenburg in the sitcom "Green Wing" created by Victoria Pile. Later that year, she was cast as one of the lead roles in the mockumentary romantic comedy film "Confetti" directed by Debbie Isitt. The film, which was not well received in reviews, was a moderate success at the box office. The following year, she appeared in the comedy "Grow Your Own" directed by Richard Laxton and the action comedy "Hot Fuzz" directed by Edgar Wright. The latter was both highly appreciated and a financial hit at the box office.

From 2008 to 2009, she appeared as Debbie Doonan in the comedy-drama television series "Beautiful People" aired on BBC Two. The series, which lasted two seasons, was met with positive reviews and garnered 1.5 million viewers in its first season. In 2010, she co-starred with Tom Hollander in the television sitcom "Rev." (2010-2014), produced by Big Talk Productions and shown on BBC Two. Meanwhile, she appeared as Nancy Ronstadt in the psychological thriller television series "Exile" aired on BBC One.

She then appeared in the main cast as Sally Owen in the BBC television comedy series "Twenty Twelve" (2011-2012), written and directed by John Morton. In the same year, she got a lead role in the drama film "Tyrannosaur" written and directed by Paddy Considine. For her performance, she won the BIFA Award for Best Actress in a British Independent Film and the Empire Award for Best Actress. She then appeared as Carol Thatcher in a biographical drama film "The Iron Lady" directed by Phyllida Lloyd and based on the life and career of politician Margaret Thatcher. Her performance won the London Film Critics Circle British Actress of the Year Award.

In 2013, she began acting as Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller in the crime drama television series "Broadchurch" created by Chris Chibnall. Colman was nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Actress and won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for her performance.

In 2015, she acted in the absurd black comedy drama film "The Lobster" directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Her performance earned her a nomination for the London Film Critics Circle's Supporting Actress of the Year Award and the BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress. The following year, she appeared in the television series "The Night Manager" directed by Susanne Bier, with Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Tom Hollander, David Harewood and Elizabeth Debicki. Colman received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for her performance. In the same year, she co-starred with Julian Barratt in the black comedy-drama sitcom "Flowers" written by Will Sharpe.

Later in the year, she told 35 episodes in the documentary program "The Secret Life of the Zoo". Around the same time, she appeared in the comedy-drama television series "Fleabag" as the godmother. In 2017, she was part of the cast of the mystery film "Murder on the Orient Express" directed by Kenneth Branagh. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film was a huge box office success. In 2018, she voiced Strawberry in the animated adventure fantasy drama series "Watership Down" directed by Noam Murro.

Later, she appeared in the black comedy "The Favorite" directed by Yorgos Lanthimos as the Queen Mother with Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. For her performance, she received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and an Academy Award. She then appeared as Madame Rosalie Thénardier in the television series "Les Misérables", based on the French historical novel of the same name directed by Tom Shankland.

In 2017, Colman starred in Queen Elizabeth II in the third and fourth seasons of the Netflix historical drama series "The Crown". She played the role of Elizabeth. She won two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for her performance. In both seasons featuring Colman, she received critical acclaim.

In the following years, Colman took the lead role with Anthony Hopkins in the psychological drama film "The Father" directed by Florian Zeller. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was highly praised. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. The following year, she co-starred with Odessa Young, Josh O'Connor and Colin Firth in the romantic drama "Mothering Sunday", based on the novel of the same name directed by Eva Husson.

In the same year, she appeared as the narrator in the biographical comedy-drama film "The Electrical Life of Louis Wain" directed by Will Sharpe. She then starred in a computer-animated science fiction comedy film "The Mitchells vs the Machines" directed by Mike Rianda and in the animated science fiction comedy "Ron's Gone Wrong" directed by Sarah Smith and Jean-Philippe Vine.

Also in 2021, she starred as Susan Edwards in a true crime black comedy drama miniseries called "Landscapers" directed by Will Sharpe. She then took the lead role in the psychological drama film "The Lost Daughter", based on the novel of the same name directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Her performance earned him Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Academy Award nominations. In 2022, she appeared as Sarah Nelson in the romantic comedy drama television series "Heartstopper" on Netflix. She won a Child and Family Emmy Award for Best Guest Performance for her performance.

In 2022, she took a lead role as Joy in the coming-of-age comedy film "Joyride" directed by Emer Reynolds. In the same year, she co-starred with Michael Ward, Toby Jones and Colin Firth in the romantic drama film "Empire of Light" directed by Sam Mendes. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her acclaimed performance. In addition, she had a voiceover role in the computer-animated adventure-comedy film "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and a computer-animated musical fantasy comedy drama film "Scrooge: A Christmas Carol". The first, as well as a sequel, was both a critical and commercial success after its release. It became the tenth highest-grossing film of 2022.

The following year, she starred as Miss Havisham in the historical fiction "Great Expectations" based on a novel. It has been announced that Colman will star in the television mini-series "Secret Invasion", based on the Marvel Comics story of the same name. She has also been rumored to star in the musical fantasy movie "Wonka" and is scheduled to hit theaters on December 15, 2023. Additionally, Colman will produce and star in the comedy mystery film "Wicked Little Letters" directed by Thea Sharrock.

Private life

In the late 1990s, Colman met third-year law student Ed Sinclair. The couple got married in 2001. The couple have three children and live with the Colman family in South London.

Colman is involved in various institutions, organizations, associations and meetings in different fields, supporting the issue of preventing violence and sexual abuse, supporting women in distress and many campaigns for the terminally ill.