10 Best Olivia Colman Movies & TV Shows to Stream Right Now
After seeing Olivia Colman work her magic in The Father, Fleabag and The Crown, we’ve made up our minds: The British star is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood.
With an Academy Award, three Golden Globes and four BAFTA Awards under her belt, Colman is truly a force to be reckoned with. And now, it looks like she’s inching her way towards a possible Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, thanks to her phenomenal performance in Netflix’s The Crown. Naturally, we thought we’d celebrate the talented actor by rounding up some of her best work, from tragicomedies to poignant dramas. Keep reading to see 10 Olivia Colman movies and TV shows you can stream.
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1. ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (2017)
Prepare to travel back to the ‘30s in this mystery film, where a famous detective tries to solve a murder on the luxury Orient Express train. Colman stars as Hildegarde Schmidt, the humble maid of Princess Natalia Dragomiroff (Judi Dench). But her character’s quiet nature only makes her more suspicious. Watch for the suspense and stunning period costumes.
2. ‘The Favourite’ (2018)
Set in 18th century England, the film follows cousins Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz) and Abigail Masham (Emma Stone) as they compete to win the favor of Queen Anne, played by none other than Colman. Considering her brilliant portrayal of the monarch in this black comedy, it’s no wonder she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
3. ‘Tyrannosaur’ (2011)
This poignant tale centers on an unemployed widower (Peter Mullan) who struggles with alcoholism and takes his bitterness out on other people. But when he crosses paths with a Christian woman named Hannah (Colman), the two start an unlikely friendship that winds up saving them both. It’s impossible to not be moved by Colman and Mullan’s powerful performances.
4. ‘Les Misérables’ (British series)
Set in post-Napoleonic France (and adapted from Victor Hugo's novel of the same name), the series follows Jean Valjean (Dominic West), a former prisoner who’s desperate to move on with his life. But this proves to be a challenge when his nemesis and prison guard, Javert (David Oyelowo), sets out to capture him. Colman plays the conniving Madame Rosalie Thénardier, who co-owns an inn with her husband.
5. ‘Fleabag’
Colman was born to play problematic characters, and her performance in Fleabag is the gold standard. In the tragicomedy series, she plays Fleabag's godmother turned stepmom, and clearly, Fleabag has a serious bone to pick with the sex-obsessed artist. From the godmother’s microaggressions to her lack of respect for boundaries, Colman embodies the kind of villain that we all just love to hate.
6. ‘The Father’ (2020)
In this heartbreaking drama, Colman plays Anne, the daughter of an ailing father (Anthony Hopkins) who struggles with dementia and refuses any care. The British star shines as she desperately tries to care for a man who seems beyond help.
7. ‘Broadchurch’
In the fictional English town of Broadchurch, detectives Ellie Miller (Colman) and Alec Hardy (David Tennant) investigate the mysterious death of an 11-year-old boy. Coleman’s portrayal of the strong-willed Ellie earned her a BAFTA Award and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actress.
8. ‘The Crown’
Given her stellar performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite, it's only fitting that Colman would be cast as another reigning British monarch. The actress succeeded Claire Foy to portray Queen Elizabeth in seasons three and four, and her ability to capture Her Majesty’s essence is seriously impressive.
9. ‘Flowers’
This two-season comedy series is a testament to Colman's incredible range. On the show, she plays a music teacher who shares two adult children with her writer husband, Maurice (Julian Barratt), who’s dealing with depression. The bizarre family will make your own feel a little less dysfunctional (which is basically why we watch TV in the first place).
10. ‘The Night Manager’
Based on John le Carré's book of the same title, the miniseries follows Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), a former British soldier who gets recruited by Angela Burr (Colman), manager of a Foreign and Commonwealth Office task force, to participate in a risky mission that involves an arms dealer. The show was nominated for an impressive 36 awards and won eleven of them, including two Primetime Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards.
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