Many people know Academy Award-Winning actress Olivia Colman from doing just that: winning awards, whether it’s for The Crown, The Favourite, The Father, The Lost Daughter, or Tyrannosaur. Her career has been marked by her more serious and dramatic roles which put her in a position to win many awards, being nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars three times in the past four years. She won an award at literally every televised awards ceremony except SAG in 2018 for The Favourite.
However, many don’t know that Colman’s career began with a hilarious stint in comedy. Colman brings her comedic background to nearly every role she has, even if it is not obvious. Her comedic beginnings have allowed Colman to shine in the spotlight and take it all in stride. Colman is known as a dramatic powerhouse, and fans of hers may have known her before her Oscars win(s), but that first win was many viewers’ introduction to the actress. Since then, Olivia Colman has been on a streak of massively successful dramatic roles. It has begged many to ask: What came before?
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5 The Office U.K.
While everyone and their grandmother have seen the American version, The Office (U.K. ) has long been overlooked. This show helped launch the careers of its stars (like creator Ricky Gervais and actor Martin Freeman), including budding comedic actor Olivia Colman. Colman may have only appeared in a single episode, the second to last of the series, but she left an impact on fans.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Despite Colman only having a guest role, she carried the humor and comedic pacing of the episode, making it one of the funniest of the series. Her comedic timing has always been impeccable, but it is on full display in this appearance. The great British show itself only ran for two seasons and a special episode, so considering how late Colman came onto the series, it’s possible her role could have been recurring if the show had continued. Fans of Colman would be remiss to breeze over this role when viewing the actress’ funniest.
4 Peep Show
Channel 4 / All3Media
Long before Colman’s Oscars win and her critical acclaim in the states, she was a British star with her role in Peep Show. The show uses an innovative POV camera style, and while not watched by many outside Britain, is insanely popular in the country (with nine seasons) and drove Colman to national fame.
In Peep Show, Colman was able to demonstrate her impeccable knowledge and use of physical comedy. Her character, Sophie, makes hilarious, expressive faces that made viewers laugh without any dialogue exchanged. Mastery of gesture and being able to say so much without words is a challenging feat for many actors, but it also can be seen in Colman’s later dramatic works as well. This is just one of the many elements of Colman’s performance that enthralled and captivated audiences. Peep Show may have premiered in 2003, but it had an indelibe effect on modern British comedy and Colman’s continued flourishing career.
3 Green Wing
Channel 4
Green Wing may feel a little too present for current viewers, as it takes place in a fictional hospital, but it does still contain one of Colman’s best comedic performances as a quiet, lusted-after, pregnant office worker. While the show did take place in a hospital, it was still able to follow an absurdist comedy format (along with wildly innovative editing, direction, and music) which viewers thoroughly enjoyed. The show is a wacky, visually stimulating comedy, and Colman played it relatively straight while acting against increasingly zany situations, elevating the comedy and capturing British hearts.
2 That Mitchell and Webb Look
BBC
Sketch comedy shows were where Colman got her start; the sketch writers and performers David Mitchell and Robert Webb worked with her on BBC radio before casting her in their television series, and she absolutely thrives in That Mitchell and Webb Look. Mitchell, Webb, and Colman worked concurrently on Peep Show with this sketch comedy show, creating two of the best British comedies simultaneously.
Though she didn’t play a specific character, making it perhaps her least memorable show here, That Mitchell and Webb Look allowed Colman to expand her acting repertoire and comedic abilities. The show challenged Colman and her ability to think on her feet and collaborate with costars on the fly, and gave her the opportunity to try on a variety of characters. Despite the show not reaching the widest of audiences, viewers of That Mitchell and Webb Lookadored Colman and many are still fans of her to this day.
1 Fleabag
Audiences are used to seeing Olivia Colman in roles of well-loved or sympathetic characters who audiences are drawn to. In Fleabag, Colman gets to do the exact opposite, playing Fleabag’s Godmother who gets engaged to Fleabag’s father after her mother dies. So, she’s not exactly portrayed as a great person in this wonderfully dark comedy. Colman often plays up the role of ‘Godmother’ and takes her to a new level of villainy, relishing in her passive-aggressive awfulness; occurring some time after her great success, it’s clear that Colman’s acting chops had improved to incredible heights.
While Godmother is a villain of Fleabag (considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time), Colman creates this energy through comedy and hilarious back-handed compliments. The goal for Colman here is to make audiences hate her, which would almost work if she Colman wasn’t just so funny. Fans love to hate Godmother, with her quirky clothes, stunningly mean one-liners, and her sexually explicit art exhibitions. Colman is able to create one of the craziest but funniest TV villains viewers have ever met.
