Her face may have been familiar. But before the runaway success of Broadchurch, you may not have known her name.
Last night, however, Olivia Colman changed all that when she picked up two awards at the Baftas – days after she revealed she thought she’d miss out on roles because she wasn’t ‘the archetypal looker’.
Indeed, the normally mild-mannered actress was so shocked at her win that she turned the air blue muttering ‘f***’ before quickly apologising.
Miss Colman, 39, won the award for best supporting actress for her performance in BBC1’s Accused (Mo’s Story) and for best female in a comedy for her part in BBC2 Olympics satire Twenty Twelve.
The star, who has two sons, topped off a successful year when she appeared alongside David Tennant in ITV1’s crime thriller Broadchurch, She has also starred as Margaret Thatcher’s daughter Carol in The Iron Lady.
But last night she was honoured for her portrayal of Sue Brown, the mother of the victim of a gangland killing in The Accused.
The actress, who looked glamorous in a purple dress, said: ‘I can’t believe it. I keep thinking it’s wrong. I feel very wobbly. I thought I might be in with a chance for Accused, because it is such a beautiful script. But Twenty Twelve, I didn’t think, because I was against such wonderful talents.’
She added: ‘Hollywood hasn’t called, unless they have got a digit wrong. Of course I would go if they asked. It’s warm and they pay better. I wouldn’t like to live there as I’ve got a family, but who wouldn’t go for a couple of years.’
In an interview last month she said: ‘I’m never cast as the love interest. I’m just not seen as that girl. I’m just not the archetypal looker. You see a row of girls and go, “There’s the classic beauty”. And that was never me. I never really minded and I’m grateful now because I think it’s so much harder for beautiful actresses to last in the business.’
And her shock was apparent each time she was welcomed back on stage by host Graham Norton After the second trophy for her role in Accused, Olivia told the crowd while looking clearly delighted: ‘Thank you to my agents… I love you and I’m never, ever leaving! Also to Mr Hands, my first drama teacher, thank you very much. To my husband and best friend.’She then quipped jokingly: ‘And my children, if you’re watching it looked like I said a bad word, I didn’t… oh and my parents for babysittting, thank you very much.’
But her shock was even more visible as her name was read out for the third time for her role in Twenty Twelve.
Appearing choked she said: ‘I’m really sorry – (other category nominees) Miranda, Jess and Julia, three girls who I just love. I really didn’t expect it. Thank you so much.’The 39-year-old actress told BANG Showbiz at the winner’s press conference: ‘I’m a bit wobbly. I just can’t believe I’ve won. I keep thinking it’s wrong and they’ve made a mistake.
‘I thought I might be in with a chance for the drama award because Accused is such a beautiful script. But the comedy award I didn’t think I would stand a chance against those girls.’
Source: dailymail.co.uk – Olivia Colman finally leading lady picks up trophies for BAFTAs
