It is early 2026 and we are still collectively losing our minds over Olivia Colman. Seriously. Whether she is playing a murderous neighbor, a grieving mother, or a literal queen, there is something about that face that just works. She’s got this weird, magical ability to look like she’s about to burst into tears and tell a dirty joke at the same time.
You’ve probably seen her in The Crown. Or maybe you first caught her back in the day as Sophie in Peep Show, getting miserable with Mark Corrigan. The thing is, Olivia Colman movies and shows aren't just a list of credits; they’re a roadmap of how to become the most beloved actor on the planet by being relentlessly, almost painfully, human.
The Comedy Roots: Peep Show to Fleabag
Most people don’t realize Colman spent years as the "funny friend" or the sketch-show regular. If you haven't seen her early stuff with Mitchell and Webb, you’re missing out. Honestly, her role as Sophie in Peep Show is a masterclass in slow-motion character collapse. She starts as the "dream girl" and ends up... well, let’s just say she ends up in a very different place.
📖 Related: The Texas Killing Fields Actors: Why the 2011 Cast Still Feels So Haunted
Then there is Fleabag. You know the character. The Godmother. She is so passive-aggressively evil that it actually hurts to watch. It’s a complete 180 from the warm, bubbly Olivia we see in interviews.
- Peep Show (2003–2015): The ultimate "cringe" comedy.
- Green Wing (2004–2006): Weird, surreal hospital humor where she plays a stressed-out mom.
- That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006–2008): Pure sketch comedy gold.
- Fleabag (2016–2019): Where she perfected the art of the fake smile.
When Everything Changed: Broadchurch and The Favourite
The shift from "funny Olivia" to "prestige drama Olivia" happened almost overnight for some, but for others, it was Broadchurch that did it. Watching her as DS Ellie Miller, sobbing in that orange jacket, basically broke the internet before that was even a phrase. She won a BAFTA for it, and rightfully so.
But then came The Favourite (2018).
Playing Queen Anne, she was messy, petty, and tragic. She ate too much cake, she threw it up, and she loved her rabbits. It was the role that landed her the Oscar. That acceptance speech? Pure Olivia. She basically apologized for winning and told Lady Gaga she was brilliant. It’s probably the most relatable any human has ever been while holding a gold statue.
The Queen Era and Beyond
After the Oscar, things got big. Real big. She stepped into Claire Foy's shoes for The Crown seasons 3 and 4. It’s a tough gig playing Elizabeth II. You have to be a stone wall, but Colman managed to show the cracks underneath.
She followed that up with The Father (2020) alongside Anthony Hopkins. If you want to cry for three days straight, watch that one. She plays the daughter of a man with dementia, and it is brutal. There is no other word for it. It's just brutal.
💡 You might also like: Where to Watch Gettysburg Movie: What Most People Get Wrong
Recent Hits and 2026 Gems
We’ve seen her in everything lately. She was the villainous Mrs. Scrubbit in Wonka (2023), proving she still has those comedy muscles. She was also in Wicked Little Letters (2024), which was basically an excuse for her and Jessie Buckley to scream profanities at each other in 1920s outfits. It was glorious.
Right now, in 2026, everyone is talking about Jimpa. She plays Hannah, a filmmaker traveling to Amsterdam with her trans teenager to visit her father (played by John Lithgow). It’s getting rave reviews for being "marvellous" and "layered." She also just popped up in the second season of The Bear and a new FX thriller called Cry Wolf.
The "Must-Watch" List (Ranked by Vibes)
If you are looking to dive deep into Olivia Colman movies and shows, don’t just watch them in order. Match them to your mood.
If you want to feel awkward:
Peep Show is the go-to. It’s uncomfortable. It’s sweaty. It’s perfect.
If you want to feel inspired but also sad:
Empire of Light (2022). It’s a love letter to cinema set in the 80s, and she plays a woman dealing with bipolar disorder. It didn't get as much love as the others, but her performance is top-tier.
If you want to see her be a total badass:
The Night Manager. She played Angela Burr while actually pregnant in real life, which just added this whole extra layer of "don't mess with me" to the character.
If you want the weird stuff:
The Lobster (2015). She plays the Hotel Manager in a world where you get turned into an animal if you stay single. It's directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, so you know it's going to be strange.
Why She Actually Matters
The reason we keep coming back to Colman isn't because she's "the best actress ever" (though she might be). It's because she doesn't feel like a movie star. She feels like your aunt who has had one too many gins at Christmas and is about to tell you a secret.
There's an authenticity there that you can't fake. In The Lost Daughter (2021), she played a mother who basically admitted she didn't like being a mother sometimes. It was a risky, complicated role that most actors would be too scared to touch. Colman dove in headfirst.
How to Keep Up With Her
Honestly, just keep your eyes on the streamers. She's everywhere. Between the voice acting (did you catch her in The Mitchells vs. the Machines?) and the big prestige dramas, she isn't slowing down.
To get the full experience, start with her early comedy to see the range. Then move into the "Sad Olivia" era with Tyrannosaur (2011). It's a heavy watch, but it shows where her dramatic power came from. After that, you can handle the Queens and the Oscars.
✨ Don't miss: Cast of Descendants The Rise of Red: What Most People Get Wrong
Actionable Insight: If you're a fan of her darker work, look for Landscapers on HBO. It’s a miniseries based on a true story about a couple who killed their parents and buried them in the garden. It’s stylized, weird, and features Colman at her most vulnerable and terrifying. It’s the perfect bridge between her comedy and her high-stakes drama.