Following her Oscar win at the 2019 Oscar ceremony, Olivia Colman has quickly become one of the most popular and sought-after actresses in all of Hollywood. Her diverse and adaptable acting style means that she can fit into any role, and she always brings something new and unexpected to the table.
Since starting out in British television, Colman's acting career has taken a huge turn towards more mainstream and international roles that have truly pushed her into the spotlight. However, she is also careful to consider every project that she takes, working on more prestigious films with well-respected directors.
Ron's Gone Wrong (2021) - 65
Ron's Gone Wrong is one of the most upbeat and lighthearted films under Olivia Colman's belt, where she plays the protagonist's Bulgarian grandmother, Donka Pudowski. The film is an animated sci-fi comedy that centers around a young boy named Barney and his malfunctioning robot friend.
Ron's Gone Wrong was met with mostly positive reviews from both critics and audiences, primarily due to its heartfelt screenplay and lighthearted tone throughout. It's a film that's bound to please both children and adults, thanks to the intriguing family dynamic at the film's core.
Mothering Sunday (2021) - 67
Mothering Sunday is a powerful romance/drama that details the relationship between Jane and Paul, two neighbors who have been having a secret affair for many years. Jane is a housekeeper to Mr. and Mrs. Niven, the latter of which is played by Olivia Colman.
The film is one that revels in its own melodrama, taking the time to develop and richen its characters through their scandalous relationships with the others. It's an extremely easy film to watch, thanks to how compelling and immersive the main storyline is throughout.
London Road (2016) - 71
London Road documents the discovery of five women's bodies in Ipswich in 2006, which shakes the local town and calls for an investigation into their deaths. The film is based on a National Theatre musical of the same name, and upholds this musical approach to its story on screen.
Despite its unusual approach to storytelling, the film was met with plenty of acclaim from critics thanks to its insightful exploration of these murders and the lives of the women at the heart of the story. The entire cast was praised for their work, including Colman who plays Julie.
The Secret World of Arrietty (2012) - 80
The Secret World of Arrietty (or simply Arrietty, as it was originally released in Japan) is an animated fantasy film from the prolific Studio Ghibli. It follows the Clock family, who live in another family's house and steal all their belongings. Their strange lifestyle is put to the test when humans discover one of their kind, Arrietty, and they are forced to flee.
The film has a lot of interesting things to say about family and purpose, and the roles that these things play in the society we live in. Like many Ghibli films, Arrietty offers an extremely accessible story that allows the audience to engage with the film's deeper themes below the surface. It's this thoughtful storytelling that leads many to label Arrietty as one of Studio Ghibli's best movies.
Locke (2014) - 81
Although she doesn't actually appear in the movie (in fact, Tom Hardy is the only actor seen for the entire runtime), Olivia Colman's voice performance as Bethan Maguire is one of the defining aspects of the film. She spends the entirety of the film on the phone, as she goes into labor with the child of the titular Locke.
The rapport between Hardy and Colman drives the entire narrative of the film, and even though the audience never even sees her face, there's a strong argument to be made that this is one of Colman's best performances to date. The levels of emotion that she's able to convey through using only her voice are genuinely impressive, and leave a lasting impression.
The Mitchells vs The Machines (2021) - 81
As one of the critics' The Mitchells vs The Machines so high up this list. The film, produced by animation auteurs Miller & Lord, follows the Mitchell family as they're forced to fight a robot apocalypse and save the future of humanity.
Olivia Colman plays Pal, a ruthless machine who intends to get revenge on humanity after being discarded as obsolete. It's undoubtedly one of Colman's funnier and more entertaining roles, as she's able to completely take advantage of being an over-the-top villain - and she clearly has a lot of fun with it.
The Lobster (2016) - 82
From Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster is a unique dark comedy about love, relationships, and the way they're ingrained into our society. It takes place in a world where single individuals are forced together into an unusual hotel, where they must find a suitable partner within 45 days or risk being turned into an animal.
There's a reason that many consider there, and it's because of just how unique and original it is. The performances are constantly entertaining, the screenplay is bursting with ideas, and Lanthimos' direction knows exactly how to draw the most out of every single frame.
The Lost Daughter (2021) - 86
In Maggie Gyllenhaal's first feature film as director, Olivia Colman plays a solitary mother whose interactions with another young mother force her to reflect on her first years of motherhood, and the many mistakes that she made. The film explores what it means to be a mother in an extremely intimate and grounded way, never shying away from the truth and realism of it all.
Gyllenhaal to be one of the great actor-turned-directors.
The Father (2021) - 88
Written and directed by Florian Zeller and based on his stage play of the same name, Father is a chilling and haunting look a the life of a man suffering from dementia, told through his own distorted perspective. It's an extremely eye-opening film, led by a career-best Anthony Hopkins in the lead role.
Olivia Colman plays Hopkins' daughter, and the film's exploration of her position is equally devastating as its explorations of Hopkins' character himself. The Father shows just how difficult it can be to dedicate your life to somebody who doesn't even realize the extent or fruits of those efforts.
The Favourite (2018) - 91
The role that landed Olivia Colman her Academy Award, The Favourite is another Yorgos Lanthimos dark comedy that centers around Queen Anne of England and two women vying for her affections. Colman commands the screen in the lead role, with an almost unrecognizable persona as the arrogant and self-centered Queen.
Both Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz are also fantastic in their respective roles, and the three actors manage to create such intense chemistry on screen that makes it almost impossible not to lose yourself in this wild and chaotic narrative.
