With her sparkling performance in The Favourite leading to a prominent discussion that she could well be in the running for ‘Best Actress’ at the forthcoming Academy Awards, people’s favourite Olivia Colman is keeping her feet firmly on the ground.

The film, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, sees the pair reunited after their thrilling combination in 2015 film The Lobster which was arguably the major moment Lanthimos enjoyed mainstream success. For Colman, however, the rise from people’s favourite on British sitcom Peep Show to potential Oscar winner has been a gradual one.

The Favourite synopsis

“In the early 18th century, England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne occupies the throne, and her close friend Lady Sarah governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and a mercurial temper. When a new servant, Abigail, arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing, and Abigail sees a chance to return to her aristocratic roots.”

Lanthimos has already admitted that Colman’s performance in Paddy Considine film Tyrannosaur was enough to convince him of her credentials and, in a sense, it was that performance that pushed the 44-year-old away from awkward comedy to Hollywood underdog.

Colman claimed the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival recently for her performance as Queen Ann, the same evening where the feature film also secured the Silver Lion Grand Jury prize. “I much prefer these sorts of roles because there is no pressure to be something you are not, and I am obviously not glamorous,” Colman said in a recent interview with The Independent. “I’m more a jeans and sweater-with-something-spilled-on-it person,” she added.

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In fact, when pressed on her rising profile in Hollywood and beyond, the subject seemed to be one with she has considered more and more in recent years: “I hate the loss of anonymity,” she said. “No one teaches you how to deal with that. I now just tend to stay home because it’s so weird not to be on an equal footing with people. They know your face, and you don’t know them.”

Colman, being perfectly Colman, then followed it up with: “It’s not that people aren’t lovely, but it’s harder to deal with than you imagine.”

With a major accolade very much in the realm of possibility, Colman remained loyal to her down to earth sense and admitted: “Talking about the Oscars seems like a silly dream. If you wake up one day and it hasn’t happened, you’ll be cross for feeling disappointed.”

She added: “I still worry that I won’t have work!”

The Favourite is set to premiere in the UK in January.

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