We could watch Olivia Colman star in a short film about paint drying and she’d still manage to wow us. From rising to stardom as Mark Corrigan’s girlfriend in Channel 4’s seminal sitcom Peep Show, she’s gone on to win four BAFTAs for a wide array of roles that show off her impressive range.
In 2014, she picked up the accolade for Leading Actress for her performance in what we think is her best crime drama yet. One year earlier, she earned Best Supporting Actress for playing the grieving mother of a fallen gang member in an emotional Jimmy McGovern crime series. We’ve worked our way through all her spellbinding dramas, and here are 8 five-star picks you can binge now on Netflix, ITV, the BBC and more.
Broadchurch
![new seriesbroadchurch for itvbroadchurch is a new eight part drama series by kudos film and television for itv. the star studded cast includes david tennant, olivia colman, andrew buchan, jodie whittaker, vicky mcclure, pauline quirke, will mellor, arthur darvill and carolyn pickles.this brand new eight part series is written and created by chris chibnall (law and order: uk, doctor who) and will explore what happens to a small community in dorset when it suddenly becomes the focus of a police investigation, following the tragic and mysterious death of an eleven year old boy under the glare of the media spotlight.bloodied and dirty, danny latimer (oskar mcnamara) has been found dead on an idyllic beach surrounded by rocks and a jutting cliff face from where he may have fallen. whilst his death remains unresolved, the picturesque seaside town of broadchurch is at the heart of a major police investigation and a national media frenzy.pictured : david tennant as d.i alec hardy and olivia colman as d.s. ellie millercopyright: itvthis photograph is (c) itv plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.comfor further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com 0207 157 3044](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/6015e8a7-9c19-4e3c-a846-7fa717ba626c.jpg?crop=0.669xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=980:* "Broadchurch - Specials")
No Olivia Colman round-up would be complete without her best crime drama yet, Broadchurch. The BAFTA-winning series takes us to a close-knit coastal village in Dorset where the murder of an 11-year-old boy sends shockwaves across the community. Olivia plays the kind-hearted DS Ellie Miller, who has lived in the town her whole life and knew the victim well. She has to learn to work alongside her aloof partner, out-of-town Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant), as well as unearthing the dark secrets of her friends and family. All three series of Broadchurch are available to watch now on ITVX and Netflix.
Accused
This crime anthology series written by Jimmy McGovern features a whole array of stars, from Sheridan Smith to Anna Maxwell Martin. Each episode follows a different character and storyline as they make their way to the courtroom dock, where they face a guilty or not-guilty verdict. Olivia Colman stars alongside Anne-Marie Duff in episode 2 of series 2, where they play best friends Sue and Mo – and their performances are extremely powerful. Mo’s a hairdresser who ignores a local gang member’s demand that she closes her salon after a murder. The retaliation sees Sue’s son shot dead. Later, Mo learns an astonishing truth about the killing and becomes embroiled in a cover-up, which culminates in a bitter betrayal. Accused is available to watch now on Prime Video.
Run
Olivia Colman delivers another emotionally charged performance in Run, a four-part anthology series that weaves together the stories of seemingly disconnected characters facing life-altering decisions. Olivia stars as Carol, a single mum of two teenage boys, who’s struggling to make ends meet. When her son commits a random violent attack, which results in the death of a stranger, she faces an impossible decision. Run is available to watch now on ITVX.
Flowers
This moving series will make you laugh and cry in equal measures. The story centres on an eccentric family called the Flowers, who have their fair share of problems. The fact they live on top of each other in a ramshackle home doesn’t exactly add to the harmony. Deborah (Olivia Colman) is a music teacher trying to keep her marriage to children’s author Maurice (Julian Barratt) together, while caring for his ailing mother and their maladjusted teen twins. Across two series, the BBC series tackles poignant themes of mental health, unconditional love and the way families spectacularly fail to communicate. Flowers is available to watch now on U.
Twenty Twelve
In the mood for some early 2010s nostalgia? Olivia is hilarious in this mockumentary, following the fictional London 2012 Olympic Deliverance Commission (ODC) in the lead-up to the Games. The head of the committee is Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), who remains relentlessly optimistic despite everything going wrong. Meanwhile, Olivia plays his PA, Sally Owen, who’s suffering from her own delusions. She’s completely in love with her boss and thinks if she bides her time, he might eventually reciprocate her feelings. The rest of the team is equally shambolic – and watching them blunder away £9 billion will make you feel better about some of your own financial decisions. Twenty Twelve is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
The Night Manager
This huge spy hit was adapted from John le Carré’s 1993 novel. Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) is a former soldier turned hotel manager in Cairo, who’s recruited by MI6 officer Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) to infiltrate an illegal arms operation led by the deadly but charming Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). Fans eagerly waited 10 years for the second series, where Olivia and Tom reprised their roles. The second chapter sees Pine living under a false identity as a low-level MI6 officer running a quiet surveillance unit in London. But when he spots an old associate of Roper’s, he’s pulled back into the high-stakes world of espionage and a new infiltration mission. The Night Manager is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
The Favourite
It’s another star-studded ensemble: Olivia Colman joins Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz in this bawdy and sumptuous period drama. Olivia plays frail and emotionally turbulent Queen Anne in early 18th-century England. The queen has a lot on her plate: she’s at war with France – and it’s all a bit much for her. She depends on her confidante and adviser Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) to cope with her regal duties. But then Sarah’s downtrodden cousin Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives as a servant, with an ulterior motive to climb her way back into the aristocracy – and she won’t let anyone stand in her way. The Favourite is available to watch now on Disney+.
The Suspicions Of Mr Whicher: The Murder In Angel Lane
Olivia Colman is brilliant in this murder-mystery feature film, the second in a four-film series. The films revolve around the eponymous Victorian detective Mr Whicher (Paddy Considine), who was inspired by real-life 19th-century detective Jonathan ‘Jack’ Whicher, known as the ‘Prince of Sleuths’. The second film follows a scandal that sees Whicher pushed out of the police force. The story begins with Whicher saving country lady Susan Spencer (played by Olivia) from a dangerous robbery. He learns why she’s in London: she’s trying to find her missing 16-year-old niece, Mary. He’s soon drawn into a disturbing murder case that throws him into direct conflict with his old colleagues. The Suspicions of Mr Whicher is available to watch now on Prime Video.