But Olivia doesn’t just play queens! In fact, her career history is almost as rich as it is long. The rise to prominence of the woman who was initially training to be a teacher before she found her true calling in life is quite remarkable. And this role (and its subsequent awards) surely represents a career high.

If you’d asked anyone in Norfolk what the name Colman meant to them just a few years ago, chances are you’d find yourself in a conversation about mustard. Not so these days, after fellow East Anglian (but no relation) Olivia’s transition from jobbing actress to fully fledged National Treasure.

With The Favourite now available to buy on the Virgin Media Store, here’s a selection of some of the more memorable roles she’s taken on in the past…

Fleabag

Fleabag, series 1 & 2 available to buy on the Virgin Media Store. Cert 15

In stark contrast to the butter-wouldn’t-melt characters she has often portrayed, Olivia’s take on the role of evil Godmother in Fleabag was a revelation. The part was a long time coming, after Colman met the show’s star and creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge on the set of 2011 film The Iron Lady. Olivia apparently told Phoebe if she ever wrote something, she wanted to be in it. Olivia is also believed to have told Phoebe she wanted to play “a real b***h” – and the 33-year-old was more than happy to oblige, by writing Olivia in as an artist who gets engaged to her widowed father. One of her more memorable lines in series 2 was after announcing her intention to paint a picture of her new stepdaughters was, “The lighting’s not good enough, and if you’re not photogenic it does you no favours.” Miaow!

The Night Manager

The Night Manager, available to buy on the Virgin Media Store. Cert 15

In the show that became almost as synonymous for Hugh Laurie’s unlikely portrayal of villainous arms dealer Richard Roper as it did for Tom Hiddleston’s bare backside, Olivia played pregnant spy Angela Burr. Filming was far from easy for her, as she was herself five months pregnant at the time with her third child with writer husband Ed Sinclair. Her baby bump had to be incorporated into the storyline because there was no way viewers wouldn’t notice. It also led to more chairs being worked into scenes, so she wouldn’t be on her feet for too long – but that wasn’t the only challenge Olivia faced. “I just can’t retain my lines like I normally would,” she said of filming. “I’ve got a bit of a nappy brain going on.” 

Tyrannosaur

Tyrannosaur, available to buy on the Virgin Media Store. Cert 18

In Paddy Considine’s 2011 film, Olivia plays an abused wife who forms an unlikely bond with a bitter stranger (Peter Mullen) in a part she once described by saying, “I don’t think I will ever be prouder of any job.” Researching the role of good Samaritan and charity shop worker Hannah, Olivia visited a number of victims of domestic abuse. Such was the impact their stories had on her, she became a patron for charity Tender as a direct result. This role probably also showed off her versatility for the first time as she’d been far better known for playing lighter, more comedic parts in the past.

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