The actor Emma Stone called her “personal treasure”
There are few celebrities who have well and truly earned national treasure status, but Olivia Colman is one of them. Finding early success with a recurring role on Peep Show, she won over the hearts of countless viewers as well as David Mitchell’s Mark Corrigan. Since then, she has proven her capabilities for drama as well as comedy, earning awards and admiration in abundance.
Taking on the role of a royal in The Crown, embodying the evil stepmother in Fleabag, and cementing herself in British drama with Broadchurch, Colman has become a welcome and familiar presence on our screens, endearing herself to nearly every type of television and film fan. You’d be hard pressed to find a Brit who doesn’t consider her to be a treasure, both for her work and her apparent authenticity.
Colman’s colleagues and co-stars seem to be just as full of praise for her talent and temperament as her audiences, and Emma Stone is no exception. Before she landed her Academy Award-nominated role as Bella in Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest offering, Poor Things, Stone first collaborated with the director, and Colman, on The Favourite in 2018.
Stone’s character, Abigail, engages in a rivalry with Rachel Weisz’s Sarah as they compete for the affections of Queen Anne, portrayed by Coleman. All three leading women delivered masterful performances, but Colman earned an Academy Award and the undying admiration of Stone.
The actor spoke about her co-star during a conversation with the Press Association, acknowledging her position as a national treasure as well as her more immediate impact on Stone. “She might be a national treasure (in the UK),” she declared, “but she is also a personal treasure, that woman is on another level of human being, we all agree.”
“She is phenomenal,” she continued to enthuse, “I don’t even know how she exists, she is like the greatest person and also the greatest actress, I don’t know how she does it.” It’s high praise, but Stone certainly isn’t alone in her opinion of Colman, who has become as revered for her personality as she is for her work.
Between ridiculous tales of shooting sex scenes with sponges and a choked up yet unbelievably funny and well-spoken acceptance speech, it’s easy to imagine the joy Colman likely brought to set. Years later, her status as a national and personal treasure shows no signs of waning, as she has since appeared in huge blockbusters like Wonka and beloved shows like The Bear.
Seemingly as great a person as she is a performer, it’s a pleasure to see Colman thrive.
Revisit Colman’s performance in The Favourite below.
