Olivia Colman covers Vogue, thinks that ‘it’s really hard’ to be queen, actually

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, visits Smart Works charity in West London

The fall magazine covers usually go to young actresses with Oscar-bait films coming out, the Emma Stones and Jennifer Lawrences of the world. It’s remarkable then to see a 45-year-old British woman on the cover of American Vogue, all to promote a streaming series. Olivia Colman is hyping her turn as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, the third season of which comes out soon. This Vogue profile doesn’t contain any breaking news, nor does Olivia dish any scandalous dirt on her life or her costars. In fact, much of the piece is an assortment of quotes from her former coworkers, all of whom adore Olivia and worship the ground she walks on. You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:

On being the Queen: “It’s easy to just go, ‘Well, how hard can being the queen be?’ I think it’s really hard. You can’t just go, ‘I don’t want to do it today.’ ”

Being an in-demand actor in her 40s: “If you’re working, you’re so f–king lucky. A lot of actors better than me aren’t.”

Playing the Queen after Claire Foy: “I sort of tried to imagine how Claire would do it. But I’m not actually the queen and I’m not actually Claire Foy.”

She’s glad she didn’t become famous in her 20s: “To be the ingenue and to keep working is rare because once people see you as that, they don’t like the process of aging. Which is f–king ridiculous! I grew to my place.”

She loves her London neighborhood: “These streets are a lovely community—they really look after you. I think I might never be able to completely leave London, even though I do dream of buggering off to the seaside.”

She was never comfortable with appearance when she was younger: “I look up pictures of myself as a teenager, and I think I was gorgeous. But I didn’t feel that. All those little comments through those precious years can have long-lasting negative effects. You see images of a perfect person and say, ‘I can never be that.’ Over the years, pounds have gone on, and my body has changed; I’ve had children. If someone doesn’t like me because of the size of my bum, they can f–k off. Because I’m quite a nice person to be with, actually.”

She was not a young woman in a hurry. “It was very important to me in my late teens and early 20s to have fun—it’s a great time to have fun.”

[From Vogue]

A lovely profile of a lovely woman who happens to be an Oscar-winning actress who only got famous well into her 30s. It’s sort of a grand tradition in British acting circles, these amazing actresses who only seem to find success later in their careers. Anyway, I adore Olivia and that’s the point of it. If American has Tom Hanks as “the every man,” I think Olivia is THAT for Great Britain. She’s the Oscar winner who is your neighbor.

Here’s Olivia’s 72 Questions with Vogue:

Cover courtesy of Vogue.

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22 Responses to “Olivia Colman covers Vogue, thinks that ‘it’s really hard’ to be queen, actually”

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  1. Jessica says:

    That gorgeous coat.

  2. Rocķy says:

    Probably unpopular but I think she’s right about being queen. I mildly support abolishing the monarchy for the sole reason that I don’t think anyone should have to live like that. And before everyone says ‘oh the money’ ; a gilded cage is still a cage

    • mash says:

      not abolishing it because of the blood that the crown has spilled and resources stolen…hmmm

      just because no one should live that way …smdh

      • Miss Grace Jones says:

        Right. Let’s all play the smallest violin for the one who has lived a generation of obscene privilege and luxury and not the victims of colonialism.

      • Pineapple says:

        Mash … that is a tricky way to look at it. Where would we stop the abolishing? So many Leaders have spilled blood and stolen resources. It is still going on right now in the world. We would have to take out all of the past and present rulers.

    • Cinnamon says:

      It’s not like they are forced into it. They could abstain if they wanted to. I guess the privileges that come with the job still trump doing anything else.

      • Rocķy says:

        Which privileges exactly? They are rich in their own right. And no poster further up. They don’t really have the option to leave. Do you think William could just step down and the press would no longer be interested in him? Do you think they would stop being targets?

      • Cinnamon says:

        Actually I do think William could just do that. It might take him some time but eventually people would move on to other celebrities.
        Wealth is not what I’m talking about. Their royalty sets them apart from their wealthy friends and gives them respect. If they gave up their titles all they would be is rich heirs with no discernible skill whatsoever. They would no longer be special. Do you really see William in a regular job? He barely managed to do the pilot thing and he got special treatment due to his royal status there as well.

  3. Eleonor says:

    I can’t wait to see her and Helena Bonham Carter together.

  4. Jensies says:

    I’ve loved her since That Mitchell and Webb look. She can do anything! It’s so amazing to see her get her due.

    Also, what she said about people being uncomfortable with seeing these actresses they’ve watched since they were young, age, is interesting and I rather think it’s true.

  5. deezee says:

    Her 73 Questions Vogue interview is great. So many of them feel too rehearsed. Hers at least, seems natural. And that dining room is awesome!

  6. Cay says:

    Is there a more English phrase than “bugger off to the seaside”?

  7. Ali says:

    Season one of Broadchurch might be my favorite season of TV ever. It gutted me.

    She’s a treasure like Emma Thompson.

  8. horseandhound says:

    I am so happy they put an older woman on the cover. women have a lot to offer as they age. when you’re very young you might be fresh, but that’s that. as you get older you often become more experienced, more accomplished and beyond all that…more interesting a person.

  9. OuiOkay says:

    I just this month discovered broadchurch and her. Love her! Going to check what she got the Oscar for now.. And I like what she said about how she was beautiful young but didn’t feel it. Yup She does seem to be a nice person to be around

  10. Polly says:

    I love her. She’s brilliant.

    • LondonLozza says:

      You’re going to have your heartbroken watching Broadchurch if you’ve not seen it … the first series is achingly sad, and epically good.

  11. Selena says:

    She has been “successful” for years. Just not in America. She has been playing wonderful characters on TV for years and years. People knew her face but not necessarily her name. Now she is famous, but has been successful for a very long time.