Met future husband, Ed Sinclair, whilst at Cambridge University. They have been together since 1993.
She asked for her character on Peep Show (2003) to be characterized as less likable, after convincing the writers that her behavior and treatment of David Mitchell's character had been poor.
Has starred in four films with Paddy Considine and appeared in his first two directorial efforts.
Has three children with her husband Ed Sinclair: two sons, Finn Sinclair (b. August 2005) and Hal Joseph Sinclair (b. August 2007), and one daughter (b. August 2015).
Returned to work 9 months after giving birth to her daughter to begin filming the final series of Broadchurch (2013).
Was 8 months pregnant with her daughter when she completed filming The Night Manager (2016).
Convinced director Susanne Bier to hire her for the role of Angela Burr on The Night Manager (2016) despite the fact she was heavily pregnant with her 3rd child by making reference to how well Frances McDormand's pregnant character Marge Gunderson worked on the movie Fargo (1996). Coincidentally, it was McDormand who handed Olivia the Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Favourite (2018).
Considers working on Confetti (2006) as a mistake and the worst acting experience she had out of all the projects she has worked on.
As of 2017, she is the only actress to have played both HM Queen Elizabeth II and her mother Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Colman played the latter in Hyde Park on Hudson (2012) and the former in The Crown (2016).
Is the daughter of Mary (Leakey), a nurse, and Keith Colman, a chartered surveyor.
Born on the same date as Christian Bale. They both were nominated for Oscar in 2019 and she won.
August is her family month. She married in August 2001 and welcomed her three children in August of 2005, 2007 and 2015.