Transcript of Olivia Colman

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. What a lovely guest we have today, Olivia Coleman, an incredible actress, just a dear, tender, beautiful person. We are going to talk about a lot of great things today. We're going to talk about whether or not it's important to fight in relationships. We're going to talk about playing the Queen. We are going to talk about her new movie, The Roses, and all the hilarious people that she got to be in it We're talking about so many good things today, but we always want to start these episodes by bringing in someone who knows our guest, who helps us ease into our guest, who gives us a question to ask our guest. We got a big star today. We have an actor who was in Doctor Strange. He was Sherlock. He is in the Roses. He is also famously in a Key and Peel sketch where they name football player names. He is the one, the only, Benedict Cumberbatch from Oxford University. Benedict, hello. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Each Apple product, like the iPhone, is thoughtfully designed by skilled designers. The titanium Apple Card is no different.

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What do you Hey, Amy. How are you?

Hi. It's good to see you.

I can't see.

Okay. You can just hear my voice?

Now, I can see you now because I'm wearing these glasses. This, you're a beautiful blonde blur, but like that, you're a very dark blonde.

Now, what's your prescription? Because are you new to glasses? 1.

6, something like that. I'm new to giving into them.

Same. I need them for reading, but not yet for driving.

It's so boring, isn't it? I'm not one of those people to get my eye. I can't get them laser. It's very boring.

It's not boring because I feel like now that I can hide behind glasses, my life has changed. Also, people think I'm smarter. Anyway, hi. Nice to see you. Thank you for doing this.

I'm so welcome.

Okay. I know you're in the middle of a giant press thing, and we are talking to Olivia.

Yeah, I'm a little hurt, but there we go.

I know. Sorry, we couldn't get you, but you signed a restraining order against me many years ago, and you don't let me get close to you.

That's true. After the Golden Glybs, that's right.

Okay, so for you, before we get to your question, we're asking, we like to do this thing when we have our guests on where we talk to people who know them and talk well behind their back. The first thing I just wanted to say is that when I was doing some research on the film, The Roses, that you're promoting, and also you and Olivia, you guys haven't worked together as much as I assumed you would have. We never worked together. Never?

No. We've been friends for a long time and always said, We should work together, and this is what was born out of that conversation.

What friend is Olivia?

Incredibly loyal, ridiculously good fun. She facilitates She's just... Is it pretty naturally? Is that the phrase? Upbeat? I mean, that's the one... If there's a critique of her, it's like, How the fuck is she doing this authentically? I don't understand how this person can be so good at being just upbeat and just delightful. And she literally, this is veering into work rather than friendship, but it's the same with friendship. But she can go into a work environment any moment that we're in the studio together. You just see everyone, all the crew, everyone going, Everyone just feels connected and brightened by her being around.

It feels that way when you watch her work and then also be herself. We came upon this theory when I was at SNL, which you were so brilliant on, is you have all these people come through and you realize that usually the most talented people are the easiest to work with.

The other I get, the more that's I can't be doing with people who are hard to work with. That's my one curmudgeon thing. It shouldn't have to be hard.

Okay. And then the other thing I wanted to ask you, and then we'll get to your question. There's nothing more satisfying than when somebody has a sense of humor about themselves, it's such a sign of intelligence. You and Olivia in this movie really go at each other. Your characters really go at each other. But do you feel like there's also just a way in which Brits are allowed to tease in a hardier and more sharp way than Americans? I don't know.

Personally, I think there's often a very barbed, cruel, and slightly pinched aspect to British irony. I think it could get a bit too much, to be honest. As an English characteristic, the sharpness of it isn't something I find that pleasant. It's very funny in this film. I think also Americans, and this is obviously played up in the cultural difference, one of the key differences between our version and the original Michael Douglas, Danny Turner, and Danny DeVito film is that they're an English couple in an American world, and that much later the culture clashes and misunderstandings to great effect, but they start roasting each other. Actually, you, as a culture, I think, have completely one-upped it.

You're right. We have passed you in the mean Olympics.

You've gone the dial, you've broken. There's a good trade, I think, which evens us out, both in the gross-out humor and also the very well-thought-through, ironic, witty intellectual humor. We play up to the difference, but I don't think there is so much of a difference in what is very interchangeable.

I agree. I think it's very hard to pull off both physical comedy and really sharp and sarcastic wit. Both of those things are hard to do well.

Yeah. I think if you do that, you could do anything. I grew up with two parents, both actors. My mom, in particular, doing end of the pier, whoops, there go my Nicarvika's farces. And to the point where I was like, Mom, you've got to do something else now. I can't watch in an audience as you as a surly teenager. I can't watch you come in to a room where your politician husband is having his pants pulled down because of something, and it looks like his male assistant is giving him a blow job, and you turn to the audience and go, and then walk off. Having grown up with that humor, if you can do comedy, it's my point, you can do anything. I really do believe that, and I'm not just- Of course.

I feel like You don't have to tell me, babe. Every single year at the Oscars, everybody gets blanked. And all the serious people get up and accept and accept and accept.

I know.

It's true. It's painful. And it's some hot bullshit because- Some hot bullshit. Comedy is not easy. And I got to tell you, both you and Olivia can do both.

I will. Thank you. Thank you. That's very good.

Okay. So do you have any question for Olivia today?

Yeah. Okay. Okay. Is she wearing any under... No. Is there something she's afraid of? Because I think she's one of the most fearless performers that I know. I don't see her being afraid of anything, but I wonder if there is. I wonder.

That's a great question. Yeah.

How would she do it? That's the other thing. What are you most afraid of and would you be any good at facing that fear?

Deep question.

I should be doing this interview.

Deep question. Yes. I mean, do you want to switch places here?

No, because everyone wants to hear you do the interview.

Okay. Well, I know you are in an hour or two of a twelve-hour marathon. Congratulations on the film. Thank you so much for doing this. I hope we get to see each other not in full formal wear someday, but at an actual- I do, too.

That'd be lovely. Much love.

Thank you so much, Benedict. I appreciate it. Thanks for your time. This episode is brought to you by Visible. Visible is the ultimate wireless hack. And now with the new Visible inner circle, You can forget about family phone plans with no flexibility. With Inner Circle, you can connect accounts with whoever you want, friends, family, neighbors, you name it. Unlock savings together with the freedom to leave, switch, or change your circle anytime. Join for just $25 a month, and with personalized payments, paying together or keeping it separate is up to you. Plus, it's all powered by Verizon with unlimited 5G data, so you get reliable coverage and a connection you can count on. Join now at visible. Com and save on wireless month after month, $25 per month, rate on the Visible plan. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Okay, thank you for coming and being here. Thank you so much for having me. I was looking over your life, your timeline, because we're the same age. Are we? About the same age.

Are we? You look much younger than me. No, you don't. No, you do actually.

I'm 50. Hold on. I have to remember. I was born in '71. I'm 50.

You're born in- I'm 74.

Yeah, so you're a little younger than me. Sorry.

Well, I look older. No, you don't. Americans just look better.

Do you think? Yeah. Well, British people seem smarter. Everything even goes out.

You'll find out. That's not true.

You'll find out. When you get a little closer. But we have some parallels because you met a lot of your friends and coworkers at Footlights. You went to this very Very important place that we Americans used to hear about.

Yes. I wasn't actually at the university. This is something that gets regularly.

You were not at Cambridge?

I was in the town of Cambridge working as a cleaner. Very interesting. How did you get into Footlights? Well, I was at the Teacher Training College for about a term, I think, and left. Then no one questioned me because I had a bicycle and I looked the same as everyone else. The same age. I just would turn up to things.

Was there an auditioning process to get into Footlights? Yes.

That's where I met my lovely friends who then basically were responsible for me getting work for years afterwards. Yeah, because- But I just feel like a big lie if I guys at Cambridge- This is already very British.

The distinction that you didn't go to school there is an important one for you.

I feel like people who were there would go, No, she didn't. I think it's so impressive to have It's so hard and be so clever to get there. It would be a bit much if it's my terrible A-Levels. I suggested that I got in.

So people that were not going there could perform there?

Yes. I think I just... I didn't lie, but I just certainly didn't tell anyone.

It can be taken back. You could be technically arrested at some point.

Maybe.

You go and you... Do you remember how you had to audition for- I do remember going…

I was in... There was a building called the Union Society. This is when I did have my student card because I was actually at the teacher training thingy. There was a sign. It was handwritten in biro on the audition arrow. Oh, fun. I went along and I didn't know it was the Footlights. Wow. I know. And please, I didn't know. They were boys looking bored, sitting behind a desk and said, entertain us or sell something to us that looks like this isn't food. I went, okay. There was a disgusting ashtray which must have been there for years. I picked up a fagbut. That sounds weird in American English, doesn't it? Right.

Cigarette.

Cigarette. I tried to sell it, and it wasn't going very well. No one was laughing, so I ate it. Out of desperation. They still didn't laugh. They I just looked absolutely horrified, but they let me in because they thought, Well, she's game. She's going to do some funny stuff.

What is it going to take to get those guys to laugh?

Yeah, like that.

That's such a great story. Then you got in and then you met all these... That time period in my life, I know doing sketch and improv and all that stuff for a small number of people with friends in the hopes that someday you could do more of it. What do you remember of those times?

Because obviously, as you know, you all had to help write and everything. I was terrible at the writing. I just really enjoyed performing and being on stage and making people laugh was the best crack at the best thing.

It is. I said it. To me, it was the closest feeling to being a vampire, where you're just like, I'm becoming a vampire.

I've got ghost bumps. I totally understand.

Just you're like, Look what I've done. Just this weird, powerful, in control, flush of excitement. Yeah.

It's so desperate to get that back.

Yes. Your whole life is chasing it again. Yeah. What was the first... You remember the feeling of the first big laugh where you did something and you watched people laugh at you and you thought, Oh, I love this feeling.

I don't know if I can remember that. No.

Were you in plays as a kid?

I did my first ever school play when I was 16, and that was the prime of Miss Jean Brodie, so not a comedy. But I just remember people clapping at the end. I'd always been so rubbish at school. I couldn't wait for it to finish. I'd have to look out the window and found it really hard to concentrate. Then suddenly, I committed to learning all of these lines. Suddenly, why couldn't I learn other stuff? But I would do that. Then when they clapped, that was the moment when I went, I love it.

It was like electricity coming out of your fingertips.

Like they're going, get off, get off. No.

Loved it. Yeah. I mean, do you consider yourself… Were you an extroverted kid? Are people not surprised that you ended up being an actor?

I don't know. I think as I got older, I've got more and more shy in a way. I think people knowing your face and you not knowing their face puts you in a It's not an equal footing.

I really relate to what you're saying about, even though I think people might think that it's funny that both of us are saying this, but getting a little shy as you get older. Totally. I really relate to that.

What do you think that is? I think it is... Well, as I said, it's an unequal thing. I love, I don't know if you ever go to a country where maybe your shows aren't seen.

Oh, yes. It's called the UK.

That's not true. But if you can feel like you walk down the street and no one has done a double take or a nudge or a secret photo, it feels amazing. Yes. I love that.

Yeah. Being observed is weird because especially it sounds like you are an observer. You like to observe people. So when you're being observed, it's a strange feeling.

Yeah, I find it discomforting. And it means I don't want to go anywhere with my children. I don't want people to see who they are because it's their decision to do what they want to do with their lives.

You don't even have to be an actor. Kids just don't like sharing their parents with people.

Yeah, I do understand that.

Yeah, I know. It's hard to explain to them that that is your work, but it's a universal feeling. Kids want their parents when they want them.

Mine, yeah. I've been lucky compared to many I, people in our industry. I haven't had to be away from home that much. In my youngest, in recent years, I've had to be away a bit more. She hates it. I love it that she hates it. She loves me.

She's still missing you? How old is your youngest?

Youngest is 10.

Okay, right. So you still have some sweetness. Yeah.

She's really lovely. They're all lovely.

I know. Does any of them want to be an actor? No.

Furious. Livid with them.

I'm like, get up there and earn some money for this family.

They laugh at me because it's a bit abfab. My big boy wants to be a physicist. Wow. I mean, just- Incredible.

He can also play the guitar. That's the only way he can rebel. Why can't he be a rock star?

Totally. He goes, Mom, no one says, Why can't you be a rock star? I do. Why can't They're all so sensible.

Physicist is- Physicist. That's smart.

I mean, who employs physicists?

These days, no one.

No one.

See? With long hair, forget it. He's never going to get through the door. Okay, so you're at Footlights. You're making all these friends. You're deciding. What I love about your career and you is that you are the ultimate, to me, proof that when someone can do comedy really well, they can do anything. I guess you came into the business doing comedy. When was it tyrannosaure that switched? Was that? Yeah. Can you talk about that film and getting cast in that? Yeah.

So a comedy, I'd never intended. I just found a place there and I really loved it. I'd always imagined maybe... From that first play at school, I thought, Maybe I could be an actor, but you didn't dare say it out loud. Yeah. Then it felt like there were two lists of actors as funny ones, not funny ones, and you can't cross over. It's absolutely not allowed. It takes someone to really put their neck on the line to go, No, I would like them to do that. It was Paddy Considine I met when we were doing Hot Fuzz. I was so excited to meet him. I opened the door and grinned at him. Hello. He decided in that moment, Oh, she'd be right for my film. Wow. I know. So always open the door, people. Always be nice. You never know. Wow. It totally changed the trajectory—is a word I find hard to do, of my career.

Because it went to Sundance and it was this very lauded performance, and people saw this version of you, basically, and they said, Oh, we can... I know. Isn't it interesting how life is just the smallest changes and moves in your life when you're on another track.

Yeah, totally. And so often having to wait for someone else to let that happen for you, which is frustrating. But I'm so grateful to Paddy.

Do you ever think to yourself, I'm in the mood right now to do something heavier. I'm in the mood right now to do something lighter. Do you think about that when you're picking stuff?

I don't know if I might do subconsciously. I always used to rely very much on gut feeling. I feel a bit like I've lost that ability I've gone a little bit... I don't know if that happens as well as we get older, but I sometimes think, I can't tell now. My agent has a great litmus test. If you read it and you're unsure, if your nemesis gets the part, are you going to want to pull your hair out?

That's so funny. I think about that, too. If I saw it a year later, like a trailer for it, and I was jealous, if I thought, if I saw something- That's the best way to go.

Okay, I can let this go or no, I have to fight for it.

Yeah. Sorry, I didn't answer your question at all, did I?

Did I go somewhere else?

Why I ask is because you've been in all of my favorite things. When we look at all of the stuff that you've been in, you're My career is incredible, Olivia. You have done... Okay, but I want to stay with comedy for a second just because I feel like, and I made a joke about it earlier, but there is this thing with people our age where the US and UK were so connected in so many ways but had completely different comedic experiences. There were only a few shows, in my opinion, that came over to us. It wasn't until I was in my 20s and 30s that I learned about all this great British comedy that I never got to see. Okay. We got the big ones, like Monty Python and AbFab and stuff like that. But then there was this huge amount of shows that we never saw that you had to search and find out and watch on VHS and trade with your friends. Yeah. Did you have shows here in the States that you didn't know about or didn't watch that you had to catch up and know about once you started becoming- Look, weirdly, SNL, which is like a little comedy heaven.

I didn't know about that for so long because I don't think it was shown on television in the UK. It was not. No. It was only funny friends who were I was stressed with it and went, What? Why is it? Then started to look at it.

Because this is pre-Internet. We couldn't Google anything. We didn't have this high tech stuff that I have. I have a laptop on my- That's very cool. I can type in anything. Anything you want to know. You want to know the recipe to something? But you couldn't clip anything. You couldn't watch it. I remember watching Alan Partridge, all this stuff on VHS, but 10 years after it was on.

Yeah, well, it's the same. We got, and we still have, which I love. Every weekday morning on channel 4, they have Starts with Cheers, then King of Queens, then Everybody Loves Raymond, then Friends. No, sorry, Fraser.

Same four shows?

Yeah, I love it.

Oh, my God. Cheers. Oh, my God.

How good is that show?

How good is that show?

It was so good. Ted Danson at his hottest best.

Sam and Diane. Actually, there's We'll get to your film, The Roses, but there's a lot of that back and forth repartee of I love you, I hate you, I love you. It was so satisfying. So good. When they kissed for the first time and millions watched. I know. And also that- The lovely Woody. I loved Woody. Woody, who had the hardest job in the world because he took over for Coach.

Oh, yes, of course.

Yes, who was an amazing character. And beloved. Sadly He passed away year one or two, and you thought, well, they're just going to- Can't cover that. And then they bring in Woody. Yeah. Genius. Who just crushes it. And then the Pilot of Cheers, if you've ever read, is just a perfectly written pilot. And me and Mike Scher, the creator of Parks and Rec used to talk about it all the time because you have seven characters you have to service really fast, basically. It's such a good pilot. I love that, too.

Oh, my God. I got to watch the pilot. I'm going to find it.

It's so good. The Ending of Cheers? Yeah. Okay. Everyone loves Raymond, Fraser, and what was the other one?

King of Queens. King of Queens.

You're like, What is this Queens? What do I need to know about Queens?

Queens, I've got no idea what that is, but he is king of it.

Yeah. There was a few things that came over to us, but not a lot. It took me... And sketch was one. I didn't know about French and Saunders until Ten years after, then everyone was the same. Like funny people. And I was meeting funny people, and they weren't talking about shows that I had to research. But I just think it's very interesting because we are so alike, but our comedy was very specific and different.

We had the premiere last night in New York with the Roses, and then we got London premiere on Thursday, and I wonder if audiences will laugh at different things. I feel like that's not true anymore.

I agree. But maybe Yeah. I don't think that's true.

No, I think we all totally understand each other. We'll find the same shit funny.

We were laughing. When we were preparing for this interview, we were saying how it is true. We believe that the Brits are smarter. They just sound smarter.

Yeah, they do. That's not true.

I know. You know what taught us? Love Island.

I said that's the first time I've ever been grateful to Love Island.

They taught us that.

Because I can see people look disappointed when I open my mouth and I go, Oh, you think I'm clever? I'm I'm really not. But thank God Love Island is- Yeah, Love Island really leveled the playing field.

We were like, I see. Okay, we're all the same.

We're all the same.

But a show that I've since now seen that I didn't know at the time was Bruiser, which was like your first- Have you seen Bruiser? Well, I've seen clips of Bruiser. Okay. But Bruiser was like your first sketch show.

First ever job. My first job.

First ever job. How old were you?

What year was that? It was my last year of drama school. I have a weird thing where I can't do dates. Same. I know I did my A-Levels in 1992 because I had to say it so often. But beyond that, I'm not entirely sure what happened.

In the '90s. In the '90s. Roozer comes out. Yes. It's you and David and- David Mitchell, Rob Webb, Martin Freeman.

Yes, that's right. Charlotte Hudson.

That's just sketches and you all look like babies and you're all All doing like just fun jump sketch.

Yeah. I haven't seen it. I bet lots of it's terrible.

Well, sketch is, I mean, 80% bad. The batting average is, you have just hoped for a couple of winners.

Mitchell Webber just done a new sketch show. And sketch shows just haven't happened for a long time.

I know. I think about that a lot. I mean, for me, the best last sketch show other than SNL that I've seen is Key and Peel. Did you watch Key and Peel?

My boys were I'm thinking about that.

I think that the Brits don't know about Key and Peel as much, but that was a big show over here. And they were just deeply funny and good. They were really good.

I'm going to find that.

Okay. But then There's all this stuff you do between broad church, basically. There's all this stuff because that broad church for us is really, I think, when we really start to get to know you. I remember you from your little moment on the UK office because I was obsessed with the UK office and the picture moment with David and with Ricky. But we get to really know you and you and David at the same time.

Oh, yeah. Lovely DT.

Lovely. Tell me about your relationship. You guys are buddies. I love David Tenet.

I know.

He seems so... I'd love to meet him. He's so nice.

I love him.

Tell me why he's so great.

He is... There's nothing Nothing arse-holy about him at all. We simply just would sit and talk about we do farts in the police car and he'd go, Jesus Christ, call me. He was just like a buddy and we'd tell stories and he wanted to be at home with his wife and family and I wanted to be at home.

Isn't that the best when you work with people who want to be at home? Yeah.

I love it. Let's get this done. Let's get this done. He'll get it done early on. I'm afraid he'd get home. Get the fuck off about home. Also, he always knew his lines was always on it, always just beautiful at his fingertips. Then when the AD comes to knock on the door, we had a two-way It's not as rude as it sounds. The van was... Also, our lose were back to back. I'm going to go, David, are you in there? He goes, Stop. Let's get to me. I'm doing the same as you. But when the AD would come and knock on doors, say it's time, we would try and race each other. He always didn't want to delay anyone. He was never late.

My favorite. Love.

Just gorgeous. Everybody loved him, but just real.

It proves my point, Olivia. I've said before, I find that for the most part, with the exception of a few eccentric original performers, the most talented people are often the most professional. They're the easiest to work with.

Always. I've been so lucky to work with two of my gods, Meryl Streep and Anthony Hopkins. They never would have kept anyone waiting.

Yes.

Then you learn from that, you go, see.

No. They set such a tone. Yes.

They are polite to everyone. They know everyone's name. They know their job, they know their lines. They're always on time.

I mean, in any profession, I do have a theory that people that are acting out of fear or are afraid that this is their last good idea or that a lot of people act out for a lot of reasons.

I I do understand that.

I do, too. As I get older, also people just work differently. But the professional part, when you meet your hero and they also are that way, it's just the best.

It's so important. A friend recently did a show, and I don't want to… There are some of the younger people who… I don't know where it comes from, but if they have a little bit of a cold, they won't do the show. I don't understand. When we were told…

This is very Gen X of us. You know that.

I'm aware that I'm doing that.

Same, which is the way in people…

I don't think it's their fault, but someone has told them wrong.

Well, okay, let's get into this because… Oh, no. No.

I'm going to be canceled. No.

I agree. I'm trying to work on it because here's the two things. I think that we were sold a productivity myth, right? Like hustle, hustle, hustle. It's really ingrained in us. There's no way I would have ever called in sick. I remember doing a scene with Alec Balvin for a movie, and I had a 104 temperature, and we had to cry. I hate that paracetamol. I was on another planet, and he was like, wherever you are, stay there. Perfect. I was like, I am in I'm in a fever dream. I have a hundred and four. I remember just being completely, but never in a million years, ever would I have not- No.

In retrospect, potentially, maybe Matt was a day to not be aware.

Potentially, yeah. Potentially not a good choice. I understand that This idea of maybe take care of yourself, a Gen Xers, a little bit more than you did and not pressure everybody to hustle. But perhaps we've overcorrected.

I think there's a happy medium, isn't there? But a little bit of a tickle in the background. I don't think I can... I don't think that's okay. I've had pneumonia twice, never missed a day of work while filming, but also potentially stupid.

You've had pneumonia while filming? Yeah. You're my girl. Thank I never missed one day of work on Parks and Rec. I did 120 shows. Fuck, yeah. That's weird, and people think that's a weird statistic because they're like, Well, okay, maybe not something to brag about. I'm like, Is it not? I think it is. I agree. But perhaps I was setting an example that there's... Both are true. But I know what you mean. I just love a I love a nice pro. Because a working environment should be... It's just hard enough to just do life. It's hard enough to do life without somebody being difficult.

I'm Are you lucky to have the work beyond. Don't be overly cocky with that.

Yes, agree. Broadchurch, it makes sense to me that you and David loved each other because you can really feel it in the show. It's just you feel like true partners in that show. And even though in the show, you're getting to be partners. But there was such a feeling of mutual respect on that. It was so good. Absolutely. It was so good. And what was it like to have that blow up? It was a huge hit.

Yes, that was very odd because no one knew who had done it. That was what they wanted. Although when I went for my first audition, my meet with the producers, and I said, Who did it? They told me and I went, Oh, and cried. They went, That's great. That's what we got. Then on the way home, 20 minutes after I'd left, they phoned and went, Can you pretend that we didn't tell you? We've realized we don't want anyone to know. We wanted to... I went, Oh, okay. So I had to lie. Then David was so cruff, right? One day, his agent accidentally lets slip right near the end of months of filming, and he flew onto my van. I went, You fucking didn't tell me. I knew what he meant unless I just couldn't look at him Because he didn't know either? He didn't know. No one knew, but they'd accidentally told me. Oh, wow, but you knew.

What a burden to carry that.

You had faces, all the 10 by 8 faces in the makeup van, and everyone was putting a sticker on who they thought it was. I was also going, Is it? That might be me. Am I trying Terrible at lying. Wow.

So you were reading the scripts in real-time, basically? Yeah. Oh, that's very fun.

It was really fun.

And what a great way to be able to... And what a bummer that you knew because you would have been like everyone else, but you had that secret. Yeah. Oh, that's fun. It was fun.

Oh, that's good. But David, yeah, said, You can't believe you didn't tell me.

And you're like, I'm a pro, babe. I'm a pro.

I'd lied so much. I'd almost forgotten that I knew.

Do you think you would be good convincing? Are you a good liar?

Do you think you'd be- Without a script, I'm appalling.

I don't know. I think I'm okay. I think sometimes Sometimes could I convince a jury? Like if I...

Oh, wow, that's an excellent- Could you convince a jury?

I feel like I could convince a jury.

That you didn't do it?

Yes.

I feel like- As long as my kids weren't in the jury, I think I'd be fine.

Your kids would now.

They go, You totally did it.

I haven't said it. Do you have a tell when you lie? I'm sure I do, too. I'd like someone to tell me what it is so I can work on it. But I think I over explain. I think I say too many things.

You know when you watch Traitors? Yes. I love it when they ask them something, they go, What? They have to always what.

They say what because they're stalling.

Yeah, and they do it subconsciously. It's amazing. They always do it.

Have you ever watched any of those body language things where they show if you look up to the right or if you touch your- What's that?

One's recalling information, one's lying. Yes. Yeah, I can't remember what your name is.

Or if you touch your face or your neck. God, I'm doing all of it. I know. If you touch your neck, it's because you're about to say a lie, all these small things. I I love when people stall and you go…

It's so good, isn't it? What did you say? I love it. I'm so sorry. What?

I didn't hear you. But I also get sweating when you have to play those games. Have you ever played that game Mafia? Oh, yeah. I don't like that game. I love it. You love it? I love it. Okay, because?

We play it almost every night on holiday. We've discovered as well, any parents that get killed, it's always their kids that have done it. Always. Or spouse. One family that we go on holiday with every year, their kids are terrifying at it. Really good? Oh, they're so good. The youngest one got so crossed with everyone accusing her that we went, of course, she's not. She was over explaining. She was doing what you say. I had to move because really angry. She's only 13. We were, oh, God, no, she's probably not. She's just, maybe Give her a chance. She was absolutely killing everyone. She was the murderer. At night when everyone had their eyes closed.

Amazing. I get very stressed. I get very giggly when I get accused and very stressed. Also, I feel like I act the same when I'm the murderer or not, but I must not. But I don't think I would pass a lie detector test. Let me just say that.

I don't think I would.

My heart would beat. But I I think I could win over a jury. I think I would say, Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, why would I want to kill my spouse? Or whatever. I'd be able to cry. You're a good cryer, and you love to cry. I do.

Are you the easy cryer? That's one of my great skills. Well, in everyday life, I don't cry so much.

Do you have tricks for crying?

No. If it's sad, I'll cry. If the script is sad. So Broadchurch, that first day, it was filmed chronologically, which was just a gift. Amazing. But they were saying, No, she's a police officer. She's probably a little harder than that one. I'm like, Absolutely, there's no way. I'm sorry, I can't. He's a dead child. If it's good script, it's impossible not to.

But in your life, you're not the biggest cryer?

Really? In The Crown as well, because The Search, the Queen, famously was able to be there for other people and not cry, and I couldn't do it. There's a scene where Helena Bonham Carter is telling me about Abbavan, which was a terrible, terrible thing that happened. It was terrible. I couldn't hear her. It was a beautiful episode. Yeah, it was beautifully done. I couldn't hear her talking about it without crying. They kept going, Okay, no.

No crying.

No, I can't. The Sound Department gave me an earpiece, and I listened to the shipping forecast. In my ear, I was hearing South at Surah, North at Surah, where the fur to middling. I was just listening to that and zoning out while Helena said, I can't believe our first scene together. They were not actually listening to me. Wow. That's a good tip, though. That's a great tip. Listen to something else. Don't listen to your actor.

I always say half of acting is just keeping your face still, which is almost impossible for me to do.

Yeah, me too. Botox helps enormously, I find.

But the way in which everyone just projects everything on your still face. You and Helena in the Crown are so wonderful. I know you're really good friends, too. I know. Did you meet on that chat? Yeah, we did. You had never worked together before.

No. I think we'd met once at a do, and I'd curtsied to her. She's just lovely.

I know People have asked about meeting the queen and playing the queen. But separate from the actual queen, the character of that woman is so interesting.

I know. Fastinating.

I I know you're playing a version of real person, and you're playing a real person. But just the legacy of that, just the idea of one life spanning that much, it's so amazing.

I totally agree. It's an extraordinary... That literally... Well, most people, there's someone else in the world who has a similar experience. No one. No one. That's one person standing on their own, sitting every week to various prime ministers, listening to them, hearing everything and just having to keep it together. It's such a practice in restraint, just a life of restraint.

Also, to your point, being around while everyone else comes and goes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Being the constant while... I mean, I loved the way that that show took on the width and breadth of that life.

The Crown. That person is the Crown.

And the way you take it from Claire, that you take over that moment when you show up in Seasons 3 or 4?

Three or 4, yeah.

When you show up and we think, Oh, Olivia is now the queen. It's exhilarating.

It was terrifying following on from Claire. Was it? Yeah, because I loved it. It was so highly advertised that I didn't want to like it in that show. Totally. Yeah, everyone likes it.

Okay, no, thanks.

Then I accidentally watched it with one eye open and went, Oh, no, I love it. Love Claire. So good. Couldn't stop watching her. Then got a call. They would like to meet you for, I think my agent said, for the Queen. I thought that was the play. She said, No, I didn't mean that. I didn't mean that. I meant the Crown. I went, Oh, my God. Yeah, fuck you. Oh, absolutely. Yes, please. She said, I think you're not meant to say that yet. She meant to just wait. Very cool. Put your tongue glasses on. Trying to be cool. I I was such a huge fan of it.

Yes.

Also, it came at the point where I just spent all my tax money. Really handy.

Did you talk to Claire? Did What did you talk to Claire? Did you two talk about handing off the tort?

Someone said, It might be a good idea if you want to, we can give you Claire's number. I did speak to Claire and said, Honestly, truthfully, it's a long commitment, long job. She went, I've absolutely fucking loved it. It's a happy job and everyone's nice. Yes.

Okay, that's great. I mean, there is a whisper network among actresses, especially, I think, when you're going to try to take a job, when you're lucky enough to have the choice to take a job where you call other people to say, Is this okay?

I love that code as well. Me too. We do go, Hi. Or there's the word tricky. It can be tricky. I got on quite well with them, but I know that some other people did so politely letting you know maybe this isn't a simple decision.

Another code is like, Well, the hours can be long, which is a code for the director is a little unorganized.

I think The scripts aren't ready. Yeah.

The scripts can come in a little late, and I cried a few times. But as far as the job, yeah. Helena and you, I just want to stay there for one second because I love watching you work with everyone, but I especially love watching you work with other super talented women, and you've worked with a lot of really great women.

I'm really lucky, yeah.

When you meet each other on screen.

I love women. Me too.

I mean, it's honestly hard to work with men. I'm so sorry. I'm sure it was easy with Benedict, but we have to, but fuck.

I know.

It's hard.

Bessam, that's just not as good. She's not as good.

I do, too. I love working with women, and I can tell you do, too. Who are some women that you've worked with? You just went... Helena, I'm sure, is one, but who that you just worked with and you said, Oh, I'm going to have the best time.

I think Jody Whittaker on Broadchurch, Helena on the Crown, and Marion, who played the Queen Mother on the Crown. Just loved her. Loved her. I always take a good girlfriend with me from almost every job.

What do you mean?

That's cool. Well, Hely, Jody is now godmother to my youngest. We had our youngest at the same time while on Broadchurch. And Phoebe, Phoebe Wallerbridge. And Amy Morgan, who you probably won't have heard of, but I think she's extraordinary. We went doing a play. And so there's always one. And on the Roses, there's Zoe, Sunita, Allison, Jenny, Kate McKinnon.

We have Kate coming in. Kate is such an- Is she coming in?

She's coming to do this podcast. Tell me it's day while I'm here.

It is.

Are you lying?

I'm not lying, but you're not going to be here. We're not going to make you wait for Kate because we have a little bit of a… You I got to get on that plane. But you want to leave a note for her? Yeah, she's coming in today. Isn't she such a wild, interesting, eccentric bird?

We had a girls trip to where I live in the countryside while we were filming and Kate came along. She's the most fun grown up you've ever met. My daughter couldn't believe her luck.

Yes, she is fun.

She's fun. She was, I think, a pea hen or something for about three hours. Fucking hell. It was amazing. My little girl was going.

Phoebe, Fleabag, huge. Another huge show.

She's an amazing woman. She's brilliant at what she does, and she works hard, and she's really driven and kind to everybody. Just another fucking fantastic woman. That first episode of the second season of Fleabag, which was with Andrew Scott and sitting around that restaurant table, felt like the most brilliant play.

Yes.

Just that whole episode, one dinner scene. I love the way she writes. She gives everybody.

So many good- It's a generous- You have also so many good jokes in that show. Great jokes. That character is hilarious and deeply disturbing. Yeah.

I got it wrong initially. I was playing her quite evil. I was going, it's not what you meant, is it? She went, Well, she's the most charming person in any room. She'll be vial to you and you… Thank you. Sort of being grateful for the… It's so vial.

I mean, it's like, yeah, she's the ultimate narcissist. When you're that way, you're usually quite charming. Yeah. Yeah, you're not usually… There's a way in which you draw people in and then you slowly kill them. Before we get to the roses, I feel like There was this beautiful couple of years where America said- I just realized.

I just said how much I love what women… I've just done a film with Benedict.

But Benedict feels like he's sensitive enough that he counts.

Oh, my God, he does. He really does. I feel awful. I just I loved working with Benedict.

Well, we're going to talk about working with Benedict. Okay, good. He's going to be fine.

Okay, good. Great.

Benedict can handle it.

Yeah. Yeah. He can handle it. And Andy. I love Andy. Andy's fine. And Jamie.

Of course, you love all the people.

They know. I do love the people. They know.

Sorry to interrupt. No, no, not at all. But I'm not worried about Benedict.

Okay, good.

He's so tall. We don't have to worry about him.

No, he'll be fine. He will be fine.

But no, we will talk about that because But there was this amazing couple of years where we got to see a lot of work being congratulated when you won that award, when you won the Academy Award, right? And you've won a lot of awards. And what I loved about that moment was what I felt in that moment, and tell me if I'm wrong, is that you probably feel about awards the same way. I feel about awards, which is lovely, but also who cares?

Yeah, I tell you. I know. That's an awkward things. Yeah. Okay.

Maybe I should say it less bluntly.

I feel like, oh, my God, it is the most lovely. If your peers have said seal of approval, there's nothing better. Yes. Because I I think also give yourself a few days to feel pretty thrilled with yourself. Yes. Then forget it ever happened. Go back to work.

That's right.

Yeah. It was amazing, and it might never happen again. And weren't you lucky? And now head down.

I find that Brits, in general, accept awards really well because they do just that. They stay in the moment and say, Thank you, and they're very polite. But also you can tell they're like, I can't internalize this or I'm in trouble. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is a little bit more American to be like, I made it to the top of the mountain, and I'm here, and I'm never getting off, and I knew it, and I got it, and I went for it. But they're completely different feelings. But your speech I know it's hard to think about yourself and talk about yourself. It's always hard to talk about yourself. But do you have a sense of why that speech was so well received? It just was this like, everyone felt very with you in that moment. It felt like a really organic. What was your memories of getting up and giving that speech and being inside of it?

What did it feel like? So much I don't really remember. But just beforehand, in the build up to it, in the months, the build up, people kept saying Oscars, and I was going, Stop it, and I got furious. It was all too scary, terrifying. Don't be ridiculous. Then on the evening, that 20 minutes before we were meant to go, my husband went, Don't be cross. But just in case, I've just put some notes on a piece of paper, and he went out and, just fucking wanker. Okay, that's quite a good thing. He just said, Just remember, if it happens to say this or say that, say thank you. I would have… Well, I'm stuttering now. I would have been so useless. It was absolutely real and shocking. But if it wasn't for him, just take five It's just in case to think about it. I know.

Ed. Writer, producer, director. He took care of you in that moment.

General Hottie.

General Hottie. Also, the moment you guys had was so sweet, too. You have a wonderful long-lasting marriage with Ed. And you met... Where did you meet?

In the town of Cambridge. He was at Cambridge.

Olivia's crying a little bit.

Who not?

You love Ed. He's your best friend. You call him your best friend. I love love.

He's my best friend, and I fancy him.

He's quite nice. I love love. Okay, how did you meet?

You have his name? I do have his name. It's a bit like he's pissed on me. It was my choice.

He just sammed it on you. Okay, how did you meet?

We met in a play rehearsal, and I'd gone to two of the rehearsals, and there wasn't no one particularly fanciable there. I was like, No. Then I walked in and I saw his left-hand profile. At the time, he was smoking a Ziggy. His feet were crossed, and he's got this lovely bump in his nose. I saw his side profile and went, God, I'm going to marry him. No. I had proper Thunderbolts. That's him. That's him. Yeah. I know. Poor thing he didn't know.

What does he say about the first time he met you?

He genuinely can't remember.

That's so great. What is the secret to a long-lasting relationship? Any tips, any advice?

I don't know.

Because you're making a movie about the opposite of that.

Yes, that's true. It's our 25th wedding anniversary next year. We've been together 31 It is. Wow. I don't think it's... We're not big fighters, which apparently isn't very healthy.

Okay, can we talk about this for a second? I agree. I see a lot of research that says you really should argue and fight. Okay. It feels so like, what if you're not? I'm not afraid of conflict, but I don't necessarily want to search it out.

I don't want to.

I'm people that argue.

I do think that It is okay. We have learned over the years, but really late on, actually, to sometimes if that was annoying, then just wait until it's... It doesn't work for everyone. I know that. But I think it's better to wait till the much calmer moment to go, Can we talk about that moment? I did find that a little weird. Is that okay that I'm saying this? Yes, I was a bit crossed that day. Okay, but good. Okay, So please, thank you.

That's the most British conversation I've ever heard.

No talking. Maggie Chilling Hall, when we did The Lost Dawn.

That was a beautiful movie.

Different Ed was the costume designer and me, he's English, and I'm English, and he was talking about a hat. He said, I left the hat out. I didn't know if he wanted it. I went, Oh, I see. I didn't know if... Did you want me to wear it now? He went, Only if you like it. No, I do like it. I just wonder because it's... And this went on for 20 minutes. Maggie, the time it was COVID, she took her mask down and went, Oh, my God. She's like, Nothing has been said. Twenty minutes. I'd never realized it before that moment when she just… That's how we argue.

It leads me really naturally into the film that's out right now with the great Benedict Cumberbatch. Match. What a pro. I ask people before these podcasts to give me a question to ask my guests, and we speak well behind their back, like I said. He Because, of course, he absolutely adores you, and you guys have never worked together before, which is really interesting. Like you, I think he's shown that he's able to toggle between a bunch of different styles and genres. Also, it makes me think sometimes that maybe it's a bit more licensed to do that in the UK than the US. I don't know.

To go between drama and- Maybe.

I'm thinking about it now because- Emma Thompson and Cathy Burke.

We do have a line of... Well, I'm just thinking of the women, but we do have a long line of people who've been allowed to do both.

Well, I remember people talking about Hugh Laurie in House, and I was like, You know Hugh Lorry started in sketch-Sketch comedy. He was like, He's sketch. He's sketch. He's sketch-comedy. Yeah. But he was asking me, he asked a very sweet actor question, which is basically, he is in awe of you and what you can do. He was like, Is there anything you're afraid of?

Acting-wise?

Well, I couldn't really tell. I couldn't really tell what the question was. But let's say, Sure. Let's say acting-wise.

Anything that I have to show any skin? I don't like it.

No, I don't like it. No, thank you. No, I don't like it.

Or pretending to have sex with someone. I don't like it. I don't like it. I feel like I'm being on Facebook and it just feels a bit…

Even when they go, You can wear your jeans and a cushion between you.

I don't want to do that. That's not what I don't know. I don't love that.

I know. And by the way, bless the people that are good at it. The people that are good at it, I'm like, I'll watch it all day long. And they're comfy, but an on-screen orgasm.

No, absolutely not.

That's what you have to do that day. That's tough.

Thank God for Intimacy Coordinators. Absolutely. Eita O'Brien, who is a... She told me, and I was meant to... Orgasm went, Oh, she told me, Oh, God, how do you do that? She said, Imagine the sun is hitting your face. That was great. So just be given a...

And you just go like this?

Yeah.

You go, Oh, my God. You just put your sunglasses on.

You go, I should have done it like that.

Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, you got your answer, Bethany. You got your answer. But what was it like working with him on the film?

I loved working with him. He feels like one of life's innocence, in a way, because we We had such fun. But when it started to get a little bit more cruel to each other, he did go, Can we pause for a minute? Are we okay? Yeah. He's like, Yes, Ben, it's pretend. It's all okay. He's so in it. He's just lovely. But I felt like I wanted to hold his hand a lot and go, We're good. We're still friends. It's lovely to work opposite him because he's absolutely feeling it. It's all instant. I bet.

Even just seeing the way in which watching the two of you spar is really exciting because it's two very good actors going really hard. Plus, there's just a ton of dumb physical stuff, which is so fun. Do you like doing that? No. No, me neither. I don't want to.

I'm not really physical.

I don't want to do any running. I don't want to mess down.

But he is really good at that, which is great. I just had the gun and he just ran around.

You're like, I think my character would sit. Then Jay Roach. Oh, Oh, my God. Isn't he a delight, the director? I love him.

I love him. I felt bad for him every day because it was like trying to nail jelly to the wall, trying to get us all to stop giggling or stop doing bits and just joking. How often does he hit his head?

Because he's so tall.

He wears a hat as well. He doesn't see the booms and the lights. The crew ended up hanging sticky tape down from everything. He still did it 15 times a day.

It's got to be some psychological thing that he's doing.

Yeah, that he can't get across with us. He doesn't say that things.

Then, okay, we talked about Kate, you worked with Andy. Okay, the movie is out. Then my last question is, I ask everybody, and it's the reason why I started doing this podcast, genuinely, was to try to, I don't know, make sense of this wicked world and find some solace in what everybody was doing to keep themselves laughing. What do you watch, read, do? What's making you laugh right now today, big or small? A person, a video, a show, old or new that you go to?

The thing that makes me laugh more than anything, belly laugh, it doesn't happen often enough is watching my husband fall over or hit his head.

On purpose or by accident?

By accident. I- You just love an accident. It literally makes me go weak. I laughed. It's so good.

Did you ever watch America's Funiest Home Videos? Have you ever seen that show?

Oh, that's the Standby.

Just one second for you.

We're going to get you on a plane. I've seen a clip recently where people just lie down with their, Have you seen this? I'm turned around and Ed's lying down. You just see his head there and people go, and they film. That's gorgeous.

Do you like being pranked?

I've got to do that, haven't I? I'm still mad. Yes. Don't tell him.

Do you like being pranked?

No. Okay, because- No, someone makes me jump, I will punch them in the face. Me too.

I don't like being surprised.

I am fight, not flight.

But you like when people get a tiny bit hurt? Yeah. But they're fine, right? They have to jump up.

As long as they're fine, as long as they're okay. If it looks like... Oh, God, that looks like- Sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm having fun.

Okay, let's watch just two minutes of this and we're going to let you go.

This is the best day ever.

I know what you mean. Okay, these things. Do I need my glasses? We're watching an America's Funiest Home videos. What's that person doing? That person is stuck in the ceiling. That person doing something and she's stuck in the ceiling. Okay, that might have been too hard to fall.

Have you seen the two women trying to get into the window?

Oh, yeah. Oh, God.

I want to have that.

Let's watch the two women trying to get in the window. Oh, my God. Yes. That is so hard.

The other one is no help at all outside, clearly trying not to piss herself, going… Yeah, when people start…

When they're stuck and they start laughing, that does two women trying to get into a window. Okay, here we go. Okay, okay, okay, okay. Okay, let's watch. Here we go. Here we go. Okay, they're trying to get in the window, and one of them is giving the other one a foot up.

She's not wearing the right clothes for this. We know that already.

She's wearing a... She's both barefoot? Here.

This is now, if a bag is there, it's right here.

Her shirt comes off. That's right. Her shirt comes off.

So she's upside down with these groups, which are now facing that way.

And her mate. And her clothes come off and they're dying laughing. I mean, this is the thing that Benny Hill told me would happen, and it did happen. It actually happened.

Oh, my God. I love that.

I do, too. There's no better feeling. That makes me want to watch that again.

And hearing them weak when you can't speak.

Oh, yes. I love it. And knowing that one person is peeing.

Right. And if the upside down woman was also peeing, it's great.

Well, Olivia, I love you.

I love you.

I love that you came. You got the loveliest time. Thank you so much for coming in what I know is a long press day. Thank you for having me. If you want to leave a note for Kate, let me know. Oh, yes, please.

Has Kate seen that?

I'm going to show it. She would enjoy that.

She's probably- She probably is like- She reenacted it. I was going to say she probably did.

Thank you so much. Thank you. I love to have you here.

Thank you for having me. I want you to come and to stay. Okay.

Can I come to your house, please? Yes. Thank Okay, great. Okay, today's Polar Plunge is presented by Visible. It's one-line wireless running on Verizon's 5G network. For great coverage and a reliable connection, make the switch at visible. Com. Okay, for this Polar Plunge, I'm going to say that everybody should check out a film that we briefly mentioned in this interview, The Lost Daughter. It is with Olivia Coleman, directed beautifully by Maggie Jelen Hall, and with the great Dakota Johnson, who came in here with her puppy just a little while ago to our show. Olivia and Dakota are so great together. It's just a meditation on motherhood. Jessie Buckley is so good in it. It's just one of those movies where you're like, damn, those ladies are good at acting. That's what you say. You say, wow, those broads are good at acting. But check it out. If you haven't seen it, it's a beautiful, beautiful film. But today's Polar Plunge was presented by Visible: The Ultimate Wireless Hack. It's one-line wireless with unlimited data, hotspot talk and text starting at $25 a month. Terms apply. See visible. Com for planned features and network management details.

Okay, that's the end of our show. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weis-Burman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paperkite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya MacMullen, and Elea Zanaris. For Paperkite, production Green, Joel Lovelle, and Jenna Weis-Burman. Original music by Amy Miles. All I ever wanted was a really good hang.