Olivia Colman on Tyrannosaur and Playing Meryl Streep's Daughter in Iron Lady

Paddy Considine's British drama Tyrannosaur opens with an act of violence so brutal and bleak that, as Olivia Colman told Movieline earlier this month, it caused some audience members to bolt out of theaters. If they had stayed, though, they would have seen the film evolve from the portrait of an alcoholic widower's despicably primal urges to the tale of his redemption.

The redemption arrives courtesy of Colman's character Hannah, a kind charity worker willing to rehabilitate a man (Peter Mullan) just as dangerous as the one who wreaks terror on her home life. Colman's performance -- which earned her a World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Breakout Performance at this year's Sundance Film Festival -- is at once heartbreaking, hopeful and a gut punch to audiences who only know the soft-spoken actress from her work in comedic projects like Peep Show, Green Wing and Hot Fuzz, where she played PC Doris Thatcher.

Up next, Colman portrays a different Thatcher -- Carol, daughter of British Prime Minister Margaret -- in this January's biopic The Iron Lady. To discuss these new ventures, as well as the movie that broke her heart and Meryl Streep's uncanny ability to put anyone at at ease, Colman met with Movieline earlier this month. Our conversation (containing a few Tyrannosaur spoilers) follows.

Were you surprised that some people interpreted Tyrannosaur as more depressing than redemptive?

A little, I suppose. I was quite upset when people told me that it was really depressing or that it's bleak. I thought it was quite shocking to discover how some people's lives are so miserable behind closed doors. I thought the film had a redemptive feel to it and a message that people want to be loved and want to be free.

Paddy Considine first introduced these people -- Joseph and Hannah -- in a short film a few years back called Dog Altogether. At what point did that story evolve into a feature-length project?

After people had seen the short and wanted to know what happened to the characters. And then Paddy wanted to see if Joseph (Peter Mullan) was right in his belief that Hannah lived a rosy life.

You didn't know anything about your character's back story for the short. Did you have to approach her differently for Tyrannosaur after learning about her past?

I didn't have to approach her differently just because she is someone who doesn't want anyone to know about her life so I played her the same. She's just a very nice, good person.

In what ways do you relate to her?

I fortunately never experienced [domestic abuse] like she did on a daily basis or at all. So I had to use my imagination for that but I suppose I related to her because she was a beautifully-written character who is lovely and you want to help her.

It's so hard seeing characters that vulnerable and knowing that you can't help them.

A lot of people have said that -- that they've had that overwhelming need to help her.

Did you interact with any victims of domestic abuse in preparation for this role?

There are a lot of charities that hep victims of domestic violence in the U.K. One of them is called Refuge. Because it was a bigger organization, they had the resources to allow some people to spend time talking to me. They answered all of my questions and in particular, gave me a case study to read, which is the thing that stayed in the back of my mind [during production]. What I read was so horrific and so much worse than anything Paddy put onscreen.

What part of the case study affected you the most?

I don't know if you want to know, really -- it's haunting. I showed Paddy and he was shocked. He said, "Well, we can't put any of that in here because no one would believe us." It would be like a horror film. Absolutely awful. That, I suppose, informed my performance in the back of my mind. I didn't get to speak to any of the victims. At one point, I wanted to speak to one of the women but then I realized that I couldn't. I wouldn't be able to speak to her without crying, and that's not helpful. [Laughs] Because of people like her though, I wanted to do this justice and portray this character honestly.

Did it take long for you to find that dark place within yourself each day on set?

Not at all. I'm not a method actress. It just goes back to the writing being so good. Paddy filmed it chronologically too which was so helpful. Every scene you just did, you know what happened right before and what was about to happen.

Are dramatic actors who are able to flip that switch on and off so quickly on set able to use that ability to their benefit in real life? Do you think you're able to flip a similar switch if you are going through something depressing and adapt to life's changes easier than non-actors?

No. [Laughs] That would be nice. If something's going on, you can hide it from people better maybe and not talk about it. But in acting, you are completely aware that you are portraying somebody else and can leave it behind. You don't have that luxury in real life. And having a good old shout or a cry during a scene is very cathartic. You don't want to keep crying though -- you want to go and have a beer and a giggle after.

Speaking of a good old shout and a good cry, can you talk about the scene where your character completely melts down?

Yes, that was the scene that I was most nervous about filming. But it helped that we were filming it at the end and Paddy was there. I just wanted to do it justice and not let Paddy down. because it was a bit of a punt for him to put me in the role. He didn't know that I could do it. That was the hardest part and knowing that at the end of the day, you just have to throw yourself in and not worry about embarrassment.

Were you surprised that people reacted so strongly to the opening dog violence scene?

It's funny that some people can't stomach that [violence towards a dog] -- because clearly, no animal was hurt -- and yet they're able to turn a blind eye to [my character] being urinated on or raped. It's all violence. Some people left the theater at that point [after the dog scene], which was kind of infuriating.

You're mostly known for your comedic work but did you always know that you had this great dramatic performance inside of you?

You don't choose which way you go. I'm not a comedian. I'm just an actor, and I took jobs because I was offered them and needed to work. I love the idea that there is an element of choice in that because there isn't. I always assumed I would leave drama school and do Lady Macbeth and all sorts of serious things. It just didn't happen. I kind of knew I could do it, but no one really let me.

Was there a part of you that wanted to prove those casting directors who maybe hadn't picked you for dramatic roles wrong?

No, there wasn't an element of wanting to prove anyone wrong. I just wanted to make Paddy proud.

Up next, you portray Carol Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Can you discuss what role Margaret's daughter plays in the film?

Well, in the U.K., Carol Thatcher is a well-known figure, so that was quite daunting -- playing someone that everyone knows. I had to do that with pretty broad brush strokes because I'm not a very good impersonator. Again, we just tried to make her a real person. People may think, "Oh, that's not quite how she looks or acts," but hopefully they'll be able to let that go and just enjoy the film.

Did you study videos of her to prepare?

She was in a reality series called I'm a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here which she actually won. She was hilarious and brilliant to watch. That was a good bit of footage for me to watch because it was her unaware of cameras and not being on her best behavior. She was gripping to watch.

Which mannerisms did you focus on?

She has a very distinctive voice because she has a weak "r" so that was something that was easily recognizable. Apart from that, I'm not sure I have her physicality down, so hopefully people will forgive me.

Do you have many scenes with Meryl Streep?

Yes, all of my scenes were with her which was amazing. Weirdly, it was not intimidating because she is so lovely and so kind that within moments you forget that she is Meryl Streep. She is so warm and sweet and would give me little squeezes of the hand or a thumbs up [after a scene]. She's a very generous actor.

Does the U.K. think of her as highly as the U.S. does?

Oh God, yes. She's a legend. I think everyone considers her the greatest actress alive. So it was terrifying going into [the project] but she immediately put me at ease. I never really felt like I could punch her on the arm though in between takes -- she's still Meryl Streep -- even though she would probably love it and punch back harder. I never could call her "Meryl," though -- that felt wrong.

So what did you call her?

I never figured it out. I just waited until she looked in my direction!

Finally, I'm going to put you on the spot. Is there one film that you feel has really impacted you as an actor?

Breaking the Waves is one film that I watched over and over again as an acting student. That was one of the most affecting films for me. When Emily Watson is talking to her husband fairly soon after he has been paralyzed -- they've just been married -- and he is trying to convince her to be free. He just wants to set her free but he desperately doesn't really want her to. And she misunderstands, thinking, "So, you want me to have sex with people and then tell you about it?" She's trying to think about committing these awful acts, thinking that that's what he wants. I remember crying while watching that. That makes me want to cry now actually. Emily Watson was just wonderful.

Why did it move you to tears? Just the empathy you felt for that character?

Yes, and similarly to Hannah. You just want to protect her. You want to sit her down and say, "No, that's not what you are meant to do."

Well, it's amazing that after seeing that film and feeling that moved by a character in acting school you were able to provoke that same kind of empathy in audience members years later.

Oh yes, that is a nice way to think about it. That did work out well, didn't it?

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