Olivia Colman

Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Oh, what a lovely guest we have today, Olivia Coleman, an incredible actress, just a dear, tender, beautiful person. And 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 with. 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. And we got a big start today. We have an actor who was in Dr. 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. Get up, buddy, say. All I ever wanted was a really good hang. Hey, Amy, how are you? Hi, it's good to see you. I can't see, so you're quite fine. OK, you can just hear my voice. I can see you now, because I'm wearing these glasses. Like this, you're a beautiful blonde blur, but like that, you're a very sharp blonde. Now, what's your prescription? Because are you new to glasses? 1.6, something like that. I'm new to sort of giving in to them. Yeah, same. I'm just, I need them for reading, but not yet for driving. It's so boring, isn't it? And I'm not one of those people who get my eye. I can't get them lasered. It's very boring. It's not boring, because I feel like now that I can hide behind glasses, my life has changed. And also, people think I'm smarter. Anyway, hi, nice to see you. Thank you for doing this. You're so welcome. OK, 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 restraining order against me many years ago, and you don't let me get close to you, so. That's true. After the golden globes, it's right. OK, so question 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 kind of talk well behind their back. And 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've never worked together. Never. No. And we've been friends for a long time and always said, we should work together. And this is what was sort of born out of that conversation. What kind of friend is Olivia? Incredibly loyal, ridiculously good fun. She facilitates naughtiness. She's just sort of, is it preternaturally? Is that the phrase upbeat? I mean, it's kind of, that's the one, if there's a critique about it, 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 were in the studio together. You just see everyone, all the crew, everyone going, everyone just fit in and brighten by her being around. It feels that way when you watch her work and then also be herself. And I have, we kind of 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. Yeah, kind of. The other I get, the more I just, that's sort of, I can't be doing with people who are hard to work with. But I just, that's my one sort of, commodely kind of thing. It shouldn't have to be hard. OK, and then the other thing I wanted to ask you, and then we'll get to your question. There's nothing like more satisfying when somebody has a sense of humor about themselves. Like it's such a sign of intelligence. Like, and 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 kind of tease in a heartier 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 kind of cultural difference. One of the key differences between our version and the original Michael Douglas Attington 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. And 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 darn way. There's a good trade, I think, which evens us out, both in the grossed out humor and also the very well thought through ironic, witty intellectual humor. And I don't think we play out 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 sort of end of the pier kind of whoops, they go, my Nickovickers. Nickovickers, Nickovickers, kind of fasses. And quite well, I was like, you've got to do something else now. I can't watch in an audience as you as a certainly teenager. I can't watch you come into a room where your politician husband is having his pants pulled down because of something. And it looks like his male assistant is doing a blow job. And you turn to the audience and go, I'm in a warped car. So having grown up with that kind of humor, if you can do comedy is 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. All the serious people get up and accept and accept and accept. I know. It's true. And it's some hot bullshit because comedy is not easy. And I got to tell you, both you and Olivia can do both. Oh, well, thank you. Thank you. That's great. OK. So do you have any question for Olivia today? Yeah. OK. Is she wearing any on the on the. 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. Oh, that's a great question. Yeah. And she do it. That's the other. And what are you most afraid of? And would you be any good at facing that fear? Hmm. Deep question. I should be doing this interview. Question. Yes. I mean, do you want to switch places here? No, because everyone wants to hear you do the interview. OK, well, I know you are an hour or two of a 12 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 way or someday, but at an actual. I think so. That'd be lovely. Yeah. Thank you so much, Benedict. 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 months after month, $25 per month rate on the visible plan. Hello, hello, hello. Okay. Thank you for coming and being here. So much for having me. You know, I was looking over your, your life, like your timeline, because we're the same age. I'm about the same age. You look much younger than me. No, you know, you do actually. I'm 50. Hold on. I have to remember. I was born in 71. I'm 50. You're born in 74. Yeah. Well, so you're a little younger than me. Sorry. Well, I look older. Americans just look better. Do you think? Yeah. Well, British people seem smarter. So everything is out. So you'll find out that story. And you'll find out. And when you get a little closer. Okay. So, but we, but, you know, we kind of have some parallels because you met a lot of your friends and coworkers at Footlights. Yeah. Kind of, you know, you went to this very important place that we Americans used to hear about. Yes. I will. I wasn't actually at the university with this. This is something that gets regularly. You were not at Cambridge. I was in the town of Cambridge working as a cleaner. And very interesting. So, yes. So I feel very well. I did. I was at the teacher training college for about a term, I think, and left. And then no one questioned me because I had a bicycle and I looked the same as everyone else. The same age. So I just would turn up to things. And was there like an auditioning process to get into Footlight? Yes. And that's where I met my lovely friends who then basically were responsible for me getting work for years afterwards. Yeah. Because I just feel very, it feels like a big lie. If I guys at Cambridge. Absolutely. This is already very British. The distinction that you didn't go to school there is an important one for you. Well, I feel like people who were there would go, no, you didn't. And, you know, I think it's so impressive to have worked 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 go to. So people that were not going there could be in the, could perform there. Yes. I think I just, I didn't lie, but I just said they didn't tell anyone. So it can be taken back. You could be technically arrested for, yeah, at some point. Maybe. So 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. And this is when I did have my student card because I was actually at the teacher training thingy. And, and there was a sign it was handwritten in Biro on the audition arrow. Oh, fun. So I went along and I didn't know it was the Footlights and I know. And please, I didn't know. Yeah. And there was, they were boys looking bored, sitting behind a desk and said, entertainers will sell something to us that looks like this isn't food. I went, OK. So there was a disgusting ashtray, which must have been there for years. And I picked up a fact, but that sounds weird in American English, right? Cigarette, but cigarette. And, and, and I tried to sell it and it wasn't going very well. And I was laughing. So I ate it. I had a desperation and they still didn't laugh. They just looked absolutely horrified, but they they let me in. So they thought, well, she's she's game. Yeah, she's going to do some funny stuff. What is it going to take to get those guys to laugh? Yeah. That is so that's so that's such a great story. And then you got in and then you met all these like what, you know, I. That 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. Yeah. Like what do you remember of those times? Well, I because obviously, as you know, you will have to help write and everything. I was terrible at the writing. I just really enjoyed performing and being on stage and making people laugh. It's like the best like crack. At the best. It is. I said it to me. It was the closest feeling to being a vampire. Where you're just becoming a vampire. Yeah. Oh, I've got goosebumps. I totally understand. Just look what I've done. Yeah. This is weird, powerful, in control, flush of excitement. Yeah. Yeah. And so desperate to get that back and. Yes. Your whole life is chasing it again. Yeah. What was the first? You remember the feeling of like the first big laugh, you know, where you 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 me, Jean Brody. So not a comedy, but I just remember people clapping at the end. And I'd always been so rubbish at school. I'd never thought I couldn't wait for it to finish. And I didn't really, I'd look out the window and found it really hard to concentrate. And then suddenly I committed to learning all of these lines. Suddenly, why couldn't I learn other stuff? But I would do that. And then when they clapped, that was the moment when I went. It was like, it was like electricity coming on your fingertips. Like, OK, get off, get off. No. Loved it. Yeah. I mean, do you consider yourself a were you an extroverted kid? Like, were you were you are people not surprised that you ended up being an actor or? Don't know. I think it's quite, I think as I got older, I've got more and more shy in a way. And I think people knowing your face and you're not knowing their face. Yes, yes. Put you in a, you know, 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 shyer as you get older. Totally. I really relate to that. Yeah. And I know you think that is. I think it is. Well, as you know, as I said, that it's it's an unequal thing. So 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, you know, if well, if if you can walk, feel like you can walk down the street and no one has done a double take or a nudge or a secret photo. Yeah, it feels amazing. Yes. I love that. Yeah, being observed is weird because especially it sounds like you're 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, you know, see who they are. Yeah. Because it's their decision to do what they want to do with their lives. Not and kids don't like it. It doesn't even 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. And it's it's hard to explain to them that that is your work. But it is it is it's a universal feeling that kids kids want their parents when they want them. Mine. Yeah. Yeah. And I've been lucky compared to many people in our industry. I haven't had to be away from home that much. Yeah. And I'm my youngest. So in recent years, I've had to be away a bit more and she hates it. I sort of love it that she hates it. But yeah, because she's still missing you. How old is your youngest? Yeah, youngest is 10. OK, OK, right. So I still have some sweetness. Yeah. Yeah. And really, she's really lovely. They're all lovely. I know. And does anyone any of them want to be an actor? No, furious. Yeah. Live it with them. Yeah. You know, I'm like, get up there and earn some money. Yeah. Just they laugh at me because, yeah, it's a bit, you know, ab fab. And 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. I can't even be a rock star. Totally. He goes, well, no one says, oh, why can't you be a rock star? I do. They're all so sensible. Yeah. 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. OK, so you're at you're at Footlights. You're making all these friends. You're deciding, you know, what I love about your career and you is that you you are the ultimate to me proof that when someone can do comedy really well, they can do anything. And I guess you came into the business doing comedy. When was was it Tyrannosaur that switched? It was that. Yeah. Can you talk about that film and getting cast in that? Yeah. So comedy, I'd never intended. I just found a play zone. I really loved it. Yeah. And I'd always imagined maybe from from that first play at school, I thought, maybe I could be an actor, but you didn't dare say it out loud. Yeah. And and 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. No. And it takes someone to know to really put their neck on the line to go, no, I would like them to do that. So it was Paddy Considine I met when we were doing Hot Fuzz. Yes. I was so excited to meet him. And I opened the door and grinned at him. And and he decided in that moment, oh, she's she'd be right for my film. Wow. I know. So always open the door for people. Always be nice. You never know. Wow. And it was a totally changed the trajectory. Yeah. I find hard to do of my career because it went to Sundance and it was like this, you know, very lauded performance and people saw this version of you basically. And they said, oh, we can. I know it's very. It's isn't it interesting how life is just. Just the smallest changes and moves in your life. Yeah. In your on another track. Yeah, totally. And so often having to wait for someone else to yeah, to to, you know, let that happen for you. Yeah, it's just frustrating. Yeah. But I'm so grateful to Paddy. Do you ever think to yourself like 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? You know, like, I don't know if I might do subconsciously. I always used to rely on much on gut feeling. Yeah. You know, and 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 sometimes I think I think I can't tell now if my agent has a great litmus test. So if you read it and you're unsure, if your nemesis gets the part, are you going to want to, you know, pull your hair out? So funny, I think about that, too. If I saw it a year later, like a trailer for it and I was jealous. Yeah. If I thought I saw something. OK, I can let this go or no, I have to fight for it. Yeah. Yeah. But but. So I didn't answer your question until today. Did I go somewhere else? Well, what 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. Your career is incredible, Olivia. Like you have done. OK, but I want to stay with comedy for a second just because I feel like and I kind of 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. Yeah. Like it wasn't until I was in my 20s and 30s that I learned about all this great British comedy that I'd never got to see. OK. And I, you know, you know, we got kind of the big ones, right? Growing like money, Python and, you know, Abfab and stuff like that. But then there was this huge amount of shows that we never saw that you had to kind of search and find out and watch on, you know, VHS and like 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 kind of catch up and know about once you started becoming? Weirdly, sort of SNL, which is, you know, it's like a little comedy heaven. I didn't know about that for so long. Yeah. Because I don't think it was shown on television in the UK. No. And it was only funny friends who were obsessed with it. And I went, well, why? What is it? And then started to look at it. Because this is pre-internet. Like we couldn't Google anything. We didn't have this high tech stuff that I have. I have a laptop on my. Yeah. And that's very cool. And I can type in anything, anything you want to know. And you want to know the recipe to something? But yeah, but you couldn't clip anything you couldn't watch. So I remember watching like Alan Partridge on the stuff on VHS, but 10 years after it was on. Yeah, yeah. Well, it's the same. Well, 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 every love Raymond, then friends. No, sorry, Frasier. Same four shows. Yeah. I love it. Oh, my God. Cheers. Oh, my God. Cheers. How good is that show? Oh, it's so good. Ted Danson at his hottest best. And the and and Sam and Diane, the I mean, actually, there's a we'll get to your film, The Roses, but there's a lot of that kind of like that kind of back and forth repartee of I love you. I hate you. I love you. Yeah. So satisfying. So good. And when they kissed for the first time, millions watch, I know. And and also that lovely Woody. I loved and he's and and and 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 passed away year one or two. And you thought, well, they're just going to come with that. And then they bring in Woody. Yeah. To crushes it. And then the pilot of cheers, if you've ever read, is just a perfectly written pilot and we and me and Mike, sure, the creator of Parks and Rec used to talk about it all the time because you have like seven characters. You have to, you know, service really fast. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's such a good pilot. I love that. Oh, my God, I've got to watch the pilot. I'm going to find it. It's so good. And the ending of Cheers. Yeah. OK, everyone loves Raymond Frazier. And what was the other one? King of Queens. King of Queens. And you're like, what is this Queens? What do I need to know? Queens, I've got no idea what that is. But he is king of it. Yeah, there was there was a few things that came over to us, but not a lot. You know, it took me and sketch was one like I didn't know about French and Saunders until 10 years after, you know, then everyone the same, like funny people and I was meeting funny people and they weren't talking about shows that I like had to research. But I just think it's very interesting because that we're 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've got London premiere on Thursday and lots of I wonder if audiences will laugh at different things. And I feel like that's not true anymore. I agree. Yeah, I don't think that's true. No, I think we all totally understand each other and we'll find the same shit. Funny. We were laughing when we were preparing for this interview. We were saying like how, you know, it is true. We believe that the Brits are smarter. They just sound smarter. They do. It's not true. I know. And 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 get I see you think I'm clever. I'm really not. But thank God, love Island. Yeah, love Island really leveled the playing field. We were like, I see, OK, 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 seen Bruiser. Well, I've seen clips of Bruiser. OK. But was like your first sketch show. First ever job. My first job. Yeah. And that was how old were you? What year was it? It was my last year of drama school. I have a weird thing where I can't do dates. Same. So I know I did my A levels in 1992 because I had to say it so often. Yeah. But I beyond that, I'm not entirely sure what happened. So in the 90s, in the 90s, Bruiser comes out. Yes. And it's you and David and David Mitchell, Rob Webb, Martin Freeman, Charlotte Hudson. And that's just like sketches and you all look like babies. And you're all doing like, yeah. I haven't seen it. I bet lots of it's terrible. Well, sketches. Yeah. I mean, 80 percent bad. And they like the batting averages. Yeah, yeah. You have just like hope for a couple of winners. Like Mitchell and Webber just on a new sketch show. And sketch shows just haven't happened for a long time. I know. I know. 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 talking 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 like deeply funny and good. Like they were really, really good. Oh, I'm going to find that. OK. And so then. OK, but then. There's this there's all this stuff you do between, you know, 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 office because of the UK office, because I was obsessed with the office and the picture moment with David and Justin 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. Oh, I love David Tennant. I know he seems so. I love him. I love him. Tell me why he's so great. He is. There's nothing else only about him at all. And he we simply just would sit and talk about we do farts in the police car and he'd go, oh, Jesus Christ, call you. And and he was just like a buddy and we tell stories and he wanted to be at home with his no wife and family and I want to be at home. Yes, isn't it 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 it done early on. I'm afraid he get home. Get it off about home. And and also he was so always knew his lines was always on it, always just just beautiful at his fingertips. And then, you know, when the AD comes to knock on the door, I could we both we had a two two way. It's not as rude as it sounds, you know, that van with and also our lose were back to back. And I got to go, David, are you in there? Go stop. Let's go to me. And then the same as you. And but when the AD would come and knock on door at time, we would try and race each other. He would always didn't want to delay anyone. He was never late. Oh, favorite love and just gorgeous. Everybody loved him, but just real and 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, like they're the easiest to work with. And I've been so lucky to work with two of my God's Merrill Streep and Anthony Hopkins. They never would have kept anyone waiting. Yes. And then you learn from that, you go see. No, and they set such a tone. Yes. And they are polite to one. They know everyone's name. They know their job. They know their lines are always on time. I mean, I have a in any profession, I do have a theory that like people that are acting out of fear or are afraid that this is their last good idea or that, you know, it a lot of people act out for a lot of reasons. Yeah. But. And I do understand that. I do, too. And as I get older, also, people just work differently. Yeah. The professional part. Yeah. When you meet your hero and they also are that way. Yeah. Is this the best? It's so important. Yeah. And just a friend recently did a show and I don't want to sort of. There are some of the younger people. Yes. Who I don't know where it comes from. But yes. If they have a little bit of a cold, they won't do the show. Oh, and I don't understand. Right. When we were told. This is very Gen X of us, you know, I'm aware that I'm doing the same, which is the way people think it's their fault, but someone has told them wrong. Well, OK, let's get into this because no, I'm going to be comfortable. No, I agree. And I'm trying to work on it because here's the two things. I think that we were sold a productivity myth. Yeah. Right. Like hustle, hustle, hustle. Yeah. And it's really ingrained in us. Like there's no way I would have ever called in sick. I mean, I remember doing a scene with Alec Baldwin for a movie and I had like 104 temperature and I had we had to cry. That paracetamol. I was like, I was on another planet and he was like, where, wherever you are, stay there. Perfect. And I was like, I am in. I'm in a fever dream. I have 104. And I remember just being completely, but never in a million years ever. What I have not. In retrospect, potentially maybe that was a day to not be aware. Potentially, potentially not a good choice. Yeah. So I kind of understand that this idea of like, maybe take care of yourself, a Gen Xer's, 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? I agree. But a little bit of a tickle in the record. And you go, I don't think I can. That's I don't think that's OK. Yeah. I've had pneumonia twice, never missed a day of work while filming. OK. But also potentially stupid. You've had pneumonia while filming. Yeah. Yeah. You're my kind of gal. Thank you. I never missed one day of work on Parks and Rec. I did 120 shows. Fuck yeah. And that's weird. And people think that's a weird statistic because they're like, well, OK. Maybe maybe not something to brag about. And I'm like, is it not? I think it is. I agree. But perhaps I was setting an example that what, you know, there's there's both are true, both are true. But I know what you mean. I love I just love a pro. I love a nice pro. Yeah. 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. And yeah. And we're lucky to have the work beyond, you know, don't don't be sort of overly cocky with that. Yes, agree. And Broadchurch, it makes sense to me that you and David loved each other because you can really feel it in the show. Like, it's just you feel like true partners in that show. Yeah. And even in the show, you're getting to be partners. But yeah, there was such a feeling of mutual respect on that. It was so good. And what was it like to have that blow up? It was a huge hit. Yes, that was very odd. I because no one knew who had done it. That was what they wanted. Although when I went for my first audition, my sort of meet meet with the producers and I said, who did it? And they told me and I oh, and cried. They went, that's great. That's what you want. And then on the way home, 20 minutes after I'd left, they found I went, can you pretend that we didn't tell you? We've realized we don't want anyone to know. We want it to. But I went, oh, OK, so I had to lie. Tratton and David was so crafty. One day, his agent accidentally let slip right near the end of months of filming and he flew onto my van and went, you fucking didn't tell me. And I knew what he meant. And I couldn't look at him. Oh, because he didn't know. He didn't know. No one knew. Oh, wow. They'd accidentally told me. You knew. What a burden. To keep your faces, you know, all the ten by eight faces in the makeup van. And everyone was putting a sticker on who they thought it was. And I was also going, is it that might be me? Am I trying to say? Terrible at lying. Wow. So you 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 kind of what a bummer that you knew because you we would have been, you know, like everyone else, but you had that secret. Yeah. Oh, that's fun. It was fun. Oh, that's good. But David, you have said you haven't told me. And you're like, I'm a pro, babe. Yeah. I'm a pro. And also I lied so much, I'd almost forgotten that I knew. Do you think you would be good convincing? Are you a good liar? Like, do you think you'd be? Yeah, without a script, I'm appalling. Yeah, you could they can. I don't know. I think I'm OK. Like, I think sometimes could I convince a jury? Like if I. Oh, wow, that's excellent. Could you convince? 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. Like your kids would. They go, you totally did it. Oh, 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. Oh, you know, when you watch. Traders. Yes. Oh, I love it when I love it when they ask someone something to go, what? They have to say, always what? Stalling. They. Yeah. And they do it subconsciously. It's amazing. They always do it. Any of those body language things where they show, you know, if you look up to the right or if you touch one's like one's recalling information, one's lies. Yes. Yeah, I can't believe you touch your face or like. Oh, God, I'm doing all that. I know if you touch your neck, it's because you're about to say a lie. All these kind of small things. I that is I love when people stall and you go. I think I did it. Yeah, I love it. I'm so sorry. Didn't hear you. But I also get sweaty 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. OK, because we play almost every night on holiday. And we've discovered as well, any parents that get killed is always their kids that have done it. Always. Or spouse. Yeah. And yeah, one family that we go on holiday with every year, their kids are terrifying at it. Really good. They got so good. And the youngest one got so cross with everyone accusing her that we went, of course, she's not just she was over explaining. She was doing what you say. Just I'm not I had to move because really angry. And she's only 13. She was we were probably just maybe don't give her a chance. She was absolutely killing everyone. She was doing that at night when everyone had their eyes closed. Yeah. Amazing. I get very stressed. I get very giggly when I get accused and very stressed. And also. I feel I feel like it maybe 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. I would. My heart would beat. Yeah. But I think I could I could win over a jury. Yeah. I think I would say, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, why would I want to kill my spouse or whatever? And I'd be able to cry. You're a good cry and you love to cry. I do. This one of my 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. Yeah. If the script is sad. So broad church. Yeah. That first day, it was all filmed chronologically, which was just a gift. Amazing. But Nick, they were saying, no, she's a police officer. She's probably a little harder than that one. Like, absolutely. There's no way. It's just I'm sorry. I can't. It's a dead child. And so making me so sad. If it's good script, it's impossible not to put in your life. You're not the biggest cryer. Really? Oh, in the crown as well. There was a search. The Queen famously is was able to be there for other people and not cry. And I couldn't. There's a scene where Helen of Bolham Carter is telling me about Aberfan, which is was a terrible, terrible thing that happened. Terrible. And I couldn't hear her. Yeah, it was beautifully beautifully done. I couldn't hear her talking about it without crying. Yes. They kept going. OK, no. No crying. No. No, I can't. So the sound department gave me an earpiece and I listened to the shipping forecast. So in my ear, I was hearing south at Zürer, north at Zürer, where the fur to middling. And I was just listening to that and zoning out while Helena said, I can't believe our first scene together. And you're not actually listening to me. Wow. And it's really that's a good tip. That's a great tip. Listen to something else. Don't listen to your actor. I mean, I always say half of acting is like just keeping your face still, which is almost impossible for me to do. But Botox helps enormously. But the way in which everyone just projects everything on your still face. You and Helena in the crown are I mean, so wonderful. And I know you're really good friends, too. And did you meet on that jet? Yeah, we did. You had never worked together before. No. I think we'd met once at a do. And I'd sort of curtsied to her and and yes, she's just lovely. I mean, 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. Fascinating. You know, forget, you know, I know you're playing a version of real person and you're playing a real person. But just the the legacy of that just one just the idea of one life. Yeah. Spanning that much. Yeah. It's so amazing. It's I totally agree. It's an extraordinary, the 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. I know. Sitting every week to various prime ministers and listening to them. Yes. Having the. Hearing everything and just having to keep it together. And such a strong practice in restraint, just a life of restraint. And and also to your point, being around while everyone else comes and goes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, being the constant. Well, 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 two, three, four, three or four. Yeah. When you show up and we think, oh, Olivia is now the queen. Like it's exhilarating. 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. Yeah. That sort of. Totally. Yeah. Yeah. Everyone likes it. OK. Now thanks. And then I accidentally watched it with one eye open. Oh, no, I love it. So good. So good. Couldn't stop watching her. Mm hmm. And so then, yeah, got the got a call to the like to meet you for. I think my agent said. For the queen. And I thought that was the play that was and oh. And she said, no, no, I didn't mean that. I didn't mean that meant the crown. And I and I went, oh, my God, yeah, fuck you. Absolutely. Please. And she'd, I think you're not meant to say that yet. You meant to just wait. Just play cool. Put your sunglasses on. Yeah. Trying to be cool. But I was such a huge fan of it. Yes. Yes. And also it came at the point where I just spent all my tax money. Is it really handy? Let's go. And did you? Did you talk to Claire? Did you talk to Claire? Were you did you talk about like handing off the tour? You know, it might be a good idea if you want to. We can give you Claire's number. Yeah. And so I did speak to Claire and said really honestly, truthfully, it's a long commitment, long job. And she went, I've absolutely fucking loved it. Yeah. 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. Yeah. Where you call other people to say, yeah, should I? Is this okay? I love that code as well. And amongst we do go, I, or there's a the word tricky. It can be tricky. I got on quite well with them, but I know that some other people did so sort of politely letting you know maybe this isn't a simple decision. Another code is like, well, the hours can be kind of long, which is a code for the directors a little unorganized. Yeah. Like I think that's script aren't ready. Yeah. And the scripts can come in a little late. And I cried a few times, but as far as the job, yeah. And 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've been really lucky, yeah. You just who you and 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 like, I mean, we have to, but fuck. I know. It's hard. Best of them. They're just not as good. They're just not as good. I do too. I love working with women and I can tell you do too. Yeah, I do. Who are some women that you've worked with that you just went? Helena, I'm sure, is one, but like who that you just worked with. And you said, oh, I'm going to have the best time. I think Jodie Whitaker on Broadchurch, Helena in the crown. And Marian, who played the Queen Mother on the crown. Just loved her. Loved her. Almost, I always take a good girlfriend with me from almost every job. What do you mean? That's cool. Well, Haley Jodie 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 probably won't have heard of, but I think she's extraordinary and we went doing a play. And so there's always one. And on the roses, there's Zoe Sunita. Yes. I mean, Alison, Jenny. And Kate McKinnon. I'm where we have Kate coming in and Kate is such a. Is she coming in? She's coming to do this podcast. Tommy is today while I'm here. It is. Are you lying? I'm not lying, but you're not you're going to be you're not going to be here. She's you're we're not going to make you wait for Kate. OK. Because we have a little bit of a, you know, you got to get on that plane. But you can leave it. You want to leave a note for her? Yeah, she's coming in today. OK. And she's so isn't she such a wild, interesting, eccentric bird? She came. So we had a girls trip to where I live in the countryside in while we were filming and Kate came along. She's the most fun. Yes. Grown up you've ever met. My daughter couldn't believe her luck. Yes, she is fun. She's fun. And she played. She was, I think, a Pien or something for about three hours. So fucking hell. It's amazing. My little girl's going. Phoebe Fleabag, huge, another huge shell. Yeah. And I mean, she's an amazing woman and she. No, she's brilliant at what she does and she works hard and she's really driven and kind to everybody. And yeah, just another fucking fantastic woman. Yeah. And that first episode of the second season of Fleabag, which was with Andrew Scott and sitting around the dining, the restaurant table. Yes. It felt like the most brilliant play. Yes. And just that whole episode one dinner scene. I just love the way she writes. Yeah. And she gives everybody. So many good. You have also so many good jokes in that show. Yeah. Great jokes. Yeah. That character is hilarious and deeply disturbing. Yeah. And I got it wrong initially. I was playing her sort of quite evil and I was going, Phoebe, it's not what you meant, is it? She went, well, she's the most charming person in any room. She'll be vile to you and you sort of thank you. Sort of being grateful for the, you know, she's so vile. I mean, it's like, yeah, she's she's like an ultimate narcissist. Yeah. And when you're that way, you're usually quite charming. Yeah. Yeah. You're not usually like there's a way in which you draw people in and then you slowly kill them. And then the the the before we get to the roses, I just I feel like there was this beautiful couple of years where America said, I just realized I just said how much I love women and I've just done a film with Benedict as well. But Benedict, it feels like he's sensitive enough that he counts. Oh my God, he does. He really does. I feel over that. I just I loved working with Benedict. Well, we're going to talk about working with Benedict. He's going to be fine. OK, good. Great. Benedict can handle it. Yeah. Yeah. He can. And Andy was I love Andy. And he's fine. And Jamie. Of course, you love all the people. They know. I do. I do love the people. I know. Sorry to interrupt. No, no, not at all. But I'm not worried about Benedict. OK. OK, good. He's so tall. Yeah. We don't have to worry about him. No, he'll be fine. He will be fine. Yeah. But no, but we will talk about that because. But there was this like an 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. It's just like lovely. But but like also who cares? I don't know. That's awkward things. Yeah, I. OK, maybe I should say it less bluntly. Like, well, I feel like, oh, my God, it is the most lovely. If your peers have said, yes, seal of approval, there's nothing better. Yes. But 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 was which they kind of like stay in the moment and say thank you. And they're very polite, but also you can tell they're like, I can't let 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 off 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 that your speech was do you have a you know, I know it's hard to like think about yourself and talk about yourself. It's always hard to talk about yourself. But do you have a 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, you know, like being inside of it. What did it feel like? So much. I don't really remember. Yeah. But just beforehand, I in the build up to it in the months, the build up people going, I kept saying Oscars, OK, stop it. And I got furious. It was all too scary, terrifying, don't be ridiculous. And and 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 he's like, whanker. If I. OK, that's quite good. So he just said, just remember if it happens to to say this or say that, say thank you. And and so it was that I would have. Well, I'm stuttering now. You know, I would have been so useless. It was absolutely real and shocking. But if it wasn't for him, just just take just take five minutes, just in case. To think about it, I know. Writer, producer, director, he took care of you in that moment. Yeah, general, honey. And also the moment you guys have was so sweet, too. I mean, you you have a wonderful, long lasting marriage. Yeah. And you met at where did you meet in the town of Cambridge? He was at Cambridge. Olivia is crying a little bit. I think I. Yeah. No, no. Yeah. You love Eddie. He's your best friend. You call him your best friend. He's my best friend. I fancy him. I love love. OK, how did you meet? You have his name. I do have his name. It's a bit like he's pissed on me that it was my choice. You just stand on your head. OK, 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 fancyable there and then I walked in and I saw his left hand profile. And at the time he was smoking a ziggy. His feet were crossed and he's got this lovely bump in his nose. And I saw his side profiles went. Oh, God, I'm going to marry him. No. Proper Thunderbolts. That's him. That's him. Yeah. Oh, I know poor thing. He didn't know. And what does he say about it the first time he met you? He he genuinely can't remember. Yeah, that's so great. I mean, what's I mean, what is the secret to a long lasting relationship? Any any tips, any advice? No, I see you're making a movie about the opposite of that. Yes, yeah, that's true. Well, it's our 25th wedding anniversary next year. Wow, we've been together 31 years. Wow. I don't think it's when we're not big fighters, which apparently isn't very healthy. OK, can we talk about this for a second? Yeah, I agree. I see a lot of research that says you really should argue and fight. OK, like it feels so like. I mean, I I don't I'm not afraid of conflict, but I don't necessarily want to search it out. And yeah, I don't want to argue. I do think that. It is OK. We we have learned over these, 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. Yes. But I think it's better to wait till the much calmer moment to go. Can we talk about that moment? And I did find that a little weird. And is that OK? I'm saying this. And yes, no, I was a bit crossed that day. And OK, but good. OK. I'm so pleased. Thank you. So, you know, that by far that's the most British conversation I've ever heard. Yeah, nothing. Actually, no talking in it. Maggie Chillinghaw stood when we did The Lost Daughter. And there's a beautiful movie. Ed Different Ed was the costume designer and me. He's English and I'm an English and he was talking about a hat. And he said, I left the hat out. I didn't know if he would. I went, oh, I see. I didn't know if I didn't know if did you want me to wear it now? And he went, oh, but if you like it. No, I do like it. I just wondering because it's and this went on for 20 minutes. And Maggie, at the time it was covid, she took a mask down and went, oh, my God. Nothing has been said. 20 minutes. Yes. Yeah. And I've never realized it before that moment when she just. So that's how we argue. And OK, so it leads me really, really naturally into the film that that's out right now with the great Benedict Cumberbatch. And what a pro. Oh, well, and, you know, so 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. And and he was, you know, of course, he's like, absolutely adores you. And you guys have never worked together before, which is really interesting. Yeah. And like you, I think he's able to. He's shown that he's able to toggle between a bunch of different styles and genres. Also, it makes me think sometimes that. You know, there maybe is a bit more licensed to do that in the in in the UK than the US. I don't know what to go between drama and maybe I'm thinking about it now. Because, you know, Emma Thompson and Cathy Burke. And we do have a line of what 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 it was like, you know, Hugh Laurie started in sketch comedy. Yeah, yeah. But he was asking me. He asked a very like sweet actor question, which is basically like he is in awe of you and what you can do. And he was like, is there anything you're afraid of? OK, acting wise. Well, I couldn't really tell. Oh, I couldn't really tell what he was. OK. What the question was. OK. But let's say sure. Let's say acting wise. Anything I have to show any skin. I don't know. No, thank you. No, thanks. Or pretending to have sex with someone I don't like it. I don't like it. I feel like I'm very unfaithful and it just was a bit. Yeah. Even when they go, you can wear your jeans or a cushion between you. I don't want to do that. There's no one I don't know. I don't know. No, the the on and by the way, bless the people that are good at it. The people that are good. And I'm like, I'll watch it all day long. Yeah. And they're comfy, but oh, they on screen orgasm. No, absolutely. Like that's that's what you have to do that day. Like that's that's. Thank God for intimacy coordinators. Absolutely. Eta O'Brien, who isn't she told me and I was meant to orgasm. Oh, so God, how did you do that? She said, imagine the sun is hitting your face. That was great. Just be given a yes. And you just go like this. Yeah. You just you go, oh my God. You just take your sunglasses on. You should have done it like that. Yeah. OK. All right. Well, you got your answer about it. You got your answer. But what was it like working with him on the film? I loved working with him. And he's he sort of feels like one of life's innocence in a way. You know, because we had such fun, but when it starts to get a little bit more cruel to each other, he did go, can we pause for a minute? Are we OK? Yes, Ben, it's pretend. It's all OK. And, you know, he's he's so in it. And yes, it's just lovely. But I felt like I wanted to hold his hand a lot and go, it's it's all. We're good. We're still friends. And yes. Yeah. And it's lovely to work opposite him because he's absolutely feeling it. It's all instant. I bet. I mean, even just seeing the way in which you the two watching the two of you spar is is really exciting because it's two very good actors going really hard. And plus, there's just a ton of like dumb physical stuff, which is so fun. Do you like doing that? No. No, me neither. I don't I don't want to. I'm not really physical. I don't want to do any running. Yeah, I don't want to. But he is really good at that, which is great. So I just had the gun and he just ran around. And you're like, my character would sit. Yeah. And then Jay Roach. Oh, my God. Isn't your delight the director? I love him. He I love him. And I felt bad for him every day because it was like time to nail jelly to the wall, trying to get us all to stop giggling or stop doing bits and doing. Yeah. Also, he how often does he hit his head? Oh, because he's so tall. He wears a hat. Oh, he doesn't see the booms and the light. And the crew ended up hanging sticky tape down from everything. So he was he still did it 15 times a day. Oh, it's got to be some kind of psychological thing that he's doing. Yeah, he can't get cross with us. He does a headbutt thing. And then OK, we talked about Kate, you worked with Andy. OK, the movie is out. OK, and then my last question is. And I ask everybody and it's kind of like a like the 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 just love an accident. It actually makes me go weak. I collapse. It's so good. Did you ever watch America's funniest home videos? Have you ever seen that show? Oh, that's the sort of. Stand by. Just one second for you. We're going to get to you recently where people just lie down with their. Have you seen this? So I'm turn around and Ed's lying down. You just see his head and people go, what? And they film. Oh, that's that's gorgeous. You love. Do you like being pranked? I've got to do that. I know film is. Yes. Don't tell him. Don't tell him. Do you like do you like being pranked? No. OK, so it makes me jump. I will punch them in the face. Me too. I don't like being surprised. I am. I am. Fight not like people get a tiny bit hurt. Yeah. But they're fine, right? They have to jump. Fine. As long as they're OK. I don't. If it looks like. Oh, God, that looks like. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Fun. OK, let's watch just two minutes of this. We're going to let you go. Ever. I mean, I know what you mean. OK, these kind of things. Do I need my glasses? We're watching an America's funniest home videos. That person's that person's stuck in the ceiling. So that person doing something and there and she she's stuck in the ceiling. OK, that might have been too hard to fall. Have you seen have you seen the two women trying to get into the window? Oh, yeah. Oh, God. Oh, I want to have that. That is. Let's watch the two women get trying to get in the window. Yes. That is so. And the other one is no help at all outside, clearly trying not to piss herself. Going. Yeah, when people start when you're stuck and they start laughing. That does two women trying to get into a window. OK, here we go. OK, OK, OK. OK, let's watch. Here we go. Here we go. OK, they're trying to get in the window. And one of them is giving the other one a foot up. When the right clothes. We know that. She's wearing up. She's both barefoot. Here. I know. Where's your shirt? Come on. Right, her shirt comes off. So she's up side down with these boots and her facing that way. And her make. And her and her glass come off and they're dying laughing. I mean, this is the kind of thing that Benny Hill told me would happen when I ended did happen. It actually happened. Oh, my God, it's that. I love that. I do too. There's nothing. No better feeling. That makes me want to watch that again. And hearing them weak. You know, when you can't speak. Oh, yes. I love it. And knowing that one person is peeing. Everybody's peeing their pants. If the upside down woman was also peeing. Think of. Well, Olivia, I love you. I love you. Thank you so much for coming in. What I know is is a long day. And if you want to leave a note for Kate, let me know. Oh, yes, please. And Kate's seen that. I'm going to show she would enjoy that. She's probably she probably is like reenacted it. I was going to say. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I want you to come and stay. OK, can I go into your house, please? Thank you. OK, 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. OK, 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 Gyllenhaal 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 such a meditation on motherhood. Jesse Buckley is so good in it. And it's just, you know, 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. OK, 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 Weisberman and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by the ringer and paper kite for the ringer production by Jack Wilson, Katz Belain, Kaya McMullen and Aleya Zanaris for paper kite production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weisberman. Original music by Amy Miles.