Spoilers ahead for Heartstopper Forever.

Every streaming service has some popular hits, and Heartstopper is definitely on that list. Arguably one of the best Netflix shows to binge-watch, the acclaimed book-to-screen adaptation reached its conclusion with the movie Heartstopper Forever, which is out now for those with a Netflix subscription. I was originally bummed that one actor got recast for the movie, but after reading Alice Oseman's final book, Volume 6, I understand it.

Heartstopper Forever reviews have been praising the finale's contents, with fans finally getting a conclusion to Charlie and Nick's story. Oscar winner Olivia Colman played Nick's mother, Sarah Nelson, to perfection in the show's second season, but she was noticeably missing from Season 3. Many fans were hoping she'd show up again in the movie, but the role was recast with actress Anna Maxwell Martin. I've been sore about this for a while, but it made more sense after reading Heartstopper Volume 6.

Olivia Colman Had To Be Recast For Heartstopper Forever

Olivia Colman might have only appeared in ten episodes of Heartstopper, but she definitely made an impression. Nick's coming out scene in Season 2 was one of the most powerful moments of the entire show, and Colman's performance was a big reason why. The character Sarah Nelson was absent for the third season, but was necessary to bring back before the story ended forever. And that became especially clear when reading the source material.

In Heartstopper Volume 6, as well as in Forever, Nick ends up being the one struggling the most with his mental health. As such, it makes sense that he might open up to this mother about what he's dealing with. Additionally, Nick's relationship with both his father and his brother David ends up coming to a head. With so much happening with the character's home life, it would have been odd if Mrs. Nelson never popped up in the new Netflix movie.

So why didn't Olivia Colman get to reprise her role? Unsurprisingly, it was a scheduling conflict, as the 52-year-old actress is in demand and constantly working. Heartstopper Forever was filmed back in the summer of 2025, when the Favourite actress was busy shooting the upcoming romantic fantasy film, Wicker. Given the focus on Nick's psyche and home life in Forever, someone else needed to step in and play the role. And that's exactly what we got with Anna Maxwell Martin.

I read Heartstopper Volume 3 before tuning into Heartstopper Forever, so I was able to go into the Netflix movie enjoying its contents and not being so bitter about Olivia Colman's absence. Nick's mother might not have a huge role in the movie, but Sarah Nelson needed to appear in one way or another... especially since we've reached the conclusion of the beloved TV and book series.

Heartstopper Forever is streaming now on Netflix as part of the 2026 movie release list. While there's no Olivia Colman to be found, it's still worth the watch to see how Charlie, Nick and their friends ended up.

Olivia Colman’s talent likely snuck up on a lot of American audiences after they watched her eventually Oscar-winning role as Queen Anne in The Favourite, but folks who watch British TV knew about her, and her serious funny bone, for many years before that 2018 hit. Since then, she’s become more well-known and beloved than ever, and the star recently appeared in the 2025 movie schedule entry, The Roses. Colman opened up about not liking sex scenes, but also revealed that one note from an intimacy coordinator really helped her out.

What Did Olivia Colman Say About Filming Sex Scenes And How An Intimacy Coordinator Helped Her?

While being a famous actor can largely seem glamorous and fun, there’s also just a lot of hard, sometimes weird work to be done as they go about their profession. That tends to include filming sex scenes, and many stars have spoken about how using intimacy coordinators over the past several years has begun to help them and the industry go through that process in an easier way that makes everyone more comfortable.

Olivia Colman is no stranger to sex scenes, as her starring role that won her an Oscar involved quite a few sexytimes. Though she previously admitted that many of those intimate scenes had a tendency to make her “giggle,” she recently told Amy Poehler on her Good Hang podcast that having to do sex scenes is actually something she considers herself to be “afraid of.” Colman said:

I mean, I don’t think even the non-actors among us can fault The Crown and Heartstopper star for this. There are very few people who would immediately be A-OK with getting so up close and personal with someone they barely know on camera. Yet, it’s been a very common practice for basically as long as movies have been around (to varying degrees, of course), so it’s good that there’s now a whole profession committed to making sure everyone is alright with everything they do on screen.

You can watch a clip of Colman’s answer, which features both she and Poehler making some pretty funny “ick” faces, below:

Though some actors and filmmakers don’t like working with them, it’s becoming more common, and intimacy coordinators have worked on everything from movies like Babygirl (where the director said it was like working with stunt performers), to shows like Bridgerton and Outlander: Blood of My Blood (the actors talked about reaching a “controlled uncomfortableness” with sex scenes). An intimacy coordinator even helped the actors in horror movie 28 Years Later deal with running with fake “genitals,” so the gig has a pretty broad scope.

The Peep Show actress revealed years ago that she had tried to have director Sam Mendes remove all the intimate scenes from their film, Empire of Light, so she really doesn’t like doing them. She continued, speaking about how The Favourite’s coordinator helped her in an important moment:

Other stars have revealed that having intimacy coordinators on their movies and TV shows has helped them to play out certain sexy activities in a more realistic way, as well. Michelle Williams, for instance, noted that using one “can really show you how to give a better blow job.” Luckily, it sounds like Colman will be alright with doing such scenes with the help of an intimacy coordinator, as long as she can get all her ick giggles out beforehand.

SPOILERS are ahead! Read with caution!

We’ve seen a lot of great romantic comedies over the years, but we’re not sure the release of The Roses counts as one after that ending. CinemaBlend spoke with the supporting cast of the latest of 2025 movie releases, and they had some diabolical thoughts about what happens next.

After we witness Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman’s Theo and Ivy Rose fall in love and then fall into hate with one another, we’re convinced we’re going to watch one of them murder the other before the impossible happens. The couple actually makes up! However, their rekindling is short-lived when they accidentally burn their own gorgeous house down and themselves.

During our interview with the cast (in video form above), the hilarious Jamie Demetriou told us what’s next for Rory after the Roses die with these words:

The wife of Demetriou’s Rory is played by Zoë Chao, who also didn’t think the couple would mourn long for the couple. As she said:

Yikes! Well, The Roses does expose the couple at the center of the black comedy to be rather mean, but it’s interesting to think about how they kind of had fake friends too. Kate McKinnon added this:

Throughout The Roses, McKinnon’s Amy is trying to show her interest in opening up her marriage with Samberg’s Barry, especially by doing a lot of flirting with Cumberbatch’s Theo. But with him dead, it sounds like she’d simply move on with a new target.

Sunita Mani, who plays Ivy’s sous chef, also had a pretty selfish look at her character when discussing the ending:

Ncuti Gatwa, who also talked to us in the same interview about his Doctor Who exit, suggested that Jane would probably make a massive mosaic inspired by the couple’s death. That has to be the sweetest of all the responses.

To round things out, Mani said this about how she thinks Gatwa’s Jeffrey, who plays the restaurant manager, might deal with the death, and Gatwa agreed. In Mani’s words:

It all definitely seems to check out after seeing the movie. Crazy how not one of them suggested raising the two children they would leave behind after their death, but that’s a black comedy for you!

The Roses is both a remake of the 1989 movie with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner and one of this year’s book adaptations, considering both movies are based on Warren Adler’s novel. You can check out our The Roses review now that you’ve experienced the funny relationship film.

Paddington Bear’s third cinematic adventure is almost here, and this time it will involve the talents of Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman as characters he and the Brown family meet while on a quest in Peru. When CinemaBlend spoke to the two Paddington In Peru actors about the latest of the 2025 movies, who previously worked together on beloved DreamWorks film Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, they shared their thoughts on the two characters crossing paths.

How would an adventure between Paddington and Puss go? Here’s what Antonio Banderas, who is, of course, the voice of the animated orange kitty, had to say:

Isn’t this fun to think about? Both are fan-favorite comfort characters when it comes to family movies, but how would they interact together? Antonio Banderas thinks Puss’ personality would initially clash with Paddington, but after a while, he’d see how good-natured Paddington is and they’d become good friends. Here’s how Olivia Colman jumped in:

Sign me up! Now, unfortunately the potential of these two characters actually appearing together is rather unlikely due to the Paddington movies coming from Sony and the Puss In Boots coming from DreamWorks, but it certainly is fun to imagine these two interacting together. It would be so fun! As the Paddington In Peru trailer teases, this time around the British bear and his human family decide to venture to the South American country to visit Paddington’s Aunt Lucy.

Once they get there, Aunt Lucy has gone missing and they have to venture into the Peruvian jungle to find her. There, they meet Antonio Banderas’ Hunter Cabot and Olivia Colman’s Reverend Mother at the Home of Retired Bears. Like Nicole Kidman did in the first Paddington movie and Hugh Grant did in Paddington 2, Banderas and Colman bring their talent and star power to the Paddington movies by playing two fun, whimsical and unexpected characters.

Along with Antonio Banderas being an action star and accomplished dramatic actor, he has become beloved for his roles in family movies like Spongebob and Spy Kids. Not long ago, the actor said he finds doing the genre “very rewarding” because of how much it means to people. During our interview, Banderas also said doing movies all over the map is one of the things he loves about his career.

While Paddington In Peru previously released in the UK, it’s finally among the upcoming kids movies you can watch this weekend with all ages. The movie is available to watch in theaters this Friday, February 14.

The Academy Award for Best Actress has been handed out every year since 1929 — it was initially awarded to star Janet Gaynor for her roles in 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans — and in the near-century since, it's been presented 97 times to 79 actresses. Winning that coveted statuette is unsurprisingly a dream come true for many a big-screen performer, but the award does come with added attention on the actress's next projects. Will whatever they work on next be as critically acclaimed or commercially successful? Here are 32 films that Oscar-winning actresses did after taking home the Academy Award, and how they were received.

Emma Stone

The whole La La Land Oscars brouhaha at the 2018 ceremony was quite memorable, but clearly so was star Emma Stone's performance as aspiring actress Mia Dolen opposite Ryan Gosling's jazz pianist Seb Wilder. One of Stone's best movies, the role earned the star her first Best Actress win (she would strike gold yet again with her 2024 victory for Poor Things). Her next performance also stirred up awards buzz: she was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award for portraying tennis legend Billie Jean King in the sports drama Battle of the Sexes.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep's history with the Academy Awards is long and legendary: over her decades-spanning career, she's been nominated for a record 21 Oscar nominations, winning thrice. After taking home the Supporting Actress statuette for Kramer vs. Kramer, Streep got her first big Best Actress win for one of her most iconic performances: as the titular character of the devastating 1982 drama Sophie's Choice. Her next role was just as haunting: as Karen Silkwood in the 1983 thriller Silkwood, for which she earned yet another Best Actress nod.

Michelle Yeoh

Along with kicking major butt, Michelle Yeoh made history with her starring role as Evelyn Quan Wang in the 2022 action-dramedy Everything Everywhere All at Once, for she became the first Asian performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Following that notable win in 2023, the Wicked star lent her voice to the sci-fi flick Transformers: Rise of the Beasts as Airazor, a Maximal warrior who transforms into a peregrine falcon. That title earned largely mixed reviews, and it currently sports a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Jessica Chastain

After losing out on the Oscar for Zero Dark Thirty, Jessica Chastain took the Best Actress trophy home for her transformative role as televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in the 2022 bio-drama The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Her next project was far less successful with awards bodies — the action-spy thriller The 355 was both a critical and commercial bomb, reportedly losing Universal an estimated $93 million. Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph wrote: "Despite the strong cast, this is the film equivalent of a corn-syrup-based fizzy drink being passed off as chic in taller, slimmer cans."

Frances McDormand

Three-time Best Actress winner Frances McDormand took home her first Oscar in 1997 for her instantly iconic performance as Minnesota police chief Marge Gunderson in the classic Coen Brothers dark comedy Fargo. Later that year, the acclaimed performer joined a heavyweight lineup of actresses — including Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Ehle — in the World War II drama Paradise Road. However, despite that acting clout, the film received mixed reviews, with its approval rating at a lowly 43% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Brie Larson

Child actor turned Marvel superhero Brie Larson took her career to a whole new level with her performance as kidnapping victim Joy "Ma" Newsome in the 2015 survival drama Room, for which she swept the subsequent awards season and took home the Best Actress Oscar. In 2016, the Lessons in Chemistry lead starred in another survival drama, this time the Ben Wheatley-directed action-comedy Free Fire. CinemaBlend's own Gregory Wakeman wrote of the film: "Free Fire has enough gun blasts and violence to entertain, but ultimately lacks the requisite surprises or savvy to be anything more than a frivolous diversion."

Olivia Colman

Olivia Colman's Best Actress win for her portrayal of Queen Anne in the black-comedy period piece The Favourite was a deserved yet delightfully shocking moment at the 2019 Oscars. Her next role was equally strange, but less acclaimed: she appeared alongside Kaitlyn Dever, Jim Gaffigan and Walton Goggins as snake-handling fundamentalists in the horror mystery Them That Follow. Though it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, it earned mixed reviews from critics.

Cate Blanchett

One of the most versatile actors in the industry — she's played Queen Elizabeth I and Bob Dylan, for crying out loud! — eight-time Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett secured her first Best Actress win in 2014 playing a neurotic former socialite in the Woody Allen-directed dramedy Blue Jasmine. And speaking of versatility, the Aussie star followed that awards win with a voice role in the animated fantasy sequel How to Train Your Dragon 2, which got its own Oscar nod for Best Animated Feature.

Sandra Bullock

Rom-com queen Sandra Bullock received her first Best Actress nomination and win in 2010 for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy in the biographical football drama The Blind Side. Her next film credit was the Stephen Daldry-directed 2011 drama Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, which did manage to score a Best Picture nod but not without controversy. Chris Krapek of The Huffington Post called the film "not only the worst reviewed Best Picture nominee of the last 10 years, [but] easily the worst film of 2011."

Katharine Hepburn

Hollywood icon Katherine Hepburn earned four Academy Awards for Best Actress out of 12 nominations across her illustrious film career—a record for any performer. The leading lady's first Oscar win was in 1934 for the Pre-Code drama Morning Glory (the rest would come later in the star's life), which she followed up with John Cromwell's Spitfire. Some viewers found Hepburn miscast as "hillbilly" faith healer Trigger Hicks — the film has a 35% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman didn't win the Best Actress Oscar for one of her most beloved performances, as cabaret star Satine in Moulin Rouge! but she instead secured the big win only a year later for playing English writer Virginia Woolf in The Hours. The Babygirl star's first post-award project was the 2003 avant-garde thriller Dogville, written and directed by Lars von Trier. Though the film prompted quite a polarizing response from critics at the time of release, it did end up on several best-of-the-decade roundups, including The Guardian and Paste.

Jennifer Lawrence

If they didn't already love her from her work in the David O. Russell dramedy Silver Linings Playbook, the world certainly fell for Jennifer Lawrence when she charmingly tripped up the stairs to accept her Best Actress statuette in 2013. That fall, she would reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen in the second Mockingjay movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which is widely considered the best installment of The Hunger Games film series (it's got a solid 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating) and earned Lawrence a Critics' Choice nod.

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren is a regal onscreen presence no matter what the role, but her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 docudrama The Queen welcomed her among the Hollywood royalty known as Oscar winners. However, despite the film title, she didn't strike gold with her next project: the Nicolas Cage-led adventure flick National Treasure: Book of Secrets, alongside Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris and Diane Kruger. Per Rotten Tomatoes, critic consensus said of the 35% "Rotten" movie: "A talented cast goes to waste in the improbable National Treasure: Book of Secrets."

Jodie Foster

One of Hollywood's most acclaimed child stars — she was only 12 years old when she starred opposite Robert De Niro in the Martin Scorsese masterpiece Taxi Driver, earning her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress — Jodie Foster successfully segued into more adult fare with the 1988 legal drama The Accused. As an assault survivor Sarah Tobias, Foster received a Best Actress win—it wouldn't be her last, with the star winning the same award for her next film release, one of the greatest horror movies of all time, The Silence of the Lambs.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry made Oscar history when she became the first African-American woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performance as a struggling widow in 2001's Monster's Ball. After becoming an Oscar winner, Berry became a Bond Girl — bikini-sporting NSA agent Jinx, to be exact — in the 2002 spy flick Die Another Day, opposite Pierce Brosnan as 007. However, the latter is widely considered to be the worst entry in James Bond's canon.

Julie Andrews

A legendary performer across both screen and stage, Julie Andrews won her Best Actress Oscar in 1964 for a truly iconic role: as the titular nanny extraordinaire in Mary Poppins. And she didn't stop there — the very next year, she would get yet another Academy Award nomination for an equally beloved character, as The Sound of Music's Maria, the sweet, singing governess to the Von Trapp family. Talk about an epic filmography!

Kathy Bates

One of the best Kathy Bates performances, as obsessive superfan Annie Wilkes in the 1990 Stephen King thriller Misery, earned the talented actress her first Academy Award nomination and win. (She would have three more Oscar nods across her decades-spanning career.) Bates' next film role was in the South African drama The Road to Mecca, based on the Athol Fugard play of the same name — the performer was praised for both her acting and her accent work.

Hilary Swank

Before there were transgender characters like Emilia Pérez (Emilia Pérez), Sin-Dee Rella (Tangerine), or Raymond Rayon (Dallas Buyers Club), there was Brandon Teena, the real-life trans man at the center of the 1999 drama Boys Don't Cry. Hilary Swank's harrowing, career-making performance as Teena earned the star her first Best Actress award, with critics like Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman calling the actress a "revelation" in the film. Reactions to her next movie, the 2000 supernatural thriller The Gift, were far more mixed. A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote: "The picture is saved from mediocrity by [director Sam] Raimi's smooth competence, and by the unusually high quality of the acting."

Renée Zellweger

After prior Best Actress nominations for two of her best movies, Bridget Jones' Diary and Chicago — plus a Best Supporting Actress win for Cold Mountain — Renée Zellweger finally got her big Best Actress win for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Rupert Goold's Judy. After taking a multi-year break from acting, Zellweger's much-anticipated next film credit will be a return to a beloved role, in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was so convincing as a troubled ballerina in the 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan that she thought the film was a docudrama while making it. So, it's no surprise, then, that her tour-de-force performance garnered the star an Academy Award for Best Actress. Ever one to keep you guessing genre-wise, Portman's next role was in the 2011 stoner fantasy-comedy Your Highness, which sadly was a box office bomb and received largely negative reviews from critics.

Cher

The "Goddess of Pop" Cher officially added the title of "Oscar winner" to her already legendary showbiz career with her 1988 Best Actress triumph for one of her best movies, the acclaimed rom-com Moonstruck. Her next movie role came two years later as Rachel Flax, the saucy single mom to young Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci in the 1990 dramedy Mermaids. The heartfelt title has been dubbed an "underappreciated 1990s coming-of-age gem" by The Guardian, which singled out Cher's performance as "nothing short of magical."

Kate Winslet

One of the greatest performers of her generation, it took Kate Winslet a whopping six Oscar nominations before she finally took home the Academy Award for Best Actress, for playing a former Nazi camp guard in 2008's The Reader. Her next onscreen role was in the 2011 black comedy Carnage, by disgraced director Roman Polanski. The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of the cast, including Winslet's — she earned a Golden Globe nod for Best Actress in a Motional Picture Musical or Comedy.

Julia Roberts

After a decade that solidified her as rom-com royalty, Julia Roberts proved her dramatic bonafides by winning the Best Actress Oscar for playing the title role in the 2000 legal drama Erin Brockovich, one of her best movies. America's Sweetheart returned to her romantic comedy roots with her next film, fittingly entitled America's Sweethearts, though critics weren't too sweet on the movie. It only holds a 33% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's consensus reading: "Despite its famous cast, the movie lacks sympathetic characters and is only funny in spurts."

Susan Sarandon

After Oscar nominations for Atlantic City, Thelma & Louise, Lorenzo's Oil and The Client, Susan Sarandon was finally named Best Actress by the Academy for playing Sister Helen Prejean in 1995's Dead Man Walking. Her next film was the decidedly lighter kids' flick James and the Giant Peach, in which Sarandon voiced the character of Miss Spider. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with Randy Newman's score earning an Oscar nod; however, the film was a box office failure, grossing $300,000 less than its budget.

Marion Cotillard

French movie star Marion Cotillard became the first actor to win an Academy Award for a French-language performance for her transformative turn as legendary singer Édith Piaf in the 2007 music biopic La Vie en Rose. Her next film credit was another biographical drama — this time, the Michael Mann-directed gangster film Public Enemies, alongside Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Though many critics praised the leading performances, reviews were mixed, with the title holding a 68% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin's acting debut in 1986's Children of a Lesser God saw the actress making Oscar history not once but twice: she became the first deaf performer to ever win an Academy Award, as well as the youngest winner in the Best Actress category. The CODA star followed up that momentous victory with the 1987 Western Walker, starring Ed Harris, Richard Masur and Peter Boyle. The historical drama was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival but received very polarized reviews and was a failure at the box office.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Fun fact: Gwyneth Paltrow wasn't initially supposed to star as Viola de Lesseps in the 1998 Bard-inspired romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love — Julia Roberts was. But Gwyn is no doubt grateful the latter ultimately left the production, as the role won her a Best Actress Oscar. Her next project was equally acclaimed: 1999's Anthony Minghella-helmed thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley scored five Academy Award nominations.

Audrey Hepburn

Screen legend Audrey Hepburn won her first Oscar in 1953 for her debut starring role, as Princess Ann in the classic black-and-white comedy Roman Holiday. The British beauty would later be nominated four more times for films like her first post-award project, the 1954 Billy Wilder-directed dramedy Sabrina, as well as The Nun's Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Wait Until Dark.

Sally Field

The Academy likes her, they really like her — yes, Sally Field has won not one but two Best Actress statuettes, the first being for her inspiring performance in 1979's Norma Rae and the second five years later for another one of her best films, Places in the Heart. Following her first win, Field reprised her role as Carrie, or "Frog," in 1980's Smoky and the Bandit II opposite her real-life love Burt Reynolds. Though the sequel was a box office success, prompting a third film, it received almost entirely negative reviews from critics.

Charlize Theron

One of the best Charlize Theron roles was also the star's most remarkably unrecognizable: the South African-born actress earned a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of real-life prostitute and serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 crime drama Monster. Her next big-screen performance was the 2004 war drama Head in the Clouds, which saw Theron acting opposite her then-romantic partner Stuart Townsend. The film was a critical and box office failure; in the San Francisco Chronicle, Walter Addiego wrote: "If not for the presence of Charlize Theron, it's hard to imagine this film would have attracted anywhere near the kind of attention it's gotten."

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon proved she was more than just a musical sidekick with her Oscar-winning performance as June Carter Cash in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. The Legally Blonde star was next seen in the harrowing 2007 political thriller Rendition opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep and Peter Sarsgaard. However, "the impressive cast cannot rescue Rendition, which explores complex issues in woefully simplified terms," reads the critics' consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, with the film at a paltry 47% approval rating.

Elizabeth Taylor

Through much of the mid-20th century, celluloid icon Elizabeth Taylor was one of MGM's most bankable stars. In fact, her final film for the studio — 1960's Butterfield 8, playing glamorous call girl Gloria Wandrous — earned the movie star her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Her next performance was just as iconic: as the titular Egyptian queen in the 1963 historical epic Cleopatra, which received nine Oscar nominations and four wins, though, alas, none for Taylor specifically.

There are a lot of reasons that a young actor may change their name. Sometimes it's as simple as just wanting a cool new name. Often it's because someone is already in the union was using the actor's real name and they have to adjust. Here's a list of some of Hollywood's biggest stars and their real names. 

Ben Kingsley (Krishna Pandit Bhanji)

The great Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for his role in the great biopic Gandhi. It makes sense he would play the Indian freedom fighter, as Kingsley himself is Indian. Born to an Indian father and an English mother, Kingsley grew up in England and while his father was a practicing Shia Muslim, Kinglsey is not and considers himself a Quaker. He changed his name for that oh-so-common reason, that he feared a foreign-sounding name would hurt his career. 

Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Elaine Johnson)

The story is both hilarious and heartfelt. She was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York, but when she started acting, she was accused of being flatulent, so Whoopi "short for whoopee cushion." Her surname came from a Jewish ancestor, Goldberg, so she could celebrate the diversity in her family line. 

Judy Garland (Frances Ethel Gumm)

Judy Garland first started in show business as a singer with her sisters, going by their names, The Gumm Sisters. After they were billed as the "Glum Sisters" for a show, it was suggested they change their name. Judy Gumm took her mother's maiden name, Garland, and the rest is history. 

Martin Sheen (Ramon Gerard Estevez)

Martin Sheen's real name is Ramon Gerard Estevez, but he changed it when he broke into the business for the same reason so many others have made the decision, to be less ethnic, as early in his career they said he looked Irish. One of his sons, Charlie Sheen, chose to use the same screen name, but one of his other sons, Emilio Estevez, chose to use his given name. Sheen's daughter, Renée Estevez, an occasional cast member of The West Wing with her father, also stuck with the family name. 

Vin Diesel (Mark Sinclair)

Vin Diesel took on that name after being born Mark Sinclair when he worked as a bouncer as he tried to break into show business. "Vin" comes from his adoptive surname, Vincent, and Diesel came simply because he wanted a cool name as a bouncer. 

Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus)

Though she was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, Miley Cyrus decided to go by the moniker she's best known as because that was simply what her family called her growing up. Her nickname in the family was originally "Smiley" which was eventually shortened to Miley. Her first couple of professional acting gigs, in the TV show Doc and the Tim Burton movie Big Fish, she was billed by her real name, Destiny Cyrus. 

Cary Grant (Archibald Alec Leach)

Early in his Vaudeville career, the great Cary Grant used his real name, Archibald Leach. When he got to Hollywood, as is so often the case, the studio didn't think the name wasn't "box office" enough, so he changed it to Cary Grant. 

Natalie Portman (Natalie Hershlag)

Natalie Portman's real name is Natalie Hershlag, but unlike so many others, she didn't change it because the name was "too ethnic" or not generic enough. As she explained to Vanity Fair in 2024, it was because she wanted to create a separate identity for her work and personal life. 

Portia De Rossi (Amanda Lee Rogers)

Portia de Rossi's name change came, at least originally, because she simply wanted a more exotic-sounding name when she started acting in her teens. Her given name, Amanda Lee Rogers, was just bland. She later revealed it may have been in part because she was struggling with her sexual identity as well. After marrying Ellen Degeneres in 2008, she changed it again, this time combining her real and stage names, Portia Lee James DeGeneres. Professionally she is still Portia de Rossi though. 

Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquin Rafael Bottom)

The Phoenix family has a fascinating history, one that includes time in the cult Children of God. When the family left that group, they made a collective decision to change their last name to one of rebirth, and Joaquin Rafael Bottom became Joaquin Phoenix.

Jamie Foxx (Eric Marlon Bishop)

Born Eric Marlon Bishop in 1967, Jamie Foxx took his stage name early when he was a standup. He says that he noticed women often got preferential spots during open mics, so he decided he wanted a more androgynous name, choosing Jamie. For his last name, he picked it as a tribute to his favorite comedian, Redd Foxx. 

John Wayne (Marion Robert Morrison)

It was a lot more common back in the day for actors to adopt cooler-sounding stage names and that was pretty much the case for Marion Robert Morrison, who ended up John Wayne. It's easy to see why he did it, whether it was a good idea or not. It worked for him. 

Tom Cruise (Thomas Cruise Mapother IV)

Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise didn't change much, but it was a meaningful change. His real name at birth was Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, obviously named after his father, hence the suffix. Cruise had a very difficult relationship with his dad, so when he began his career, he dropped the Mapother in part to distance himself from his then-estranged father. The two later reunited when his father was on his deathbed. 

Olivia Wilde (Olivia Cockburn)

Actor and director Olivia Wilde's story about why she changed her name is pretty simple. She decided she wanted to stage name, and at the time was acting in Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest, which she loved. So she went with Wilde as a homage to the legendary playwright. 

Meg Ryan (Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra)

It's pretty easy to see why Meg Ryan chose to simplify her name when she started acting. Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra sure is a mouthful, so cutting a 25-letter name down to a seven-letter one makes sense. Meg is short for Margaret and Ryan is the maiden name of maternal grandmother. 

Kirk Douglas (Issur Danielovitch)

In another example of early Hollywood stars fearing their given names would hold them back for sounding too ethnic, Kirk Douglas changed his name from Issur Danielovitch. He told People it was because he feared it would hold him back and it sounded "too Semitic." 

Mahershala Ali (Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore)

Like others on this list, it's easy to see why Mahershala Ali changed his name from Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore. Not only is Mahershalalhashbaz really hard to spell and pronounce, but the Green Book actor also converted to Islam as a teenager, taking Mahershala Ali as his Muslim name. 

Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson)

One of the most famous name changes in Hollywood history is Norma Jeane Mortensen changing her name to Marilyn Monroe. There is no big story behind it, it simply was a snazzier name and Monroe was her mother's maiden name. 

Michael Keaton (Michael Douglas)

This one is easy to understand. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton's real name is Michael Douglas. Obviously with an actor already in the union (Romancing The Stone star Michael Douglas), Keaton had to come up with a new name for billing. He chose the last name out of respect for early Hollywood star Buster Keaton. 

Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite)

If you think Maurice Micklewhite is a bit of a mouthful, you're not alone. English legend Michael Caine thought so too. In 2016, he legally changed his name from Micklewhite to Caine, because, according to the Batman Begins actor says it caused too much confusion at airports. 

Winona Ryder (Winona Laura Horowitz)

This one is a little in dispute - though not really. Charlie Sheen once claimed he gave Winona Horowitz her new name, Ryder, after listening to The Doors song "Riders on the Storm." Ryder says she got it when her father asked if she wanted a stage name while they were listening to Mitch Ryder. 

Demi Moore (Demetria Gene Guynes)

The story of Demi Moore's stage name (changed from Demetria Guynes) is both mundane and unique. Before she started appearing in acting roles, Moore married musician Freddy Moore when she was 18. So while Moore was her married name, it was a new name, just as her career was taking off. Demi is simply short for Demetria. 

Dove Cameron (Chloe Celeste Hosterman)

Dove Cameron has never explained why she chose Cameron as her stage name, but her reason for choosing Dove is bittersweet. Dove was her father's nickname for her and after he took his own life, she decided she wanted to go by that, in tribute to him. 

Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian)

It takes a lot of gall and a lot of talent to decide you're going to go with a one-name moniker, and Cher has oodles of both. It's not hard to see what she did, she simply shortened her first name, Cherilyn, and dropped her last. 

Olivia Colman (Sarah Caroline Colman)

Like others on this list, Olivia Colman couldn't join the actors union with her birth name, Sarah Colman, so she changed it. As she explained in 2013, Colman chose Olivia because it is one of her best friends from college's name and she loved it. 

Carmen Electra (Tara Leigh Patrick)

There aren't many people who can claim the legendary Prince gave them their name, but Carmen Electra can. Way back at the start of her career, when she was working with the Purple One, he decided Tara wasn't good enough and named her Carmen. In 2023, Tara Leigh Patrick officially changed her legal name to Carmen Electra, because who wouldn't?

Lily James (Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson)

Like others here, Lily James renamed herself in honor of her late father, James. Though Thomson was also her father's name, of course, she wanted to do more, deciding taking on the stage name "James" to do so. 

Nicolas Cage (Nicolas Kim Coppola)

Nicolas Cage's first movie role was basically just a background character in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. He is billed in the credits by his legal name, Nicolas Coppola, and yeah, it's that Coppola. While on the set of Fast Times, his co-stars would endlessly quote his famous uncle's (Francis Ford Coppola) movies. He decided then and there he needed to distance himself from his famous family (Talia Shire is his aunt, and Sophia Coppola and Jason Schwartzman are cousins).

Julianne Moore (Julie Anne Smith)

Julie Smith is a pretty common name, and when the great Julieanne Moore hit Hollywood, she soon discovered the name was already taken in the union. She tried different combinations, but they were all spoken for. In the end, she combined her first and middle names, and took her father's name, Moore, as her surname. It's like having to go through dozens of combos to find the right vanity plate, but in the end, it's hard to imagine the actor with any other name. 

Mindy Kaling (Vera Mindy Chokalingam)

It seems Hollywood is still getting people to change their names if they or people around them fear a real name is too complicated or foreign. Indian actor and writer Mindy Kaling is a recent example when she simplified her name from Vera Mindy Chokalingam to Mindy Kaling. 

David Tennant (David John McDonald)

Former Dr. Who and Jessica Jones star David Tennant has a tried and true story as well, his real name, David McDonald, was taken. He explained some years ago on James Corden's show, where he also explained that he chose "Tennant" because he saw the name from a music magazine in an article about Neil Tennant of The Pet Shop Boys. 

Chevy Chase (Cornelius Crane Chase)

Chevy Chase comes from a very blood-blue family who can trace their roots in America back to the Mayflower. Cornelius Crane Chase, the Vacation star's real name, reflects this perfectly. The reason he goes by "Chevy" is because his grandmother started calling him that when he was a kid. So, not much of a story here, but he's real name is just so posh, that we had to include it here. 

Helen Mirren (Helen Lydia Mironoff)

Like others, this one is just a technicality. Helen Mirren was born Helen Lydia Mironoff in London to an English mother and a Russian father. When Mirren was 10 years old, her father anglicized the family name to "Mirren." 

As arguably one of the most important and impactful LGBTQ+ love stories on television right now, fans are eagerly awaiting Netflix’s third season of Heartstopper as it has completed filming and joined the 2024 TV schedule with its October release. All this is to say, we can't wait to dive back into Nick and Charlie’s world and see what they've been up to with their friends and family. Unfortunately, though, this time around, much to fans' dismay, we won’t be able to see Nick’s mom, played by the talented Olivia Colman, as she announced that she will not be returning for Season 3. 

In an interview with Forbes, Colman reflected on her illustrative career and broke the unfortunate news. It seems like the busy actress was unable to fit Heartstopper into her schedule due to other commitments. While disappointing, fans can sleep well knowing that the decision was not easy for The Crown actress to make. In fact, she went on to say:  

A guest star in the first two seasons, fans of the Heartstopper graphic novels know that Nick’s mom plays a pivotal role in the fourth book which the third season is set to follow. Unlike the previous seasons that focused on Nick and Charlie’s love story, Season 3 will divulge some of the mental health struggles Charlie faces in the comics. 

It’s a hard time for both teenagers and now that Nick won’t have his mom to lean on on-screen, fans are worried about what that might mean for his arc. Specifically, fans want to know what is going to happen to the fan-favorite beach scene where Sarah says an impactful line to Nick regarding Charlie’s mental health struggles:

Other fans posted about how sad there were about this news as well, writing:

• rip to olivia colman as sarah nelson in heartstopper s3 you would’ve devoured the love can’t cure a mental illness scene -@Ioverspring
• whaaaaaat -@ellaaimagine
• Olivia Colman not coming back for Heartstopper season three. I just fell to my knees and we lost one of the best scenes of the show. -@geryrrs

Thankfully, creator Alice Oseman took to her Instagram Stories shortly after the news broke, sharing a thoughtful note about Colman’s absence. She began by reassuring fans that both parties tried desperately to make scheduling work (which is more common than fans might think, just look at the Thunderbolts' re-casting and scheduling conflicts history) and that the role was not recast. After thanking the Wonka actress for her incredible work in the first two seasons, the writer/director touched on fan’s worries about the pivotal scene between Nick and his mother: 

It’s reassuring to know that the beach scene and the powerful line of dialogue will be included, but Oseman didn’t stop there. She went on to continue to reassure fans that Nick’s arc will not be missing from the new season because of his mother’s absence, writing: 

You can see everything the author wrote about the actress not returning in her full statement below:

While Nick’s mom is going to be missed by many, I’m certainly excited to see who steps into that role of supporting Nick. Perhaps this will mean he starts bonding with Charlie’s friends even more. The more likely answer, though, is that Nick’s aunt, who will be played by Hayley Atwell, will take on that motherly role. 

Regardless of the unfortunate news, Hearstopper Season 3 still has many things for fans to celebrate. Not only will Nick’s aunt be a new character, but Michael Holden, an important character from the comics, will also be joining the cast. Though not confirmed, I’m sure the season will also continue to follow Issac as he further explores his asexual identity. And don't fret, both Oseman and Colman have not closed the book on Sarah's return for any future seasons!

Season 3 of Hearstopper will begin streaming sometime in October 2024. For now, fans can revisit Charlie and Nick by streaming the first two seasons with a Netflix subscription. 

When making Barbie, Gerta Gerwig didn’t hold back on the surprises. From a ton of star cameos to surprising jokes she didn't think she could get away with, there’s something unexpected in practically every scene. Now, we’re learning that Olivia Colman was also supposed to make an appearance, but ultimately her scene was cut. While I would’ve enjoyed seeing her in the pink-tastic chaos that is Barbie, I really just love her funny response to seeing the positive side of the situation.

Effortlessly bouncing around genre and shining in roles that show off her dramatic talents and impeccable comedic timing throughout her career, Olivia Colman's best movies and shows prove that she can do anything. Her role in Barbie would’ve been another epic one as we would’ve seen her get gritty in a drunken fight with the voice of the movie, Helen Mirren. And who wouldn’t have wanted to see the two British queens of television and movies duke it out to see who’s the best of the best?

While talking to IndieWire, Colman spoke about this scene, and why cutting it turned out to be a win-win for her. She said:

I can’t help but give her props for her hilarious honesty. She seemed happy to just be involved, and her answer actually does make sense. With an almost two-hour runtime, Barbie is jam-packed with memorable moments from beginning to end. So, depending on various factors, there might have been a need to trim some scenes. Either way, I’m just glad it all worked out for her.

Mirren, who played the narrator in the Barbie cast, also talked about the cut fight scene. She mentioned that it “was really funny,” and she said it was supposed to be a parody of British people, who are normally very supportive of each other's wins. If the scene had happened, that would’ve been the only time Mirren appeared on screen.

Besides Colman, there are a few other cameos that didn’t happen and audiences would’ve loved. While speaking to CinemaBlend, Gerwig mentioned that a planned appearance from Saoirse Ronan didn’t happen because of scheduling conflicts. In the same conversation, she also said Timothée Chalamet was supposed to have a specialty cameo, but he couldn’t do it. Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy was almost a Ken, but he also couldn’t get away from his extremely busy schedule.

There has been debate about the possibility of a Barbie sequel. So, if one were to happen, hopefully, Olivia Colman could come back and have her time as a drunken grande dame or something totally new. As long as she and Mirren are involved together, I’d be down for anything. In the meantime, it’s time to binge-watch Fleabag, Wicked Little Letters, and the rest of her CV so I can rewatch some of her funniest on-screen moments.

You can check out Barbie with a Max subscription, and also catch some behind-the-scenes action and cast interviews. Then, be sure to take a look at our 2024 movie schedule to see what Olivia Coleman and Helen Mirren are working on next. 

Stories about Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses have long been a Hollywood favorite. Sure, there are amazing fictional kings and queens like T’Challa in Black Panther and Abe Froman, the Sausage King of Chicago in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but this list is about the real ones. Historical depictions of some of the greatest, and worst, monarchs in world history. Kings like Henry VIII and Louis XIV. Queens like Elizabeth II and Victoria. Sure, the movies they appear in are not always the most historically accurate, but that doesn’t diminish the portrayals of royalty by these fine actors. 

Patrick McGoohan As King Edward I - Braveheart

Braveheart is far from the most historically accurate movie of all time, but one character that Mel Gibson and company at least got close to correct is Edward I, or Edward Longshanks, as he was known in the movie and at the time. He was a brutal, remorseless leader, and fought with the Scots for most of his reign. Patrick McGoohan’s performance of Edward is great, one of the real highlights of the movie. 

Judi Dench As Queen Elizabeth I - Shakespeare In Love

To be sure, Shakespeare In Love isn’t as loved today as it was when it was released in 1998. Its upset win for Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars over Saving Private Ryan is still questioned and the movie is often maligned unfairly. One reason it's unfair is Judi Dench’s fantastic performance as Queen Elizabeth I. 

Emily Blunt As Queen Victoria - The Young Victoria

Most of the images we see of Queen Victoria come from later her in her long reign, after Prince Albert died and the older queen was seen wearing black and looking dour. The Young Victoria is a fresh take, showing the queen, played by Emily Blunt, as young and vibrant. It wasn’t a huge hit in the United States, but it’s a really good movie, with a great performance by Blunt. 

Kenneth Branagh As King Henry V - Henry V

Kenneth Branagh has done more for Shakespeare in the modern age than anyone in Hollywood and the prime example is his portrayal of the titular king in Henry V. His delivery of the famous St. Crispin's Day speech is worth the price of admission alone. 

Colin Firth As King George VI - The King's Speech

Colin Firth’s performance and King George VI in The King’s Speech is as close to perfect as possible and well deserving of the Oscar he was awarded for it. Firth brilliantly plays both the reluctant king’s vulnerability and his strength. It’s a fine line to walk, as both are completely necessary to understand King George VI in full. 

Kirsten Dunst As Marie Antoinette - Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is one of the most infamous royals of all time. The French queen is notorious in history for her aloof attitude towards the revolting French peasants during the French Revolution. The film Marie Antoinette starring Kirsten Dunst as the titular queen, did wow audiences at first, but has since become one of Sofia Coppola’s most respected films, and with good reason. It’s a very modern movie telling an old story and Dunst’s performance enhances that perfectly. 

Elizabeth Taylor As Cleopatra - Cleopatra

Elizabeth Taylor’s performance in Cleopatra is one of the most iconic in Hollywood history. Though it deserves some criticism from more enlightened modern audiences, it doesn’t diminish the performance. Taylor is amazing and only a star like her could carry a movie on the scale and scope of Cleopatra. It’s a true Hollywood epic from the Golden Age of Hollywood and Taylor is as glamorous as any actor could be. 

Timothée Chalamet As King Henry V - The King

It’s not easy for any actor to step into one of Shakespeare’s best characters like Henry V in Henry V. This is a character that Laurence Olivier played on the silver screen for goodness sake!  Timothée Chalamet took the risk and it paid off for the actor and audiences in The King. The movie is a new take on Shakespeare’s plays,  taken from his four plays about historical English kings, so the pressure was on. Chalamet kills it in the movie, playing the role quite differently as others have, but it works for the updated version. 

Cate Blanchett As Queen Elizabeth I - Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a wonderful movie, anchored by a wonderful performance by Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I. Blanchett returned for a sequel, Elizabeth: A Golden Age which was a less-than-wonderful movie, but Blanchett was once again great. The performances in both set a new standard for the historical figure who has been portrayed often on film. 

Janet Suzman As Tsarina Alexandra - Nicholas And Alexandra

One of the most pivotal moments of the 20th Century was the overthrow and execution of Tsar Nicolas of Russia and his family by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. It’s a story that has rarely been told on film in the West, but Nicholas And Alexandra is the rare exception. It’s a good movie, with a great Oscar-nominated performance by Janet Suzman.

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi As King Cetshwayo - Zulu

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi is not a professional actor, and the great 1964 film Zulu is his only appearance. His role as King Cetshwayo is also not a large one, but he makes this list because one, he was an actual Zulu chief in South Africa, and two, he was the son of the man he plays. King Cetshwayo who led the Zulu Kingdom at the time of the war depicted in the movie, so while the part was not big, it’s important to have it on this list. 

Jonathan Rhys Meyers As King Henry VIII - The Tudors

One of the most popular depictions of royalty on screen in the last couple of decades has to be Jonathan Rhys Meyers As King Henry VIII in The Tudors. Meyers plays a young, dashing version of the king that most people know from his later portraits, looking less healthy than the king was as a young man. Henry VIII is one of the most notorious kings in English history and Meyers shows why, but also plays him as anti-hero we all kind of love. 

Helen Mirren As Queen Elizabeth II - The Queen

Helen Mirren's performance as Queen Elizabeth in the Queen is everything you would expect, as the The Dame plays the role with respect, but with with a toughness that the queen was known for behind closed doors. 

Sean Connery As King Richard - Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

We couldn’t make this list without one of the most famous cameos of all time. It’s one of the shorter roles on the list, but Sean Connery’s surprise appearance as King Richard at the end of Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves shocked and delighted audiences. In real life, King Richard spent almost none of his time on the island of Great Britain, preferring to remain in Aquitaine in France, so it’s a bit of a stretch that he would be at a wedding in England, but no matter, he makes everyone smile. 

Trine Dyrholm As Queen Margrete - Margrete: Queen Of The North

Margaret I of Denmark is one of the most important monarchs in European history, to say nothing of her being a woman in power in the Middle Ages, which was very rare. Her story is well known in Scandinavia, but less known in the United States. That’s even more reason to watch the Danish movie Margrete: Queen Of The North, along with Trine Dyrholm’s performance of the queen. 

Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton As Queen Elizabeth II - The Crown

How do you put only one of the three women who played Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown with such aplomb on this list? You can’t, so all three, Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton all make it. Each one brought their own panache to the role of the now-legendary queen who we lost in 2022. Foy and Coleman both won Emmys for the role and Staunton was nominated in 2023. It’s three fantastic performances by three wonderful actresses. They even got to act together at the end. 

Nigel Hawthorne As King George III - The Madness Of King George

King George III is most famous in the United States for being the king we fought a revolution against. While he is considered one of the greatest kings in English history, he also had a severe undiagnosed mental illness that affected him later in life. It’s that part of his life that The Madness Of King George is about. It’s a hard role to play, but Nigel Hawthorne nails the role. 

Leonardo DiCaprio As King Louis XIV - The Man In The Iron Mask

There are surprisingly few portrayals of King Louis XIV of France in English-language cinema, despite the Sun King being one of the most consequential monarchs in European history. The most notable one is a fictionalized version of King Louis by Leonardo DiCaprio in The Man In The Iron Mask.

Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, and Lesley Manville As Princess Margaret - The Crown

One of the best achievements of The Crown (among many) was the show’s casting. The three actors who played Princess Margaret, Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, and Lesley Manville, all did an amazing job. You can’t pick one of the next because they all simply nailed the tragedy and triumph of the princess in the shadow of her older sister, Queen Elizabeth II. 

Olivia Coleman As Queen Anne - The Favourite

Olivia Coleman is great at playing royalty on screen, even when it’s a wildly fictionalized and weird version of Queen Anne like she does in The Favourite. The movie is very loosely based on history but is very much representative of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ style. So while Coleman may not be playing Queen Anne exactly as she was, it’s still a downright amazing performance. 

Natalie Dormer As Anne Boleyn - The Tudors

Natalie Dormer is perfectly cast as Anne Boleyn in The Tudors. She’s beautiful, yet vulnerable, coy, yet determined, and sweet, yet conniving. Boleyn is one of the most tragic queens in English history and it’s hard to picture anyone but Dormer playing her after she starred in this show. 

Richard Harris As King Arthur - Camelot

We could argue all day about how “real” King Arthur was. More myth than man in English folklore, there isn’t even consensus on whether he existed at all. But no matter, Richard Harris’ portrayal of the legend in Camelot is still worthy of mention on this list because it’s so darn good and so darn iconic. 

Oliver Dimsdale As King Edward VIII - Downton Abbey

In the finale of Season 4 of Downton Abbey, audiences meet Edward VIII when he is still Prince of Wales, before becoming king and before his abdication shocked the world. Though it’s not the biggest role, Oliver Dimsdale instantly gives you a sense of exactly who the future Duke of Windsor was, a conniving womanizer who really wasn't fit to be king. 

Katharine Hepburn As Eleanor Of Aquitaine - The Lion In Winter

It’s hard to understand why The Lion In Winter isn’t as remembered as other movies from the late ‘60s, because Katharine Hepburn's performance as Eleanor Of Aquitaine, the queen of England in the 12th Century, is amazing. She even took home an Oscar for it. 

Sean Bean as Odysseus - Troy

In the original theatrical version of Troy, Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, played by Sean Bean, doesn’t have all that big of a role. He’s a scene-stealer though. In the director’s cut, which makes for a much better movie, the role is expanded. Plus, it's a rare movie that Sean Bean doesn’t die in. 

Sigourney Weaver as Queen Isabella I - 1492: Conquest Of Paradise

There’s no way around this: 1492: Conquest Of Paradise is not a good movie. It’s historically inaccurate and celebrates Christopher Columbus a little too much while ignoring a lot of his atrocities. Still, Sigourney Weaver, while slightly miscast, does a phenomenal job with what she’s given to do as Queen Isabella I of Spain, Columbus’ benefactor. 

Tadanobu Asano As Genghis Khan - Mongol

If this was a list of the worst performances of royalty, John Wayne’s offensive and terrible version of Genghis Khan in The Conqueror would be at the top of the list. On the flip side, we have the Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano as the Mongolian king in Mongol. It’s not the most widely-known movie, as it’s a Russian production in Mandarin and Mongolian. It’s worth your time and effort to seek it out though, it’s fantastic. 

Judi Dench As Queen Victoria - Mrs. Brown

Is there a role out there that Dame Judi Dench doesn’t nail? That’s a rhetorical question, of course, and her performance as Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown is certainly no exception. Though the actual history in the movie is dubious at best, putting that aside and enjoying the movie is easy with Dench as the recently widowed queen. 

Gerard Butler As Leonidas - 300

Of all the movies in this movie that stretch the true stories to their max, 300 wins in that category. Still, Gerard Butler’s portrayal of Leonidas is a fan-favorite for good reason. Sure, it’s mostly because he looks so darn good, but the movie is fun, exciting, and completely unique, so we’ll allow for a little historical nonsense. 

Richard Harris As Marcus Aurelius - Gladiator

Another movie on this list that takes a lot of liberties with its historical accuracy, Gladiator basically changes everything about Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and Commodus’ (Joaquin Phoenix) real-life father/son relationship. But both Phoenix and Harris are fantastic in their roles, so again, we’ll allow it. 

Peter O'Toole As Henry II - The Lion In Winter

The Lion in Winter has a few excellent portrayals of royalty. Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Timothy Dalton as King Philip of France, and Anthony Hopkins as a young Richard The Lionhearted. Of course, the lead in the film, Peter O’Toole as Henry II is the lead for a reason. In a career filled with amazing performances, this is one of O’Toole’s best and resulted in one of his eight Best Actor nominations. 

Chris Pine As Robert The Bruce - Outlaw King

Robert The Bruce has been portrayed in a few films, probably most famously by Angus Macfadyen in Braveheart. While that performance is great, Outlaw King, with Chris Pine in the lead role, is a more historically accurate version of the story of Robert fighting the English and rising to King of the Scots. 

Audiences have always been fascinated by the lives of monarchs worldwide, and that is not likely to change anytime soon. We’ll continue to see great portrayals of royalty in entertainment for a long time to come. 

Doctor Who is a British institution, and while it’s made household names of the actors who take on the mantle of The Doctor, it’s also cast many stars in guest roles. So, with that in mind, we took a journey through the iconic modern era run of the beloved BBC show, and found 32 famous actors who played a minor role in this time lord’s journey. 

Jonathan Bailey

While we know and love Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton on one of Netflix’s best series, Bridgerton, and as Fiyero in the Wicked cast, you might not be aware that he was in Season 8 of Doctor Who in the episode “Time Heist.” He starred alongside Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor, playing the hacker Psi. 

Brett Goldstein

Brett Goldstein appeared in the Season 11 episode “The Tsuranga Conundrum '' alongside Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor. During the episode that saw The Doctor and co. stuck on a spaceship while an enemy tries to destroy it, and the Emmy-winning actor played the head nurse Astos. Then, two years later, Goldstein became a household name when he joined the Ted Lasso cast as the beloved grouchy player-turned-coach Roy Kent. 

Carey Mulligan

Before Carey Mulligan starred in movies like Drive, Promising Young Woman and Maestro, she played the young Sally Sparrow in the Season 3 episode “Blink.” Not only is this episode one with some of Doctor Who’s best quotes, but it’s also one of the most iconic stories in the show’s history as David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor took on the Weeping Angels. 

Olivia Colman 

In one of Doctor Who’s best episodes, and Matt Smith’s first as the Eleventh iteration of the time lord, Olivia Colman played “Mother,” a woman who is taken over by Patient Zero in “The Eleventh Hour.” After that, the actress, of course, went on to win an Oscar for The Favourite, and she starred in various other successful projects including the film The Lost Daughter, and the series Broadchurch and The Crown. 

James Corden

Long before James Corden was hosting The Late Late Show, he guest starred in two of Matt Smith’s episodes as his pal and flatmate Craig, most notably in the Season 5 episode “The Lodger.” 

Andrew Garfield

He may be best known as The Amazing Spider-Man and for films like The Social Network and Tick, Tick…Boom! but before all that, Andrew Garfield starred alongside David Tennant in two Doctor Who episodes, “Daleks in Manhattan” and “Evolution of the Daleks.” He played Frank, a boy who gets the Doctor to help get rid of the Daleks. 

Bill Nighy 

In one of the most moving episodes of Doctor Who, “Vincent and The Doctor,” Bill Nighy plays Dr. Black, who works at the museum where Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portrait is held. Before starring in the emotional Matt Smith-led episode all about the aforementioned painter, Nighy was best known for movies like Love, Actually and Pirates of the Caribbean. Since then, he’s been in films including About Time, Emma. and Living, which he got an Oscar nomination for. 

Daniel Kaluuya

You know Daniel Kaluuya? That’s right, the star of Jordan Peele’s movies Get Out and Nope and the man who won an Oscar for Judas and The Black Messiah. Well, before all of that, he played Barclay in Season 4 of Doctor Who in the episode “Planet of the Dead,” where he helped the Tenth Doctor fix an engine after a double-decker bus they were on got stuck in a very sandy place.  

Felicity Jones

Before she entered a galaxy far, far away in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or received her Oscar nomination for The Theory of Everything, Felicity Jones guest starred on Doctor Who. In 2008, she played Robina Redmond opposite the Tenth Doctor in the episode “The Unicorn and the Wasp,” which was a fun take on Agatha Christie and her mysteries. 

Ian McKellen

While you don’t see Sir Ian McKellen in Doctor Who, his voice is undeniable, as he was the man behind The Great Intelligence in Matt Smith’s 2012 Christmas special  “The Snowmen.” This special appearance was just another feather in this iconic British actor’s cap in the world of genre as he’s best known for playing Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films as well as Magneto in the X-Men movies. 

Maisie Williams

Obviously, we know Maisie Williams as Arya Stark, an integral character in the Game of Thrones cast. However, she also starred in another series that’s considered a British institution when she appeared in four of Peter Capaldi’s Season 9 Doctor Who episodes – “The Girl Who Died,” “The Woman Who Lived,” “Face the Raven'' and “Hell Bent” – as Ashildr (AKA Me) the immortal Viking. 

Michael Gambon 

In Doctor Who’s 2010 Christmas special, “A Christmas Carol,” the Eleventh Doctor finds himself with a very Scrooge-like character named Kazran Sardick, played by the late Michael Gambon. The actor also played the antagonist’s father Elliot Sardick. Of course, before this, he also starred in another tentpole fantasy franchise by playing Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter movies. 

John Hurt 

In the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, John Hurt joined Matt Smith and David Tennant as a regeneration of the time lord named the War Doctor, who lived between the eighth and ninth versions of The Doctor. He was, of course, played by the late great John Hurt, who was known for iconic films like Alien and The Elephant Man. He was a legendary British actor, and he played a pivotal role in the long-running BBC series.

Gemma Chan

From the beloved and star-studded rom-com Crazy Rich Asians to Marvel’s The Eternals, Gemma Chan’s star has grown immensely over the last few years. However, before that, she played geologist Mia Bennett in the 2009 episode “The Waters of Mars” alongside David Tennant’s Doctor. 

Michael Sheen

David Tennant plays the demon to Michael Sheen’s angel in Good Omens, but before they shared the screen together, the Aziraphale actor voiced a House on the show that made his co-star a household name. During Matt Smith’s run as The Doctor during the episode “The Doctor’s Wife,” the actor known for Frost/Nixon and Masters of Sex voiced the evil entity that lived just outside the universe. 

Richard E. Grant

With over 140 credits to his name, including Gosford Park and Hudson Hawk, Richard E. Grant is a legendary British actor. In Doctor Who he played an equally iconic role as the antagonist Dr. Simeon in the Eleventh Doctor-led Christmas special “The Snowmen.” After that, the actor who played a variant of Loki in Marvel’s most timey-wimey show, returned to Dr. Simeon for the Season 7 episode “The Name of the Doctor.” 

Jonathan Groff

As one of the first big actors to guest star in Ncuti Gatwa’s run as the Fifteenth Doctor, Jonathan Groff joined the cast for a Regency-era episode. Before making a brief appearance on Doctor Who, Groff made a name for himself on Broadway in shows including Merrily We Roll Along and Hamilton. He also voiced Kristoff in both Frozen films, and starred in David Fincher’s series Mindhunter. Talk about range. 

Stephen Fry

During the Thirteenth Doctor’s run, Stephen Fry played a role in the Season 12 episode “Spyfall" as C, the head of MI6. An iconic character actor, Fry has over 190 credits to his name, and he is best known for films like Wilde and V for Vendetta. 

Simon Pegg

Long before he was choosing to accept missions with Tom Cruise in the Mission: Impossible movies and leading Edgar Wright’s Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy – which is Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End – Simon Pegg guest starred on Doctor Who. He played The Editor in Season 1 of the modern era, and went up against Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth generation of the time lord. 

Kylie Minogue

Yes, you read that right, Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue, singer of “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” and “Chiggy Wiggy,” did star in a 2007 episode of Doctor Who titled “Voyage of the Damned.” During Season 4, she was featured alongside Tennant’s Doctor as Astrid, an alien waitress. 

Helen McCrory

Helen McCrory played Rosanna in the 2010 Doctor Who episode “The Vampires of Venice.” The Peaky Blinders star joined Matt Smith’s Doctor as the leader of the Saturnyns. Along with the two iconic BBC shows, the actress also played Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies and starred in The Count of Monte Cristo. 

Toby Jones

In the episode “Amy’s Choice,” Toby Jones played the Dream Lord. This spooky villain that comes from the darker side of The Eleventh Doctor is another fun character in Jones’ cap, as he also voiced Dobby in the Harry Potter films and played Dr. Zola in the Captain America movies as well as Claudius Templesmith in The Hunger Games. 

Neil Patrick Harris

Joining the episode of the three-part 60th Anniversary special, Neil Patrick Harris played the Toymaker and witnessed the historic bi-generation. The How I Met Your Mother alum faced off against David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor as well as Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor. 

Timothy Dalton

Yep, you read that right, James Bond was in Doctor Who too. Timothy Dalton – who played 007 in License to Kill and The Living Daylights – guest starred in the Tenth Doctor’s 2009 episodes “End of Time” parts one and two where he played The Narrator and Lord President Rassilon, the founder and first leader of The Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey. 

Brian Cox

In “End of Time,” Brian Cox wasn’t seen on screen with David Tennant, however, you can hear him, because he voiced Elder Ood, who is of an alien race the Doctor works to protect. While you don’t see Cox physically in the episode, you can see him as the patriarch of the Succession cast, Logan Roy, and you can check out movies of his, including Troy and Manhunter. 

Letitia Wright

Letitia Wright’s future is as the Black Panther, but prior to playing Shuri in the MCU and starring in other fun projects, she appeared in the Season 9 episode “Face the Raven” with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. In Doctor Who, she played Anahson, an orphan looking for her mother. 

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

While Gugu Mbatha-Raw is best known for travelling through time and space as Ravonna Renslayer in Loki, she also played Tish Jones in four episodes of Doctor Who’s fourth season alongside David Tennant. The actress who played Martha’s sister in these episodes then went on to star in many films, including Belle, and series like The Morning Show. 

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

You likely know Thomas Brodie-Sangster as the kid from Love, Actually or from his work in The Maze Runner movies and The Queen’s Gambit. However, he also starred in a pair of Doctor Who episodes in Season 3 alongside David Tennant as Tim Latimer, a schoolboy from 1913.  

Alan Cumming

The host of The Traitors and star of The Good Wife, Alan Cumming starred as King James I in the Season 11 episode “The Witchfinders.” In the episode featuring the Thirteenth Doctor, this star of stage and screen played the king of a nation that was in the midst of a witch trial when the time lord showed up. 

Iain Glen

Iain Glen played Octavian in the 2010 Doctor Who episodes titled “The Time of Angels” and “Flesh and Stone.” While the actor made a name for himself on Game of Thrones as Jorah, Daenerys’ protector, he was trying to protect his team and The Doctor from the Weeping Angels in this set of Matt Smith-led episodes. 

Anthony Head

Anthony Head played Rupert Giles in 123 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Uther Pendragon in 43 episodes of Merlin. He also portrayed the evil headmaster Lassar in one episode of Doctor Who – “School Reunion” – back in its second season alongside David Tennant. 

Jacob Anderson 

You likely remember Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm from Game of Thrones or Louis de Pointe du Lac in the series Interview with a Vampire. In the midst of all that, he joined Season 13 of Doctor Who for a recurring role as Vinder, a pilot and guardian who watches from Observation Outpost Rose and worked with the Thirteenth Doctor across seven episodes. 

As you can see, the list of actors who have made minor appearances on Doctor Who is long and wickedly impressive. From legendary actors like Ian McKellen and Olivia Colman and modern TV staples like Jonathan Bailey and Brett Goldstein, it’s hard to believe that all these folks aided (or tried to stop) The Doctor on their wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey journey through time and space, but they all did!

Plans for the future of the James Bond movies are in a bit of a holding pattern right now. With Barbara Broccoli and the rest of EON Productions still looking to start crafting Bond 26, and the future of the 007 saga with it, a lot of key decisions need to be made. However, as far as I’m concerned, Ms. Broccoli and company should call off its search for a new M; thanks to Olivia Colman throwing her hat into the ring.

As she spoke to Vogue during a recent interview, the Wonka star expressed some deep excitement about possibly taking over the role of Ian Fleming’s iconic spymaster. The pitch stemmed from the interviewer comparing Olivia Colman to Dame Judi Dench herself, thanks to her short haircut. Once that comparison was brought up, it didn’t take long for Olivia to stump for the role as follows:

The actress was previously tipped as a potential Moneypenny for Bond 26 and beyond, thanks to Naomie Harris’ enthusiastic suggestion. As the current Moneypenny is still very hopeful to keep her role, which she last played in Daniel Craig’s James Bond swan song, No Time To Die, this intriguing pitch from Ms. Harris seems like a pretty good fit as well. But now that the Favourite star has flat out tossed her hat into the ring to play 007’s commanding officer, I'd honestly say this is the better fit.

That’s partially because Olivia Colman has some good practice in this sort of role in recent projects. Just this year, she played the role of Sonya Falsworth as part of the Secret Invasion cast and gave us a taste of what this could look like; which, in turn, reinforced a similar project that the 2019 Academy Award winner had tackled. By previously playing Angela Burr, an M-style figure to Tom Hiddleston in the limited series adaptation of John le Carré’s The Night Manager, Colman already built a foundation for her potential James Bond credentials. 

Of course, both of those projects could also clash with the Empire of Light star’s odds of becoming the next M. With The Night Manager still moving towards its second season and Marvel's usual desire to keep its actors on retainer for future appearances, there’s a chance that either of those franchise could call the fan-favorite actress back to deliver her unique brand of gravitas. I mean, you can see in the clip below that Secret Invasion provided her with a very sleek and shady role:

As always, it all depends on who Bond 26 introduces as the next face of Commander Bond. The chemistry between Bond and M, or any member of the MI6 family, is as important as the companion James is paired with on his latest mission. For example, if November 2023’s James Bond odds report are any indication, current frontrunner James Norton would be the 007 to Olivia Colman’s M. That, on paper, sounds like another great fit.

There are a lot of moving pieces to consider in the world of James Bond, with M only being one of the many that orbit around the role of Bond himself. As such, we’ll have to wait until whatever “reinvention” planned by EON Productions becomes a more concrete reality before we really hold our breath over the next M.

Though with that being said, good luck shaking the thought of Olivia Colman commanding the desk that Ralph Fiennes, Dame Judi Dench and Bernard Lee stood behind before her. Especially if she happened to be paired with Henry Cavill as James.

It's just a scenario to think about while we wait for Bond 26 to hit theaters, at an undetermined point in the future. But in the meantime, you can next see Olivia Colman in Wonka, as it premieres in its 2023 movie release schedule slot of December 15th.

The Crown is one of Netflix’s best binge-worthy shows. It tells the story of the royal family throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It changes its cast every few seasons, with different actors portraying the protagonists to represent the passing of time as the royal family ages. So far, three actors have portrayed The Queen on the series: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and most recently Imelda Staunton. Recent rumors indicate that Season 6 of The Crown is set to feature all three actresses reprising their role as the Queen, and fans of the show have had some hilarious multiversal reactions to it. 

According to a report by The Sun, the upcoming sixth season of the Netflix drama will allegedly find a way to incorporate all the actresses and their creative portrayals of England’s longest-reigning monarch. How the show will find a way to feature all of them is still up for debate, and Netflix hasn't confirmed this rumor. However, the news has prompted funny memes about The Crown becoming a multiversal story. One fan found the idea of the three actresses on screen together as the drama’s version of Marvel’s Multiverse of Madness: 

Another fan Tweeted a hilarious pun on Marvel’s animated multiverse-centered story, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It’s so clever, I wish I thought of it myself.

Additional fans couldn’t help but make more Spider-Man references, likening the idea to Spider-Man: No Way Home when all the different Spider-Man actors reunited on screen together to fight a common enemy. I don’t know what the common enemy would be in this case but this would be hysterical. 

One fan suggested that instead of The Crown approaching the crossover like a multiverse, it should be more like Back to the Future. 

Fans also made time travel references, with one likening it to a Doctor Who moment where one Doctor appears on a monitor to talk to other Doctors. One even suggested Helen Mirren should be included since she played Queen Elizabeth II in 2006’s The Queen. They said in a tweet:

Another viewer picked up on the same Doctor Who reference. The Crown already has Doctor Who connections with the inclusion of Matt Smith in the first two seasons, so anything is possible. 

These are all incredibly funny suggestions, even if they are unlikely. I doubt The Crown will take a multiversal or time travel angle, but I could see how the actors could come back in the form of a flashback or a dream sequence. If Colman and Foy return, I wonder what that means for Matt Smith, Tobias Menzies, and Jonathan Pryce, who portrayed Prince Phillip in different seasons of the Emmy-winning series? There are other beloved actors I think audiences would love to see again like Josh O’Connor and Vanessa Kirby. Who knows what turn the latest season will take, but it seems like the fans are full of ideas.

Fans will have to wait until the fall to know for sure what Season 6 of The Crown will entail. It’s a long time coming, with many storylines yet to be explored. In the meantime, Netflix subscribers can revisit the previous seasons of The Crown ahead of the new installment. For more information on other much-anticipated shows returning to the streamer later this year, make sure to consult our 2023 Netflix TV premiere schedule. 

As a longtime fan of Jennifer Lawrence’s work, I’ve always been in awe of all her films, of course, between The Hunger Games, The Silver Linings Playbook and the X-Men prequels. However, there’s always been the funny duality of her also being an absolutely hilarious person in real life who frequently goes viral for interview moments where her personality seems quite the opposite of a deep and dark dramatic actress. So, when No Hard Feelings hit theaters earlier this summer, I ran to my local cinema, and I was absolutely living for J-Law bringing out her comedy chops in a movie that I thought was equally raunchy, silly and very heartfelt. In honor of this, I was thinking about a host of Oscar-winning actresses who need to lead their own comedy next.

Why must there be lines drawn between who can be funny and who is a serious actress in Hollywood? Real talk, but I see male actors slide between movies with ridiculous concepts to award-buzzy ones all the dang time. I mean, just look at Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler or Owen Wilson. Why does Hollywood put so many talented (and already funny) women in boxes? Let’s look at more actresses with a golden trophy who fall in this serious trap who I’d love to see in their very own comedy, stat, especially because they have the power to give a ridiculous concept more gravitas. 

Olivia Colman 

One of my absolute favorite Oscar moments happened when Olivia Colman’s Best Actress win became the biggest bombshell of the 2019 awards show. At the time when Colman won, I wasn’t personally very familiar with the actress outside of The Favourite, in which she played a moody queen without the vibrant personality of the British actress. 

Colman has a really interesting career right now, between being part of more critically-acclaimed dramas like Empire of Light and The Lost Daughter, along with being part of the Secret Invasion cast, Heartstopper and Wonka this holiday season. But, I’d honestly love to see her fully bring out her truly hilarious natural comedic timing. I’m picturing her playing a socially-awkward British woman who travels cross-country through Europe to reconnect with a high-school crush or something random and endearing like that. 

Cate Blanchett

The same goes for absolute Oscar darling Cate Blanchett, who has been turning out dramatic performance after dramatic performance for years, between roles like Tár, Carol and Blue Jasmine. I’m a massive fan of her work, but if you’ve ever seen her in interviews, she looks like a super fun and interesting person, who deserves to totally let loose in a future role. 

Some offbeat highlights here are when she played the wicked stepmother in Cinderella and a monkey named Spazzatura in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, but what I would give to see her play a silly character that just goes off the rails. Hey, even if she were the star of a Judd Apatow movie, I don’t doubt she would earn an Oscar nomination for that, too. 

Michelle Yeoh 

Then there’s our most recent Oscar winner, Michelle Yeoh, who took home Best Actress for her trippy role in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Yeoh is known primarily for being an action star in epics like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but she's also made stoic turns in movies like Crazy Rich Asians. After dancing with hot dog hands and so forth in her Oscar-winning role, I hope she follows that thread and leads a comedy of her own. Look, no matter what she does, I’ll follow her anywhere. 

Viola Davis 

Then there’s EGOT winner Viola Davis, who is beloved for nailing a host of powerhouse performances in movies like The Woman King, The Help, Fences and in the DCU. So many of Davis’ roles have her character pushing through some serious struggles, so I absolutely love the idea of her starring in a romantic comedy or musical comedy. 

I’m not sure it will ever happen, but I definitely think she deserves to emulate some more joy on screen at some point, and I’m sure she’d have a blast doing it. Since she’s frequently compared to Meryl Streep, perhaps she needs her own version of something like The Devil Wears Prada or Mamma Mia, ya know? 

Halle Berry

Then there’s Halle Berry, who became the first (and only) Black woman to win Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball. In recent years, she has primarily done action or science fiction movies like Moonfall, Bruised, and her incredible role in the third John Wick movie, but I’d love to see her take on another comedy where she has top billing (she has 1997's B.A.P.S. under her belt, of course). 

Berry is a really talented actress who I feel is underutilized. She’s always been very charming, thinking back to her role as Jinx in Die Another Day or even her breakthrough rom-com with Eddie Murphy, Boomerang, back in 1992. Give her a new silly comedy – perhaps of the action variety!!   

Brie Larson

And, what about Brie Larson? The actress who won for her emotional performance in Room is, of course, also Captain Marvel in the MCU, and recently lived her dream of being in the Fast and the Furious franchise, it’s not like Larson is constantly in a super realistic dramatic space. That being said, I find her to be a really genuine personality, who would absolutely thrive in a big Hollywood comedy of her own to lead. I could see her doing well in a buddy comedy, in particular, or a rom-com like 30 Going on 30. She already directed herself in the underrated film, Unicorn Store, but I’d love to see her in even more roles like it. 

Angelina Jolie 

Finally, Angelina Jolie desperately needs to be in a future comedy, in my humble opinion. She’s obviously an incredible talent and we’ll never forget her bringing out the funny in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Her career has certainly showcased that she’s more interested in the real meaty and emotional roles, but there must be the right one out there for her to explore the lighter side of life someday. Maybe after all that divorce drama with Brad Pitt is over? 

What can I say, Jennifer Lawrence’s No Hard Feelings really made me happy and reminded me how the comedy space is still vastly male-driven. Hollywood, how about you call up these talented women for your next big silly movie? 

It’s been a while since we’ve caught up with our friend Paddington Bear and the human family that’s been looking after him. 2017’s Paddington 2 is the last time that this young Peruvian joy-maker was seen on the big screen, and now with production continuing to move forward on Paddington 3, also known as Paddington in Peru, it shouldn’t be long before the next adventure begins. 

With this new story comes a reunion with a lot of the existing talent in the Paddington cast, as well as the opportunity for new players like Antonio Banderas, Carla Tous, and even Academy Award winner Olivia Colman to take their places on the board. As what we know so far about Paddington 3 has Paddington and the Brown family venturing to Peru to visit Aunt Lucy, we also know some of the new characters and actors that will be taking part in this new romp.

There’s even a major recasting of one of the Brown family members, which marks a bittersweet torch passing between actors. So let’s not delay any further, shall we? Here’s the cast list for Paddington in Peru as it currently stands.

Ben Whishaw

If the original casting for 2014’s Paddington had stuck, we’d have heard actor Colin Firth voicing this young ursine with a big heart. But fate had other ideas, as Firth parted ways with the production, leading to Ben Whishaw’s initial casting as Paddington in the first film. The rest, as usual, can be considered delicious history. 

Through two previous installments, Whishaw’s beautiful voice has given life to Michael Bond’s whimsical creation. Always ready to help those in need, with a keen eye on supporting his family, the little traveler from Peru has foiled crimes and always kept in contact with his Aunt Lucy. 

Aunt Lucy has been in the Home for Retired Bears since Paddington, and the titular ray of sunshine saw her come to visit at the end of Paddington 2. Now with the onus on him to make a trip, Paddington will be venturing back into darkest Peru after some time. This means he’ll need some assistance to make such a trek.

Antonio Banderas

Our first new player in Paddington 3 is the legendarily suave Antonio Banderas. Per the mega announcement from Variety that shared the knowledge of the first new castings, the Mask of Zorro actor will be playing a role that seems to be written just for him. 

Banderas’ character is apparently named Hunter Cabot, who, according to the report previously mentioned, is “a dashing and intrepid riverboat captain who offers to help the Brown family on their Peruvian adventure.” If that doesn’t sound like the sort of explorer type that Paddington’s Aunt Lucy has met in the past, then I don’t know what is. What's even better is the fact that Hunter won’t be alone in offering aid.

Carla Tous

Relative newcomer Carla Tous is one of the most recent additions to the Paddington 3 cast; as she's stepping in for the recently exited Rachel Zegler. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star unfortunately had to drop out, due to the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike. 

As reported by THR in October 2023, Zegler's departure allowed for the young star of Through My Window: Across the Sea to assume the role of Gina Cabot, the daughter to Antonio Banderas’ Hunter. While we don't know much about Gina's piece of the story puzzle, one could assume that she becomes a new friend to Paddington Bear, as it's kind of hard for the character not to make some fresh allies in whatever he does.

Olivia Colman

Academy Award winner, recent Marvel Cinematic Universe addition and former queen in Netflix’s The Crown, the versatile Olivia Colman is also on board for the next Paddington feature. In a throwback to her career in comedy, Colman’s role was specified in that previously cited Variety report as “the reverend mother, a blithe and sunny guitar-playing nun who runs the home for retired bears.” 

On the one hand, to see Olivia go full on Julie Andrews from The Sound of Music would be terrific. But if there’s anything to remember about this franchise, it’s that evil sometimes wears a disarmingly charming disguise. So there’s a chance that Paddington in Peru’s secret villain could be Olivia Colman’s sunny nun.

Emily Mortimer

Our final newcomer at the moment happens to be Emily Mortimer, who will be taking over the role of Mrs. Mary Brown from Paddington alum Sally Hawkins. In the previous two installments, Hawkins’ artistic author of “adventure stories” soaked in all the chaos that the family’s adopted animal pal, using it as inspiration for her art.

If anyone’s going to be the most excited about Paddington 3’s Peruvian adventure, it’s going to be her. As for why Sally Hawkins is vacating the role, a statement included in Variety’s casting announcement cited above stated that Hawkins felt it was “the right time to hand over the reins to another.” 

Pleased with the selection of Emily Mortimer as her successor, fans of the series should be delighted to get their first glimpse at Mortimer’s incarnation of the role at some point in the future. It's also a coincidental reunion between Emily and Ben Whishaw, as both actors played the adult versions of the Banks children in Mary Poppins Returns.

Hugh Bonneville

Starting off the rest of the returning cast is Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville, who has been a part of the Paddington cinematic universe since its inception. In the role of Mr. Henry Brown, Bonneville has seen his character slowly breaking out of his cautious habits in order to help save the day.

This has involved everything from dressing as a cleaning woman to infiltrate the Geographer’s Guild in Paddington, to performing a rather flexible split between two speeding trains in Paddington 2. Presumably still working as a risk analyst at an insurance company, the adventure ahead in Paddington in Peru will probably be the greatest test of just how much of Henry’s previously carefree spirit he’s rediscovered in the wake of his adopted bear son’s antics.

Julie Walters

The housekeeper to the Brown household, Mrs. Bird loves order and cleanliness, but isn’t above some mischief. Played by the legendary Julie Walters, bringing her Paddington character to Peru feels like another “hand in glove” fit when it comes to this change of venue. 

That is, provided she tags along, as Paddington 3's story may find her staying at home. For all we know, this story might find her keeping things nice and neat from any prying eyes that may try to take advantage of the absence of the family. (We’re looking at you, Mr. Curry.)

Jim Broadbent

Another character who might find themselves sticking to the homefront during Paddington in Peru is Mr. Samuel Gruber. The warmly eccentric antique shop owner who's been present through the iconic presence of actor Jim Broadbent, there may not be much reason to send him to Peru in this upcoming threequel. So maybe he can challenge Mrs. Bird to a friendly drinking contest and see who can hold their schnapps the best. 

Madeleine Harris

Judy Brown (Madeleine Harris) has always been a headstrong young woman, growing with each adventure that the Paddington movies have sent her through. Industrious to the point of starting a newspaper, and with the skills to learn pretty much any language, Judy just might be the family’s resident interpreter as they make their way through Paddington in Peru’s new and adventurous setting.

Samuel Joslin

Much like his onscreen sister, Samuel Joslin’s Jonathan Brown has areas of expertise that could come in handy during this new chapter. Possessing a knack for chemistry, as well as a love of steam trains, both of those disciplines may make Paddington 3 all the easier on the Brown family’s journey. Then again, there may be some new skills that both Jonathan and Judy will show off to the world, once they’re back on the big screen.

Imelda Staunton

Rounding out our Paddington in Peru cast is the ever delightful Imelda Staunton, whose character, Aunt Lucy, is the catalyst for this grand outing. Living at the Home for Retired Bears ever since she lost her husband in the disastrous earthquake that prompted her to send Paddington away. 

Receiving regular letters from her nephew, she paid him a heartfelt visit that ended the events of Paddington 2 with a tear-jerking reunion. Now it's Paddington Bear's turn to make the journey, which just might show us what Aunt Lucy had to go through when she made her trip to London, further endearing us all to this beloved literary icon. 

With a cast like this, Paddington 3 already sounds like an absolute delight; and that’s in the absence of any concrete plot details! We’ll have to wait for more of the particulars to be released to the public, which shouldn’t be too far off as this project is set to start filming at some point in the month to come. 

So be sure to keep your eyes peeled and your emergency sandwich on hand, as you never know what will be revealed next in the world of Paddington Bear! While one could assume that Paddington in Peru could make its way to the 2024 movie schedule, that's another question we're going to have to wait to see answered. 

The character Willy Wonka from Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired an eccentric performance from Johnny Depp in the 2005 movie of the same name and an iconic portrayal by Gene Wilder in 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Now it’s Timothée Chalamet’s turn to take up the mantle and give us the peculiar candy man’s origin story in Wonka. Details about the prequel’s plot and characters have been kept well under wraps, but we do know that Wonka will feature a stellar cast when it hits theaters on December 15, 2023. 

Anticipation is high for Wonka, especially with Paddington director Paul King at the helm and the amazing ensemble that’s signed on. Only a few details could be mined from the scrumdiddilyumptious trailer released in July, so even though we don't yet know who all of these actors will portray, we can still take a look and appreciate the talented cast members who have signed on for the prequel.

Timothée Chalamet (Willy Wonka)

We may not have many details regarding the characters in Wonka, but we certainly know that Timothée Chalamet has been tapped to play the title role. In fact, fans have already gotten a first look at Chalamet’s transformation, with the actor dressed in a sleek maroon jacket and signature top hat that caused the Internet to lose its collective mind. It’ll be exciting to see his take on the character after Keegan-Michael Key raved about Chalamet, saying the actor “drips charisma and wonderful confidence.”

Timothée Chalamet has become quite the hot commodity, receiving praise for his performances in Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird, Don’t Look Up, Bones and All and Dune. In addition to Wonka, the actor will appear this November in the highly-anticipated Dune: Part Two. 

Keegan-Michael Key

Keegan-Michael Key has been confirmed as part of the Wonka cast. The Toy Story 4 actor has been keeping busy over the past few years, with a second season of Schmigadoon! premiering to Apple TV+ subscription holders in April. He also appeared in the record-breaking box office success The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Disney’s live-action Pinocchio and Hulu’s Reboot, which was sadly canceled after just one season.

Rowan Atkinson (Priest)

Several huge names from across the pond have also signed onto Wonka, including Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson. Known for his physical comedy and playing bumbling characters, the actor appears from the trailer to be playing a priest. While there are many options to watch if you like Atkinson, he is best known for Mr. Bean, Blackadder, Johnny English, a scene-stealing moment in Love Actually and the must-watch Netflix series Man Vs. Bee. 

Sally Hawkins (Willy's Mother)

Sally Hawkins is set to portray the title character’s beloved mother, per Variety. A star of stage and screen, Hawkins is known to Paddington fans as Mary Brown from the 2014 movie and its sequel, and she’s just one of several actors brought over from those projects by director Paul King. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2017 for her work in The Shape of Water and for Best Supporting Actress for 2013’s Blue Jasmine.

Jim Carter

Jim Carter has also joined Wonka, boasting a career in film, television and theater that spans over six decades. He’s currently best known as part of the Downton Abbey cast, where he plays former butler Charles Carson, and his movie credits include The Little Vampire, The Witches, Ella Enchanted, Shakespeare in Love, The Golden Compass and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. 

Matt Lucas

It’s not hard to picture Matt Lucas in the Wonka-verse, as the comedian has been known to play some quirky characters in projects like Little Britain, Doctor Who, Shaun of the Dead and Bridesmaids. He also appeared in Tim Burton’s remake of Alice in Wonderland, portraying both Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and Lucas is another of several Wonka actors who worked with Paul King on Paddington. The actor also knows his way around the sweets, serving as a co-host on The Great British Bake Off for three seasons, before announcing his exit from the show late last year. 

Natasha Rothwell

Natasha Rothwell was a fan favorite in Season 1 of The White Lotus, and many fans are excited to see her character Belinda return in Season 3. The actress is also known for her work on Insecure, Love, Simon, both Sonic the Hedgehog movies and Wonder Woman 1984.

Olivia Colman (Innkeeper)

Olivia Colman is another character who CinemaCon crowds got a peek at, as Variety reports she will play a Cockney innkeeper in the Wonka world. Colman is best known for playing Queen Anne in The Favourite — a role that won her an Academy Award. She also won an Emmy for The Crown, playing Queen Elizabeth II, and was nominated for her roles on The Night Manager and Fleabag. 

Tom Davis

Paddington 2 fans might remember Tom Davis as the prisoner T-Bone in Paul King’s sequel, and he’s been in several British films and TV projects, including King Gary and Murder in Successville (the inspiration for Will Arnett’s Netflix series Murderville). 

Mathew Baynton

Mathew Baynton, a member of the Horrible Histories comedy writing troupe, has also been confirmed for Wonka. The actor stars in the UK version of Ghosts and won much acclaim as the co-creator, writer and star of the sitcom The Wrong Mans.  

Simon Farnaby

Another Horrible Histories vet and co-creator of Ghosts UK, Simon Farnaby, joins Wonka not just as an actor, but as a co-writer on the film. He worked with Paul King on the Paddington movies, co-writing the sequel and appearing as security guard Barry in both films. 

Rich Fulcher

Rich Fulcher may be best known for playing Bob Fossil on The Mighty Boosh, but he’s had several comedic and voice acting roles, including on Disenchantment, Rick and Morty, Drunk History, Children’s Hospital and more. His over-the-top comedy could be fun to see next to Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka, depending on his character. 

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Another Paddington 2 veteran, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, has a number of TV, movie and stage credits to his name, including the films Mary Poppins Returns, Doctor Strange and Justice League. 

Paterson Joseph (Arthur Slugworth)

With Wonka being an origin story for the famed candy man, we’re likely to get into the history between him and eventual rival Arthur Slugworth, and Paterson Joseph has reportedly been cast in this role, per Dialoguebooks. Joseph has been doing theater since the ‘80s, and has appeared in movies and series including HBO’s Avenue 5, The Leftovers and Law & Order: UK. 

Calah Lane

Calah Lane was reported to be a friendly face to Timothée Chalamet’s character, per THR, and that certainly seemed to be the case in the trailer. The young actress’ career started with plays, commercials and modeling, and one of her most recent roles was as 12-year-old Laurel on an episode of This Is Us. 

Colin O'Brien

Colin O’Brien has accumulated only a few credits in his young acting career, but they’re pretty noteworthy. After appearing in the 2022 horror Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, he starred opposite Connie Britton and Taylor Schilling in the book-to-screen adaptation of Dear Edward on Apple TV+. He was also featured in two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy’s 19th season this year. 

Rakhee Thakrar

Fans of EastEnders will recognize Wonka cast member Rakhee Thakrar as the actress who played Shabnam Masood in an unforgettable storyline on the popular British series. She also had a regular role on the Netflix series Sex Education and recurred on Mindy Kaling’s Hulu miniseries Four Weddings and a Funeral.  

Ellie White 

British comedy actress Ellie White is known for her role as Princess Beatrice in the parody series The Windsors. She also appeared on Wonka co-star Tom Davis’ Murder in Successville. 

Hugh Grant (Oompa Loompa)

Finally, Hugh Grant, known for dozens of movies including Love Actually, Notting Hill, About a Boy and Paddington 2, has been confirmed to be playing an Oompa Loompa, who audiences got their first peek of in the trailer. Paul King has since opened up about how he came up with the idea to cast Grant as the small, green-haired man, and I know movie lovers can't wait to see the actor finish the dance he started in the preview when the movie hits theaters.

Generations of moviegoers have enjoyed the story of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory in different iterations (not to mention Roald Dahl’s book), so it's no surprise that people are excited to see Timothée Chalamet relay the character’s origin story later this year. While we wait for more news regarding Wonka, take a look at our 2023 movie calendar to see what else is coming soon. 

If your only familiarity with Charles Dickens is his traditional holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, FX’s new, six-episode adaptation of his 1861 novel, Great Expectations, might be a perfect entry point into exploring more of the influential Victorian era author’s work. In fact, with Ridley Scott, Tom Hardy, and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight signed on as executive producers and an esteemed ensemble at the forefront, we have a good feeling that you can expect this miniseries to be, indeed, great. With that in mind, let’s see who is playing who in the Great Expectations cast and where else you may know them from.

Fionn Whitehead (Pip)

The lead character of Great Expectations, Pip — an orphan given the chance to assume an upper class lifestyle — is played by Fionn Whitehead, who has starred in stories originating from the Victorian Era before, namely modern reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray from 2021 and the 2022 Emily Brontë biopic, Emily. The English actor broke out in Christopher Nolan’s WWII-set spectacle, Dunkirk, before leading Netflix’s interactive Black Mirror spin-off, Bandersnatch, and starring in the trippy 2021 sci-fi thriller, Voyagers, most notably.

Olivia Colman (Miss Havisham)

Taking Pip under her wing as part of vengeful plot is Miss Havisham, played by Olivia Colman, who is best known for her Academy Award-winning role as Queen Anne in The Favourite (her follow-up collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos after The Lobster) and Emmy-winning role as Queen Elizabeth II on Netflix’s The Crown (after previously earning nominations for The Night Manager and Fleabag). The Norwich native has also put in memorable performances in Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz, Steven Knight’s Tom Hardy-led experimental drama Locke, 2020’s The Father, and, more recently, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish as the voice of Mama Bear.

Shalom Brune-Franklin (Estella)

Miss Havisham’s hardened adoptive daughter, Estella, is played by Shallom Brune-Franklin, who landed a small role in the MCU (College Girl #1 in Thor: Ragnarok) before she was in Netflix’s short-lived medieval fantasy drama, Cursed, in 2020. The actor also had a recurring role on Epix’s War of the Worlds TV show, a major part on HBO Max’s The Tourist, and is set to star in a series spin-off of Dune for the the platform as well.

Ashley Thomas (Jaggers)

Guiding Pip through London’s shady, upper-class world is corrupt lawyer and businessman, Jaggers, which is only the latest literary role portrayed by Ashley Thomas, who was Othello in a 2016 short called Dear Mr. Shakespeare: Shakespeare Lives and starred on a series based on Beowulf. Like Whitehead, the English actor is also part of the Black Mirror universe — having appeared in one of the anthology series’ best episodes, “Fifteen Million Merits” — starred on 24: Legacy, and was the male lead on Amazon Prime horror TV show, Them, in 2021.

Johnny Harris (Magwitch)

As escaped convict Magwitch, we have Johnny Harris, who last starred in a Steven Knight-produced miniseries-adaptation of a Dickens classic for FX when he played Franklin Scrooge in 2019’s A Christmas Carol. He is otherwise known for Guy Ritchie’s 2008 comedic crime thriller, RocknRolla, Steven Spielberg’s 2011 historical epic, War Horse, and his lead role in the 2017 boxing drama, Jawbone.

Hayley Squires (Sara Gargery)

Playing Pip’s older sister, Sara Gargery, is Hayley Squres, who last starred in a literary miniseries adaption when she appeared alongside Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes in Apple TV+’s The Essex Serpent — based on Sarah Perry’s fantasy novel — in 2022. The two-time BAFTA nominee (for 2017’s I, Daniel Blake and 2021’s Adult Material) was previously seen starring opposite another MCU star — Benedict Cumberbatch — in Amazon’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and in horror movies In Fabric and In the Earth, to point out a few highlights.

Owen McDonnell (Joe Gargery)

Sara’s husband, Joe, is played by Owen McDonnell, who is best known for movies like the 2015 drama Swung and the 2022 Netflix rom-com, Love & Gelato, more recently. Audiences may recognize the Irish actor best, however, from his role in Killing Eve as Niko Polastri. 

Laurie Ogden (Biddy)

One of the few truly wise and caring people Pip can confide in is Biddy — Laurie Ogden’s biggest role to date, following her feature-length debut in the British historical drama, The Colour Room, opposite Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor. Her previous acting credits include a few short films and an episode of The Show Must Go Online, which is a weekly, online reading of Shakespeare’s entire bibliography.

Matt Berry (Mr. Pumblechook)

Joe Gargery’s uncle, Mr. Pumblechook, is the latest in a rare handful of dramatic roles for Matt Berry, following his appearances in movies like Moon and Snow White and the Hunstman and vocal performance on The Book of Boba Fett as 8D8. As one of the U.K.’s most prominent comedic talents, he is better known for the sci-fi parody, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, stealing the show in the I.T. Crowd cast, his BAFTA-winning lead role on Toast of London, and FX’s series adaptation of the cult favorite horror-comedy, What We Do in the Shadows.

Tristan Gravelle (Compeyson)

As Magwitch’s former partner, Compeyson, we have Tristan Gravelle, whose last major role in a literary adaptation was for Amazon Prime’s Tolkien-inspired series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which was also his follow-up to one of the best TV shows on Shudder, A Discovery of Witches, which is inspired by Deborah Harkness’ “All Souls Trilogy.” Before then, he starred in a 2011 movie about a defamatory theory about Shakespeare called Anonymous and the original British version of the TV show, Utopia.

Rudi Dharmalingam (Wemmick)

Jaggers’ assistant, Wemmick, is played by Rudi Dharmalingam, who made his feature film debut with an uncredited role in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them before appearing on an episode of the sci-fi anthology series Electric Dreams and the 2019 Netflix original sci-fi movie, In the Shadow of the Moon. He went on to lead the psychological TV series drama Wakefield — which aired in the States on Showtime — and sci-fi drama, The Lazarus Project.

Did taking a look at this cast’s past accomplishment give you “great expectations” for FX’s new period miniseries? See if your anticipation is met by streaming Great Expectations on Hulu.

A long time ago, a new popular animated movie franchise came to life about a far off land, and that franchise started with Shrek. Spanning four movies, it was one of DreamWorks most popular film series and spawned plenty of TV specials, merchandise and so much more. But, in that series came a cat that everyone seemed to fall in love with that was introduced in Shrek 2 – Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas. 

The character became so popular with audiences that he got his own, titular spinoff film in 2011, and it even scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Film. And now, more than ten years later, the sequel is finally out and fans of the famous cat are hankering to see him again in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

But, where might you have seen or heard the Puss in Boots: The Last Wish cast before? Be prepared, because this list is full of stars.  

Antonio Banderas (Puss In Boots)

First up on the list, we have the main star himself, Antonio Banderas, who voices the lead in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. As someone who has been around for a long time, Banderas has starred in many movies. Most recently in 2022, he was a part of the movie adaptation of Uncharted, based on the very popular game series, but has done so much more. 

Besides that, he obviously voiced Puss in the original Shrek series as well as the spinoff, but his other films include Desperado, The Mask of Zorro, Philadelphia, The Enforcer, Interview With The Vampire, the Spy Kids series, Pain and Glory, and more. He has also been a part of television shows, with a main role in the series, Genius, but movies is where Banderas really shines. 

Banderas is also set to appear in the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, so be sure to keep an eye out for him.

Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws)

Moving on, we take a look at a legendary actress, Salma Hayek, who voices Kitty Softpaws in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Reprising her role from the last film, Hayek has done so much in both movies and television. In terms of film, she has appeared in so many amazing ones. 

In 2021, she was a part of the Eternals cast, but has starred in other movies such as Desperado (where she co-starred with Banderas), Frida (which got her an Academy Award nomination), Bandidas, From Dusk ‘Till Dawn, Dogma, Wild Wild West, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, House of Gucci, and more. She also voiced one of the main characters in Sausage Party, an adult animated film. 

In terms of television, Hayek has also appeared in many shows. She started off her career in the telenovela, Teresa, but has since been in shows such as 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, and more.  

Olivia Colman (Mama Bear)

A true queen, Olivia Colman voices Mama Bear in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Colman has done so much in television and movies that it’s almost hard to keep track of what she’s done, but we’ll go over the highlights here. 

In movies, most recently in 2022, she starred with the Empire of Light cast, but she’s also appeared in films such as The Favourite, The Father, The Lost Daughter, The Iron Lady, Murder on the Orient Express, and so many more. She also had a voice role in the popular 2021 film, The Mitchell’s vs. The Machines. 

With television, Colman might be primarily known for her role as Queen Elizabeth in the third and fourth season of The Crown, but has appeared in many other parts in shows like Heartstopper, Peep Show, Flowers, Fleabag, The Night Manager, and Broadchurch, among others. 

Harvey Guillen (Perrito)

Next up is Harvey Guillen, who voices Perrito in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Some movies that you might have seen him in before this one are General Education, the horror film Truth or Dare, Status Update, and The Internship, but Guillen has done so much more in television. 

He’s primarily known for his role on the FX show What We Do In The Shadows, but has appeared in and voiced characters for many other TV series, including The Magicians, the underrated animated show, The Owl House, and The Thundermans, and has a recurring role in Human Resources. 

Samson Kayo (Baby Bear)

Moving on, we take a look at Samson Kayo, who voices Baby Bear in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Kayo has appeared in a few films, including 2022’s The Bubble, as well as Dolittle and Grandpa’s Great Escape, but he’s been in a few more television shows. Most recently in 2022, he appeared in the HBO Max original series, Our Flag Means Death. 

Other than that, he’s appeared in shows such as Murder in Successville, Truth Seekers, Bloods, Famalam, and Timewaster. 

Wagner Moura (Big Bad Wolf)

You remember those pigs in the Shrek series? Well, now it’s time to look out for the Big Bad Wolf, because he’s going to be making an appearance in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Voiced by Wagner Moura, the actor is primarily known for his role as Pablo Escobar in the popular Netflix series, Narcos, but has appeared in several other movies and television shows. 

Some of his biggest films this far have been Behind the Sun, The Man of the Year, The Middle of the World, Wasp Network, Sergio, and 2022’s The Gray Man, among many Spanish-language films. With television, besides Narcos, Moura also has a main role on the TV series, Shining Girls. 

Anthony Mendez (Doctor)

Moving on, we have Anthony Mendez, who plays the Doctor in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Mendez hasn’t done any major movies yet, so his role in here will be his first. However, he’s done plenty on television. 

You might recognize his voice the most, because he was known as the narrator for the popular CW show, Jane the Virgin, but he’s had roles in other TV shows such as Foodtastic, The Unexplained Files and Elena of Avalor. 

John Mulaney (Jack Horner)

You’d have to be living under a rock to not know who John Mulaney is, and now, he’s transferring his voice talents over to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish as Jack Horner. Mulaney is primarily known for his hilarious comedy specials and his time on Saturday Night Live, which he has hosted several times since he left, but he’s done plenty of other television work. 

He’s been in shows such as Documentary Now!, Kroll Show, his own series called The Mulaney Show, and more. Mulaney hasn’t appeared in any live-action films yet, but he’s done voice work for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (one of my personal favorite Spider-Man movies) and was one of the leads of the Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers cast. 

Florence Pugh (Goldi)

Next up on this Puss in Boots: The Last Wish cast list is Florence Pugh, who voices Goldi in the film (a version of Goldilocks). Pugh has been making a name for herself these past several years, appearing in many movies that have taken her to star status. 

Some of her biggest hits have been starring as Yelena Belova Black Widow, the A24 horror film, Midsommar, Little Women, Malevolent, Outlaw King, Fighting With My Family, The Commuter, The Falling, and so many more. She also starred in the 2022 psychological thriller, Don’t Worry Darling, and is set to appear in several new movies, including Dune 2, and the upcoming film, Oppenheimer. 

With television, Pugh reprised her role from Black Widow in the Disney+ original series, Hawkeye, but has also appeared in other shows such as Marvella, The Little Drummer Girl, and more. She is also going to be reprising Yelena Belova again in the Marvel film, Thunderbolts. 

Ray Winstone (Papa Bear)

Next up, we have Ray Winstone, who voices Papa Bear in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The actor has been around for a long time, and has appeared in many, many movies, so we’re just going to go over some of his most known. 

Winstone has had roles in films such as Quadrophenia, Scum, Nil by Mouth, Sexy Beast, The Proposition, The Departed, Beowulf, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Black Widow (alongside Pugh), Snow White and the Huntsman, Point Break, and more. 

With television, he’s had main roles in many TV shows, including Robin of Sherwood, Get Back, Vincent, Of Kings and Prophets, and Ice, among many guest roles, as well. 

Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Mama Luna)

Last but not least, we have Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who voices Mama Luna in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Randolph had been in several movies that you might have heard of, including Dolemite Is My Name, Office Christmas Party, Kajillionaire, The Last Shift, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, and 2022’s The Lost City. 

She’s also appeared in many TV shows in recurring roles, including the Hulu original series, Only Murders in the Building, The Last O.G., This Is Us, Birdgirl, and more. She also had a main role in the show, High Fidelity, as well as a main part in Selfie and People of Earth. 

With such a stellar cast, it’s no wonder that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is shaping up to be an amazing movie. And now, you just might find something new that they’re a part of. Time to re-watch Shrek 2 again.   

“Empire of Light” stars Olivia Coleman, Colin Firth, Michael Ward, Toby Jones, Tanya Moodie and writer/director Sam Mendes discuss their new film in this interview with CinemaBlend's Sean O'Connell. They chat about the making of Mendes' semi-autobiographical love letter to cinema and more.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:10 - The 'Empire of Light' Movie Theater Set Is A Character Of Its Own
04:33 - Director Sam Mendes On “Being There’s” Inclusion In The Film
07:08 - How Movies Played A Key Role In Tanya Moodie’s Own Relationship
08:20 - Collin Firth Talks “Love Actually” Turning 20

It’s that time of year when some of the best movies tend to come out. We have big Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar: The Way of Water, or ones that are always talked about as Academy Award contenders, like The Whale or The Fabelmans. This year, we have another film with a smaller cast, but who are just as talented, and that’s the stars of Empire of Light. 

The romantic drama is directed by Sam Mendes, a director who has done some outstanding work with amazing actors. If you’re wondering where you may have seen the Empire of Light cast before, we're here to help. 

Olivia Colman (Hilary)

Starting off with the star of Empire of Light, we have Olivia Colman, an actress who has been around for many years in the industry, and plays Hilary in the movie. She has done many movies and television shows, so it’s probably not that surprising if you’ve seen her in multiple projects. 

In terms of television, Colman starred in several shows, including Seasons 3 and 4 of The Crown, as well as many other TV shows like 2022’s Heartstopper (which is getting a Season 2), the Amazon Prime original series, Fleabag, Flowers, Rev., Beautiful People, Peep Show, Broadchurch and more. She was also in the miniseries, The Night Manager.

With film, Colman has certainly been in many notable ones. She got an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Anne, Queen of Great Britain, in The Favourite, but has been in many other movies, like The Father, The Lost Daughter, The Iron Lady, Murder on the Orient Express, Locke, The Michells vs. the Machines, and so many more. Really, a brilliant actress. 

Micheal Ward (Stephen)

Next up on the list, we take a look at Micheal Ward, who plays Stephen in Empire of Light. In terms of movies, Ward has appeared in a few, namely the Netflix original film The Old Guard, and has appeared in other movies like Blue Story, Beauty, and Brotherhood. 

In television, he’s appeared in main roles on shows like The A List and Top Boy, and was in the anthology series installment, Small Axe: Lover’s Rock. 

Tom Brooke (Neil)

Moving on, we take a look at Tom Brooke, who plays Neil in Empire of Light. Brooke has appeared in several big-time moves. To name a few, he’s had roles in films like Bridget Jones’s Diary, The Death of Stalin, The Boat That Rocked, and Say Your Prayers. 

Brooke has also had experience in television, appearing in a few shows as major characters. He played Fiore in the popular AMC series, Preacher, and played Bill Wiggens in Sherlock. He also appeared in shows such as Game of Thrones, The Hollow Crown, Electric Dreams, and The Crown. He also played Andy Apsted in Bodyguard.  

Tanya Moodie (Delia)

Next up is Tanya Moodie, who played Delia in the film. Other than Empire of Light, Moodie is relatively new to the movie world and has only appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker so far. However, she has done a lot on television. 

Besides multiple guest roles on shows, she’s appeared in bigger roles in shows such as The Clinic, Dicte, Absentia, Motherland, The Feed, and more. She also had a main role on the show A Discovery of Witches, a fantasy show that was a lot of fun (before it was unfortunately cancelled).

Hannah Onslow (Janine)

Hannah Onslow plays Janine in Empire of Light, and out of everyone, she’s the newest addition to the world of film. Prior to her role in Empire of Light, she only had small appearances in shows such as Ridley Road, This Is Going to Hurt, and Call the Midwife. But, I have a feeling that after this, we’ll be seeing a heck of a lot more of her.

Crystal Clarke (Ruby)

Ruby is played by Crystal Clarke in Empire of Light, and she’s been in a few projects that you might recognize her from. Clarke was in both the recent Star Wars movies, specifically Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. She was also in the films Assassin's Creed, and The King’s Daughter. 

In terms of television, Clarke also appeared in the miniseries Ordeal by Innocence, and has a main role in the historical drama, Sanditon. 

Toby Jones (Norman) 

Toby Jones portrays Norman in the film, and boy do I have a lot to tell you about this man. He has been all over the place in terms of movies and television and I can assure you that at some point, you’ve either heard or seen him. In terms of movies, what I know Jones the most from was when he played Dobby the House Elf in the Harry Potter series, but he’s been in so many other amazing films. 

Some of his biggest roles in movies thus far have included Naked, the 1998 version of Les Miserables, Mrs. Henderson Presents, Infamous, Amazing Grace, Frost/Nixon, W., My Week with Marilyn, Journey’s End, Dad’s Army, The Hunger Games movies, and so much more. He also played Arnim Zola in the first two Captain America films in that trilogy. 

Jones has also had a very prominent career in television, as well, having appeared in series such as Doctor Who, Agent Carter, Wayward Pines, and the unfortunately cancelled, The Dark Crystal: The Age Of Resistance. Talk about a packed resume. 

Colin Firth (Mr. Ellis) 

Last but not least, we must talk about Mr. Colin Firth, who plays Mr. Ellis in Empire of Light. Firth is an amazing actor who has appeared in God knows how many movies, so let’s get into some of them right now. 

If we’re talking about his most acclaimed roles, there are two – A Single Man, which he got an Academy Award nomination for, and The King’s Speech, where he played King George VI and won the Academy Award for Best Actor. 

Other than those two, Firth has done so many other awesome films, including appearing in the Mamma Mia! movies, starring in the Kingsman spy franchise, and having roles in films like Love Actually, A Month in the Country, The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Importance of Being Earnest, and more. He has also worked with Sam Mendes before, in 1917. 

In terms of television, Firth is mainly known for taking part in television films, including a television adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, as well as being in Conspiracy. However, he received critical acclaim for his part in The Staircase cast in 2022. 

With such a stellar cast list, it’s no wonder you’ve seen these actors somewhere before. Maybe now, you just might have found something new to enjoy them in after this great movie. 

There was a time when Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury was the common thread of the Marvel Cinematic Universe bringing all the heroes together. Nowadays, it’s been quite some time since we’ve even seen the eye-patched former S.H.I.E.L.D. and Avengers founder. Thankfully, the upcoming Disney+ series Secret Invasion is well on its way amidst a jam-packed MCU slate. 

Secret Invasion, which is named after the popular Marvel Comics crossover event, will see the Skrulls infiltrating even the highest spheres of the MCU. As we get ready for the title, which is expected to be a miniseries, check out the actors making up this impressive cast who we know about thus far. Of course, you know Marvel, there could be plenty of surprise cameos too! 

Samuel L. Jackson

First up is Samuel L. Jackson, who will reprise his role as Nick Fury in his twelfth live-action appearance in the MCU. We last saw Fury during the Spider-Man: Far From Home end-credits scene in 2019. It was revealed that Fury had been in outer space on a Skrull ship while a pair of Skrulls were impersonating him and Maria Hill during Spidey’s run-in with Mysterio. We’re excited to see a Marvel project that finally centers on Jackson’s Marvel character with Secret Invasion and perhaps explores him in new ways. 

Ben Mendelsohn 

Alongside Samuel L. Jackson’s Fury will be Ben Mendelsohn’s Skrull character, Talos, who was a highlight of 2019’s Captain Marvel when he was introduced. Talos is a friendly Skrull general who met Fury while he was disguised as human S.H.I.E.L.D. agent R. Keller in the ‘90s before revealing himself. He impersonated Fury in Far From Home and will continue to work alongside Fury during the Secret Invasion series. 

Emilia Clarke 

Among the exciting new additions to the MCU for Secret Invasion is Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke, who is playing an undisclosed role in the upcoming series. The British actress is, of course, best known for playing Daenerys Targaryen for eight seasons on the critically-acclaimed HBO series. Since wrapping the role in 2018, Clarke most recently starred in holiday romantic comedy, Last Christmas. Clarke notably joins her fellow GOT alum Kit Harrington, who was introduced as Dane Whitman in Eternals. 

Olivia Colman

Oscar-winning British actress Olivia Colman is also part of Secret Invasion in another unknown role. Colman, who was notably in Broadchurch and The Favourite, and played Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, will be another welcome new addition to the MCU. Samuel L. Jackson already hyped her role in the Disney+ series (via Twitter), calling his time working with her “glorious” and “such a ball.” That's not surprising, but I'm certainly intrigued about her role! 

Kingsley Ben-Adir

Along with Marvel often hiring incredible and already beloved talent, the studio is known for amplifying rising talent into the next big star. This might very well be the case when we see Kingsley Ben-Adir play the lead villain in Secret Invasion, per Deadline’s report. The British actor has previously found role on The OA, Peaky Blinders, High Fidelity and One Night In Miami as Malcolm X, but an MCU role will be his most high-profile yet. 

Don Cheadle 

Before we get to more impressive new talents joining the MCU with Secret Invasion, there’s a few more returning Marvel actors to note. Don Cheadle will reprise his role as James Rhodes/War Machine in the upcoming series. The news was confirmed by Samuel L. Jackson himself earlier this year on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, sharing he became his “golf buddy” amidst filming the series. The last time Cheadle appeared in a Disney+ series, he earned an Emmy nomination for a limited amount of screen time on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. 

Cobie Smulders

Another returning Marvel star is Cobie Smulders as former S.H.I.E.L.D. Feputy Director Maria Hill. After the character was impersonated by a Skrull in Far From Home, she’ll be back in action, for real this time, reportedly by working with the Skrulls in deep space alongside the other cast. Smulders has appeared in seven live-action Marvel projects over the years, and it’ll be great to see the actress back for Secret Invasion.

Martin Freeman

CIA operative Everett Ross, played by played by the talented Sherlock and Hobbit actor Martin Freeman, was introduced in 2016's Captain America: Civil War and returned in 2018’s Black Panther. The character is finally returning in a couple projects, including Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the Secret Invasion series. Jackson also revealed Freeman's involvement in the latter project in the same conversation where he name-dropped Olivia Colman. 

Dermot Mulroney

Getting back to the new talent heading to Secret Invasion, Dermot Mulroney has also found a role in the upcoming Marvel series set to premiere on Disney+. The actor, who is best known for The Best Friend’s Wedding and New Girl, is rumored to be playing the new President of the United States in the Marvel Universe. It seems his involvement was leaked via a set photo on Instagram featuring Mulroney and Don Cheadle on the front of a newspaper.

Christopher McDonald

Christopher McDonald, of Happy Gilmore, Thelma & Louise, Hacks and Flubber fame is also part of the huge Secret Invasion cast, marking his first appearance in the MCU. A rumor that cropped up following the news was speculation the actor might be playing Norman Osborn. McDonald, who of course has to remain tight-lipped, said he’s “not saying anything” when pressed about his upcoming role. 

Killian Scott

Among the lesser-known actors part of Secret Invasion is Irish Killian Scott, per Deadline, who has been in projects such as ‘71, Calvary and the USA series Damnation. Officially, we don't know yet who Scott will play in the Marvel project, but it is rumored he’ll play a Skrull known from Marvel Comics named Fiz.  

Carmen Ejogo

The final cast member from Secret Invasion we’ve heard about is Carmen Ejogo, but this is rumored. The British actress has starred in movies such as Selma, It Comes At Night, Fantastic Beasts and The Purge: Anarchy. We’ll have to wait and see how she may fit into Secret Invasion. 

There’s a lot to look forward to from Secret Invasion. The Disney+ series has yet to receive a release date, but it has finished filming. At the earliest, it will drop late 2022, but a 2023 release date feels more likely at this point. We will keep you posted with updates here on CinemaBlend. 

2021 wasn't quite the "back to normal" year at the movies that we were all hoping it would be, but it was certainly a step in the right direction. If nothing else, most of the 2022 Oscar nominees were at the very least released in actual movie theaters. And 2021 was a solid year for movies with strong contenders expected to do well tonight including The Power of the Dog, West Side Story and Dune.

While this year's Academy Awards broadcast will be dealing with some degree of controversy following the decision to not give out all the Oscars live, it should nonetheless be an interesting show. Follow along with us live as we update the list below as the awards are given out.

Best Picture

• Belfast
• CODA
• Don't Look Up
• Drive My Car
• Dune
• King Richard
• Licorice Pizza
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• West Side Story

Best Directing

• Belfast, Kenneth Branagh
• Drive My Car, Ryusuke Hamaguchi
• Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Anderson
• The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion
• West Side Story, Steven Spielberg

Best Actress In A Leading Role

• Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
• Penélope Cruz, Parallel Mothers
• Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
• Kristen Stewart, Spencer

Best Actor In A Leading Role

• Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
• Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
• Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick... BOOM!
• Will Smith, King Richard
• Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Best Actress In A Supporting Role

• Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter
• Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
• Judi Dench, Belfast
• Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
• Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

Best Actor In A Supporting Role

• Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
• Troy Kotsur, CODA
• Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
• J.K Simmons, Being the Ricardos
• Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

• Belfast
• Don't Look Up
• King Richard
• Licorice Pizza
• The Worst Person in the World

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• CODA
• Drive My Car
• Dune
• The Lost Daughter
• The Power of the Dog

Best Animated Feature Film

• Encanto
• Flee
• Luca
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines
• Raya and the Last Dragon

Best International Feature Film

• Drive My Car, Japan
• Flee, Denmark
• The Hand of God, Italy
• Lunana: A Yakin the Classroom, Bhutan
• The Worst Person in the World, Norway

Best Documentary (Feature)

• Ascension
• Attica
• Flee
• Summer of Soul(...Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
• Writing With Fire

Best Production Design

• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• The Tragedy of Macbeth
• West Side Story

Best Cinematography

• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• The Power of the Dog
• The Tragedy of Macbeth
• West Side Story

Best Costume Design

• Cruella
• Cyrano
• Dune
• Nightmare Alley
• West Side Story

Best Film Editing

• Don't Look Up
• Dune
• King Richard
• The Power of the Dog
• Tick, Tick...BOOM!

Best Makeup And Hairstyling

• Coming 2 America
• Cruella
• Dune
• The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• House of Gucci

Best Music (Original Score)

• Don't Look Up
• Dune
• Encanto
• Parallel Mothers
• The Power of the Dog

Best Music (Original Song)

• "Be Alive," King Richard
• "Dos Oruguitas," Encanto
• "Down To Joy," Belfast
• "No Time to Die," No Time to Die
• "Somehow You Do," Four Good Days 

Best Sound

• Belfast
• Dune
• No Time to Die
• The Power of the Dog
• West Side Story

Best Visual Effects

• Dune
• Free Guy
• No Time To Die
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home

Best Short Film (Animated)

• Affairs of the Heart
• Bestia
• Boxballet
• Robin Robin
• The Windshield Wiper

Best Documentary (Short Subject)

• Audible
• Lead Me Home
• The Queen of Basketball
• Three Songs For Benazir
• When We Were Bullies

Best Short Film (Live Action)

• Ala Kachuu - Take And Run
• The Dress
• The Long Goodbye
• On My Mind
• Please Hold

Did your favorite film of 2021 take home an Oscar?

With Oscar nominations right around the corner, CinemaBlend is taking a look at which films and performances are likely to be in contention for nominations. Let’s look at a the Lead Actress race. 

Locked In

The Academy can’t resist lead performances from biopics, which is more apparent than ever with this year’s Best Actress hopefuls. Nicole Kidman is looking strong for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, especially after her Golden Globe win. Though this is the only win she has so far, her film has been performing well at guild awards like SAG, WGA, and PGA. This year’s Actress lineup doesn’t have a lot of candidates from Best Picture contenders, so love for the film overall could take Kidman far. 

Lady Gaga hasn’t lost an ounce of steam for her turn in the highest grossing drama of the year, House of Gucci. It seems the industry is more than ready to embrace Lady Gaga as an actress for the second time. Yet another biopic performance comes from Jessica Chastain, who plays Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Though her film struggled at the box office and received mixed reviews, the performance is easily one of the strongest in her career. She’s caked in makeup, she cries, she sings… it’s a high wire act that will be hard to pass up on.

Olivia Colman may be the only nominee who isn’t playing a real person for The Lost Daughter. The actress has quickly become an Academy darling, as this will likely be her third nomination in four years. Colman, Chastain, Gaga, and Kidman have been nominated at SAG, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice, which makes them about as secure for a nomination as one can be. 

Likely Bets

Just a month ago, Kristen Stewart was thought to be a frontrunner for the Oscar for her transformative performance as Princess Diana in the critically acclaimed Spencer. But then… SAG happened. Stewart was brutally snubbed, nearly destroying her chance at a win, and putting the prospect of a nomination in jeopardy. The snub seemed to confirm fears that Spencer wasn’t clicking with audiences, due to Pablo Larrain’s daring approach to what could have been another standard biopic. At worst, it says that the industry still doesn’t view Kristen Stewart as a serious actress. Still, the Academy is more likely to nominate performances from independent films than SAG, and her dozens of wins and nominations from critics groups and bodies like the Golden Globes should be enough to keep her safe. Though I can’t say I’m not worried. 

Dark Horses

Jennifer Hudson is a strong candidate for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Respect. She beat Stewart to the SAG nomination after all, but hasn’t received much recognition elsewhere. Mixed reception for her film, as well as its early release date, definitely makes her vulnerable in the way Taron Egerton was for Rocketman.  

Alana Haim is attached to a strong Best Picture contender with Licorice Pizza, and has received heaps of support from critics groups. It’s possible she sneaks her way into the lineup. This is her first appearance on the big screen, however, and she may struggle to compete with so many heavyweight biopic performances.

Rachel Zegler is in a similar situation to Alana Haim: she’s a newcomer attached to a Best Picture heavyweight (West Side Story). She hasn’t received the same level of recognition from critics groups as Haim, but she does have a Golden Globe win, so we can’t count her out. 

Penélope Cruz in Parallel Mothers has surprisingly gone unnoticed this awards season. Though a surprise seems possible, a red flag to me is her absence from the BAFTA longlist, where she couldn’t make it into a lineup of 15. Another non-English language performance that could surprise is Renate Reinsve for The Worst Person in the World. Odds are slim, but if the film has an unusually good day it’s not out of the question.

Check back here at CinemaBlend for more category breakdowns including Lead Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay.

The future of 007 is still up in the air, after the 25th James Bond movie, No Time To Die saw an explosive ending to the Daniel Craig era. Now the board is primed to be reset, and not just when it comes to 007 himself. We still don’t know if or how the MI6 family will return in Bond 26, and there’s plenty of room for new blood in the series. Should that apply to Naomie Harris’ role in the franchise, she has a great idea on who should become James Bond’s next Moneypenny. 

Naomie Harris’ Great Idea On Who Should Become James Bond’s Next Moneypenny

Promoting the home video release of the latest 007 adventure, Harris spoke with ScreenRant about the potential future for the character she’s played since 2012’s Skyfall. As the fourth actor to play the role in the franchise’s almost 60-year run, of course she has thoughts on the matter. Which makes Naomie Harris’ ultimate choice even more exciting, and she recently expressed who she thinks would make a fantastic Moneypenny:

That’s a hard choice to argue with, as Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman would be absolutely dynamite as Moneypenny (or in any role really) in the James Bond universe. With expert comedic timing, as well as the gravitas the Daniel Craig era built its foundation on in Casino Royale, Colman is a prime choice no matter what tonal direction the series chooses to go in. However, casting Ms. Colman would almost certainly have an effect on the casting of the next James Bond.

What This Casting Could Mean For The Next James Bond

Casting the next Moneypenny almost always depends on who the next 007 will be, solely because of the traditional nature of the character. A coworker whom James Bond has historically flirted with, despite never making good on his innuendos, Olivia Colman’s Moneypenny could dictate an older Bond candidate, similar to Daniel Craig. (For comparison's sake, Harris is 45 and Colman is 47.) 

Thanks to Naomie Harris’ interpretation of Moneypenny, the flirtation did crop up a bit in Skyfall; but we saw the agent formerly known as Eve instead become a really good friend for Commander Bond. Without the boundaries of the character's classic stereotypes, Olivia Colman could also serve as a fantastic friend and mentor to a younger James Bond, while also busting his chops, and (why not?) dropping a bit of a flirt here and there. 

Still, the MI6 family formula depends on who compliments the type of Bond we’re seeing on screen. If Ms. Colman is cast in this role, or if any other roles like M or Q are recast, you’ll probably be able to start to see where the franchise is headed as a whole, particularly where recasting 007 is concerned. Armchair analysis aside, Naomie Harris has made a fantastic suggestion that’s going to be hard for me to stop thinking about. 

It’s a hypothetical that we’ll have all the time in the world to discuss, as the hunt for the next James Bond isn’t set to start until some time next year. In the meantime, No Time To Die is currently available to rent and own, on both digital and physical media.  As for Olivia Colman, she can currently be seen in the Netflix original film The Lost Daughter, as well as in the HBO original series Landscapers. 

There are actors and actresses that find success with more dramatic roles and others who have impeccable comedic timing and make the most of their abilities. And then there is Olivia Colman, the Academy Award, Primetime Emmy, Golden Golden Globe winner who has managed to bounce between multiple genres and characters flawlessly throughout her career. I mean, we’re talking about the talented thespian who played very different members of the Royal family in The Crown and The Favourite in the same year.

And, this has always been the case with the best Olivia Colman movies and TV shows, as each different film and series shows the dynamic range of one of the greatest living actresses today. Better yet, most of those great examples are available streaming, digitally, and on physical media.

The Crown (2019 - 2020)

Peter Morgan’s sprawling series, The Crown, chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II, starting with her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip and through her decades-long reign as the Queen of England. One of the best Netflix shows, the series recounts some of Elizabeth’s most trying moments, both on the world stage and inside her own family. 

Olivia Colman’s turn as Queen Elizabeth II is especially magnificent in the way she portrays the monarch as a ruler more than a decade into her reign, during Seasons 3 and 4 . No longer the young and somewhat naïve character from the first two seasons, Colman plays Elizabeth as a woman who has put duty above all else and carries the emotional scars of her decisions.

Stream The Crown on Netflix.
Buy The Crown Season 3 on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.
Buy The Crown Season 4 on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Favourite (2018)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the 2018 black comedy, The Favourite, follows rival cousins Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and Abigail Masham (Emma Stone) as they battle for the attention of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) to become her court favourite through any means necessary.

Most of the drama throughout The Favourite centers on the two competing cousins, but the many appearances by Olivia Colman’s Queen Anne is what gives the hilarious period comedy a lot of its heart. Sure, she’s silly and rather daft at times, but there are times where Anne opens up and it become a completely different movie. How Colman bounces between the two is fascinating and deserving of the Oscar she received here.

Rent/Buy The Favourite on Amazon.
Buy The Favourite on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Father (2020)

Florian Zeller’s moving family drama, The Father, centers on the strained relationship shared by Anne (Olivia Colman) and her father Anthony (Anthony Hopkins), who is failing to come to terms with his deteriorating mental state.

Anyone who has spent time with a family member suffering from dementia knows the pain Olivia Colman’s character wears throughout The Father, and that is thanks to her understanding and commitment to the role. The way she goes from an understanding daughter to overburdened caretaker is upsetting, yet realistic, as she deals with the stresses that have come into her life.

Stream The Father on Starz.
Buy The Father on Amazon.
Buy The Father on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Fleabag (2016 - 2019)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s critically acclaimed dramedy series, Fleabag, follows the titular character as she attempts to make sense of modern life and its trappings in London, all while getting over her past and current relationships. At times hilarious, and others emotionally raw, this unique series runs the whole gamut of emotion.

There are multiple memorable characters on Fleabag, but one of the strangest and most fun to watch is Olivia Colman’s Godmother, who seems to take pleasure in making Fleabag’s life as miserable as humanly possible. Even though she has an unmatched sense of callousness and the innate ability to be a downright awful person, you can’t help but watch whenever Godmother waltzes into the frame.

Stream Fleabag on Amazon.
Buy Fleabag on Amazon.
Buy Fleabag The Complete Series on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

After being transferred to the quaint and boring rural town of Sanford, Gloucestershire, hot-shot police officer Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) fins himself in the middle of a mysterious episode in which residents begin dying in mysterious and incredibly violent fashion. 

Just about everything about Hot Fuzz is amazing, including its story, cast, callbacks to buddy cop movies of the past, and so much violence. And, sure, Nick Frost and Jim Broadbent’s characters get a lot of attention (for good reason), but Olivia Colman’s Doris Thatcher, the sole female on Sanford’s police force, is absolutely brilliant. With some of the best-timed jokes in the movie and some amazing action sequences, Colman is amazing here.

Rent/Buy Hot Fuzz on Amazon.
Buy Hot Fuzz on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Hyde Park On Hudson (2012)

Roger Michell’s 2012 historical comedy Hyde Park on Hudson serves as a fictionalized account of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s (Bill Murray) affair with Margaret “Daisy” Suckley (Laura Linney). Set two years before the United States entered World War II, the movie spends a great deal of time focusing on the budding partnership between Roosevelt and King George VI (Samuel West) who personally asks the president to help with Britain’s war efforts.

Nearly a decade before she would play Queen Elizabeth II, Olivia Colman played her mother in Hyde Park on Hudson. Somewhere in the middle of royal performances in The Crown and The Favourite, Colman does a fantastic job of portraying a member of the monarchy who doesn’t really seem to understand American sensibilities (or hot dogs), creating some comedic moments.

Rent/Buy Hyde Park on Hudson on Amazon.
Buy Hyde Park on Hudson on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Broadchurch (2013 - 2017)

The fictional seaside town of Broadchurch is a quiet and relatively peaceful one in southwest England, until it becomes the epicenter of a media frenzy and far-reaching police investigation after a young boy is brutally murdered. Brought in to investigate the case and track down the sadistic murderer are detectives Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman), who will be tested in multiple ways before the crime is solved.

A lot of Broadchurch’s best moments arise from the partnership shared by the two investigators, with Olivia Colman’s character being at the center of several of the most traumatic scenes. After watching her dynamic performance, it’s easy to see why she received so much praise throughout the show’s three-season run.

Stream Broadchurch on PBS Masterpiece (Amazon Add-on).
Buy Broadchurch on Amazon.
Buy Broadchurch on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Lobster (2015)

When his marriage comes to an abrupt end, David (Collin Farrell) is whisked away to a hotel and given an ultimatum: find a new partner in 45 days or transform into an animal of his choosing (a lobster, in this case). With the threat of turning into a crustacean looming over him, David gives love once last shot in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster.

This surrealist black comedy is truly bizarre, but Olivia Colman’s cool-headed portrayal of the hotel manager who lays out the story’s rules somehow makes the whole affair seem less strange. Still, Colman’s presence is unsettling, nevertheless.

Stream The Lobster on Showtime.
Rent/Buy The Lobster on Amazon.
Buy The Lobster on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Night Manager (2016)

Based on John le Carré’s spy novel of the same name, the 2016 series, The Night Manager, follows Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), the manager of a luxury hotel in Cairo who is recruited to infiltrate and bring down international arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). 

Though there has only been one season to date, The Night Manager remains one of the best modern spy thriller series, thanks in part to its truly outstanding cast that also includes Tom Hollander, Elizabeth Debicki, and Olivia Colman as Angela Burr, who spearheads the covert operation. There is something special about the complex nature of her performance, which earned her a Golden Globe.

Stream The Night Manager on Amazon.
Buy The Night Manager on Amazon.
Buy The Night Manager on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Accused (2012)

Over the course of two seasons, the anthology series Accused told 10 stories about people all charged with various crimes with the events that led to the accusations being told in graphic detail. One of those episodes, “Mo’s Story,” centers on two friends, Mo Murray (Anne-Marie Duff) and Sue Brown (Olivia Colman), whose relationship is tested following a devastating murder.

Olivia Colman’s portrayal of a woman experiencing extreme grief throughout the single episode is something to behold, and feels like a genuine reaction opposed to acting. It’s difficult to watch, but something any fan of hers must experience.

Buy Accused on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Tyrannosaur (2011)

Paddy Considine’s 2011 drama, Tyrannosaur, centers on Joseph (Peter Mullan), a widower with a violent temper, and Hannah (Olivia Colman) a compassionate woman who works at a second-hand charity shop. Over the course of the movie, the two form a strong bond and have an influence on one another’s life, for better or worse.

Olivia Colman won a whole slew of awards for her performance in Tyrannosaur, and for good reason. Her depiction of a woman rising up and taking a stand for herself for the first time in her life is empowering, moving, and terribly tragic.

Stream Tyrannosaur on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Tyrannosaur on Amazon.
Buy Tyrannosaur on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Les Misérables (2018)

There have been dozens of adaptations of Les Misérables since Victor Hugo's novel was first published in 1862, and the 2018 BBC/PBS co-production is one the most epic and enjoyable of the bunch. The timeless story is made all the better with the remarkable cast that includes Dominic West as Jean Valjean, David Oyelowo as Javert, Lily Collins as Fantine Thibault, and Olivia Colman as Madame Rosalie Thénardier.

Although her character is one of the main antagonists in the epic six-episode story, Olivia Colman is one of the best things about the adaptation and really drives home the despicable nature of the self-serving woman.

Stream Les Misérables on PBS Masterpiece (Amazon Add-on).
Buy Les Misérables on Amazon.
Buy Les Misérables on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

These are just some of the best Olivia Colman movies and TV shows that have come out over the years, as there are dozens of worthy performances from the acclaimed actress that are worth exploring. 

With Roald Dahl’s original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory story having been adapted for film twice, the next time we see Willy Wonka on the big screen, he’ll be different than traditionally depicted. Warner Bros’ upcoming Wonka will wind the clock back to follow along with a younger version of the character, who will be played by Dune’s Timothée Chalamet. Just a few weeks after it was announced that Keegan-Michael Key will participate in the Willy Wonka prequel, now many other cast members have been revealed, including MonsterVerse actress Sally Hawkins.

With Wonka having kicked off production in London today, word’s come in from THR on who else will star in the prequel. Along with Sally Hawkins, who played Dr. Vivienne Graham in 2014’s Godzilla and 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Rowan Atkinson, a.k.a. Mr. Bean himself, and Olivia Colman, who recently starred as Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix’s The Crown, will also star in undisclosed roles.

Those who’ve been following along with Wonka’s development were already aware this project would bring Paul King, director and writer of the first two Paddington movies, and Simon Farnaby, who co-wrote Paddington 2 with King, back together. Well, it turns out Wonka will be even more of a Paddington reunion than expected, as along with Sally Hawkins, who played Mary Brown in both Paddington movies, Tom Davis and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith are joining the cast, and Farnaby will also appear onscreen. The other casting additions include Mathew Baynton, Jim Carter, Rich Fulcher, Matt Lucas, Paterson Joseph, Calah Lane, Colin O’Brien, Natasha Rothwell, Rakhee Thakrar and Ellie White.

But wait, the list of Paddington vets working on Wonka grows even bigger when looking behind the scenes, as David Heyman is producing, Mark Everson is attached as editor and Lindy Hemming will be the costume designer. Wonka’s other offscreen talent includes Seamus McGarvey as the director of photography, Nathan Crowley as the production designer and Neil Hannon from the band The Divine Comedy writing original songs for the movie. Along with all this information about Wonka’s cast and crew, Warner Bros also released the following premise for the prequel, describing it as an exploration of the "vivid, mythical beginnings of the imaginative young inventor before he becomes the renowned scrumdiddlyumptious Mozart of chocolate.”

Wonka was first announced back in 2016, when Warner Bros secured the rights to the Willy Wonka character, and by February 2018, Paul King had signed onto the project. In years past, actors like Donald Glover, Ryan Gosling, Ezra Miller and Tom Holland had been floated as candidates to play the younger Willy Wonka, but ultimately Timothée Chalamet was chosen to play the same role once held by Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp. Along with his appearance as Paul Atreides in Dune, Chalamet also has The French Dispatch and Don’t Look Up on the way.

Wonka is slated for March 17, 2023. While we wait for more news on its progress, find out what movies are coming out sooner with our 2021 release schedule and 2022 release schedule.

What do Saturday Night Live alum Maya Rudolph, Eastbound and Down’s Danny McBride, and Broad City co-creator Abbi Jacobson have in common. If you guessed that they are all some of the most unique comedic voices of our time, you wouldn’t be wrong, but it’s not what we’re going for here. The correct answer is they all headline Netflix’s The Mitchells vs. the Machines cast alongside Mike Rianda, who makes his directorial debut in the new Phil Lord and Christopher Miller-produced animated film.

In the new Netflix movie, which was produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the Mitchells set off for what appears to be a normal cross-country family road trip before they find themselves being humanity’s last hope after a rogue artificial intelligence (voiced by Olivia Colman) captures every other living soul in a tech uprising. But outside of the family at the center of the story, The Mitchells vs. the Machines features a remarkable voice cast featuring comedians, singers, basketball players, and even a pug with a bigger social media presence than most celebrities.

Abbi Jacobson - Katie Mitchell

At the center of The Mitchells vs. the Machines is Katie Mitchell, an aspiring filmmaker whose decision to go to the film school in California leads to the family taking the fateful road trip. If Jacobson’s voice sounds familiar it probably has something to do with her successful Comedy Central series Broad City, which she co-created with co-star Ilana Glazer, first as a 2010 webseries and then again on cable from 2014 to 2019. The new animated film isn’t the first time Jacobson has worked with Netflix (she voices Princess Bean on Disenchantment) nor is it her first experience with Lord Miller Productions (she’s Nya in The Lego Ninjago Movie).

Danny McBride - Rick Mitchell

Providing the voice of Mitchell family patriarch who’s prone to clash with his teenage daughter Rick Mitchell is Danny McBride. Prior to landing a role in The Mitchells vs. the Machines, McBride made a name for himself in movies like Pineapple Express, The Foot Fist Way, and Hot Rod, but to some, the multi-talented actor/writer/director/producer will always be known for one role and one role only: Kenny Powers on Eastbound & Down. Danny McBride, who co-created the popular HBO series back in 2009, has since gone on to lead some of the network’s other comedies like Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones.

Maya Rudolph - Linda Mitchell

Linda Mitchell, the loving and supportive movie that serves as the glue that keeps the family together in The Mitchells vs. the Machines is voiced by Saturday Night Live alum Maya Rudolph. Prior to her voice work in the new Netflix movie, Rudolph brought characters to life in titles such as Shrek the Third, Big Hero 6, and the upcoming Luca. In addition to her voice acting, Rudolph has been a part of some of the biggest comedies of the modern era, including Bridesmaids, Booksmart, and the 2013 coming-of-age story The Way, Way Back.

Mike Rianda - Aaron Mitchell

Rounding out the Mitchell family portion of The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ cast is writer-director Mike Rianda who voices Aaron, the dinosaur-obsessed son of Linda and Rick. Primarily known as a writer, creative director, and occasional voice actor on the Disney Channel original animated series Gravity Falls, Rianda has also provided the voice of characters in the animated short Princess of the Magical Tears and a 2014 Gravity Falls short.

Eric Andre - Dr. Mark Bowman

Eric Andre brings to life Dr. Mark Bowman, the scientist and tech genius behind PAL Labs who inadvertently causes the machine uprising in The Mitchells vs. the Machines. While his voice may sound familiar to certain audiences following his portrayal of Azizi in the 2019 remake of The Lion King, to others Andre is remembered for his unique brand of absurdist and surrealist comedy as seen on his long-running Adult Swim series The Eric Andre Show and his 2021 prank comedy film (also on Netflix) Bad Trip.

Olivia Colman - PAL

Another member of The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ voice cast with a history at Netflix is Olivia Colman. Before lending her voice to PAL, the emotionally damaged artificial intelligence with a bone to pick with humanity, Colman won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown, which is just one of the awards the talented actress has won over the years. Other notable awards include an Oscar for her performance in The Favourite and multiple others for her work on The Night Manager, Hyde Park on Hudson, and The Lobster.

Fred Armisen - Deborahbot 5000

Not all of the PAL robots are bad in The Mitchells vs. the Machines and that’s where Fred Armisen’s Deborahbot 5000 comes in and helps out the family in their quest the save humanity. In addition to appearing on Saturday Night Live from 2002 to 2013, Armisen has led a number of television shows over the years with the most notable being Portlandia and Documentary Now. Over the years, Armisen has also appeared in multiple movies including Easy A, The Little Hours, and Battle of the Sexes to name only a few.

Beck Bennett - Eric

Another longtime Saturday Night Live standout to appear in The Mitchells vs. the Machines is Beck Bennett, who provides the voice of the other damaged PAL robot, Eric. Prior to landing a spot on the SNL cast in 2013, Bennett had his first brush with fame after appearing in the hilarious “It’s Not Complicated” AT&T commercials where he interviewed children about a number of topics including cell phone services. On the film side of things, Bennett has shown up in dark comedies like Brigsby Bear and family-friendly animated musicals like Sing.

Conan O’Brien - Glaxxon 5000

Voicing the advanced PAL Labs robot Glaxxon 5000 in The Mitchells vs. the Machines is Conan O’Brien. In addition to hosting multiple late night talk shows including a brief and controversial run on The Tonight Show between 2009 and 2010, O’Brien has appeared in countless television shows, mostly in cameo roles as himself, though he did voice The Riddler in the Lord Miller-produced 2017 animated film The Lego Batman Movie. Before that, O’Brien served as a writer on both Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons before taking over for David Letterman on Late Night from 1993 to 2009.

Charlyne Yi - Abby Posey

Charlyne Yi provides the voice of Abby Posey in The Mitchells vs. the Machines. Prior to portraying Aaron Mitchell’s neighbor and love interest in the Netflix animated film, Yi popped up in a number of comedies over the years starting with 2007’s Knocked Up (and its sequel This Is 40) before joining the casts of The Disaster Artist and Always Be My Maybe. No stranger to animation, Yi lent her voice to characters on shows like Steven Universe and Summer Camp Island.

Chrissy Teigen - Hailey Posey

Chrissy Teigen voices Hailey Posey, the Mitchells’ fearless neighbor who appears to be perfect in every possible way. Over the years, Teigan has become one of the most popular and influential celebrities with appearances on a string of successful television shows starting with the first season of Deal or No Deal back in 2007. She’s gone on to host shows like FABLife and Lip Sync Battle.

John Legend - Jim Posey

Playing Hailey Posey’s husband, Jim, in The Mitchells vs. the Machines is Chrissy Teigen’s real-life husband John Legend. An EGOT winner, Legend has appeared in countless movies and television shows over the years, giving outstanding performances in titles like La La Land and Ask the StoryBots.

Blake Griffin - PAL MAX Prime

Blake Griffin, the 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year and six-time NBA All-Star provides the voice of the ultra-sleek PAL MAX Prime robot in The Mitchells vs. the Machines. It doesn’t get brought up all that often but Griffin’s acting career goes back farther than his days in the NBA, having appeared in two episodes of the ABC Family drama series Greek back in 2008. Throughout his professional career, Griffin has jumped over to the acting world on several occasions, showing up on episodes of 90210, The Book Club, and a few shows, as well as Whitney Cummings’ 2017 comedy The Female Brain.

Doug The Pug - Monchi

And then there is Monchi, the Mitchell family dog in The Mitchells vs. the Machines, who is “voiced” by the internet sensation that is Doug the Pug. Although this is social media pup’s first movie role, he’s been a hit for a few years now, providing parodies of shows like Stranger Things, Toy Story, and even Spider-Man. According to People.com, Doug the Pug provides every snore, bark, and other bodily noise for his on-screen counterpart in the new Netflix animated film.

This may seem like a large cast, but this isn’t every actor who appears in The Mitchells vs. the Machines. In addition to all of the aforementioned names, Sasheer Zamata, Elle Mills, Alex Hirsch, Griffin McElroy, and Jay Pharoah also appear in what looks to be one of the best 2021 Netflix movies thus far. And in the event you want to know what’s coming to theaters later this year, check out CinemaBlend’s list of 2021 movie premiere dates while you’re at it.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is continuing to grow, as the franchise has a number of major projects lined up over the next few years. One of the most exciting is Disney+’s Secret Invasion, which will see the return of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos. While plot details are mostly being kept under wraps, the series is starting to cast new faces, and it would appear that the show is now close to landing an A+ actress!

Oscar-winner Olivia Colman is reportedly in talks to join Marvel and Disney+’s Secret Invasion, per The Hollywood Reporter. As you would expect, there are no details regarding the role Colman is being pursued for. Nevertheless, the mere thought of the actress joining the MCU is exciting enough.

Olivia Colman’s career has been filled with notable credits, both on the big and small screen. In the realm of film, the actress has starred in comedies like I Could Never Be Your Woman and Hot Fuzz, along with dramas like The Iron Lady and The Father. And it was her turn as Queen Anne in 2018’s The Favourite that won her the Oscar for Best Actress. In terms of her TV credits, she’s arguably best known for her roles as the narrator on Fleabag and Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown.

Olivia Colman would be a perfect fit for the superhero franchise. She’s proven herself to be an incredibly versatile actress, having moved across a plethora of genres over the years. She can certainly bring in the humor that Marvel projects are known for, but she also has plenty of dramatic chops, as evidenced by her Academy Award.

Secret Invasion is set to be a loose adaptation of the Marvel Comics storyline of the same name. Early details hint that the story will deal with the presence of Skrulls on Earth, as the aliens have managed to infiltrate different levels of society.

Should she sign on, Olivia Colman would not only join Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn but also One Night In Miami star Kingsley Ben-Adir, who will reportedly play the villain. It’s hard to predict who Colman might play, though it would be fun to see her play one of the Skrulls that will inhabit the series. Colman previously expressed interest in playing a Marvel villain, and having her and Ben-Adir possibly face off with Jackson’s Fury and Mendelsohn’s Talos would be exciting.

It’s still early days for Marvel’s Secret Invasion but, when it comes to building its cast, the show is certainly off to a strong start. It’ll be fun to see who ends up joining the Skrull-tastic adventure next. I mean… is there any chance we can get another Hot Fuzz alum like Simon Pegg or Nick Frost on the show?

While you wait for the show, you can head to Disney+ to stream other shows like WandaVison and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the latter of which airs its finale Friday, April 23.

For nearly 60 years, Doctor Who has remained a staple of British television. The series, centered around an extraterrestrial Time Lord known as The Doctor who flies around in his time-traveling police box, the TARDIS, with several different human companions and in several different incarnations, is beloved by many and a series with the convenience of being rebooted constantly for new generations and times. Therefore, over the course of its very extensive run, several famous actors (and soon-to-be famous actors) have worked on the sci-fi show. With a cast that included hundreds of actors over the course of several decades, it's understandable if you forgot that these familiar faces once appeared on the program. Therefore, let's get in our own mini TARDISes (or however you pluralize the word TARDIS) and go back through the show's long history and recall who once appeared on Doctor Who.

Andrew Garfield

Before he played Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network, Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge, or Peter Parker/Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, Andrew Garfield was a rising British talent who branched out in a big way when he appeared in two Season 3 episodes of Doctor Who. In the popular sci-fi series, Garfield played the part of Frank, an intelligent-but-poor young man living in New York City in 1930, during the Great Depression, who helped the Doctor fight against the dreaded Daleks in their attempt to destroy the world in "Daleks in Manhattan" and "Evolution Of the Daleks."

Felicity Jones

Before she became an Oscar nominee through her performance in 2014's The Theory of Everything, and before she was seen in a galaxy far, far away in 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Felicity Jones could be seen in Doctor Who's Season 4, Episode 7, "The Unicorn and the Wasp." In this installment, Jones played Robina Redmond, a.k.a. Ada Mullins, a.k.a. "The Unicorn," a cockney master jewelry thief who is later questioned by the Doctor and Agatha Christie. This 2008 episode of the series might've served as some viewers' introduction to the actress before she became a big star.

Simon Pegg

An actor/screenwriter best known for his work in the Cornetto trilogy — Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End — as well as his roles in the Star Trek and Mission: Impossible cinematic franchises, Simon Pegg is an exceptional talent who has established himself in a number of nerd-friendly properties. Suffice to say, it shouldn't be a shock to know that in 2005, just a year after Shaun of the Dead became a cult favorite around the world, he made an appearance in Doctor Who. 

Specifically, he was seen in Episode 7 of Season 1 as the sinister The Editor in "The Long Game," a role that was notably different than what audiences saw from the Shaun of the Dead and Spaced actor prior. Hell, it's more cold-blooded than the characters we are used to seeing from the affable actor today. It was another showcase of Pegg's undervalued versatility, proving once more how vast his talents are.

Olivia Colman

Before she became an Oscar-winning actress through her fantastic performance in The Favourite, and well before she took over the leading role on Netflix's The Crown, Olivia Colman was a hard-working character actress who certainly accredited a number of movies and television shows to her name throughout the years. One such show was Doctor Who, where Colman played a mother and a form of Patient Zero in the first episode of Season 5, "The Eleventh Hour." 

It'd certainly be understandable if you forget that Colman was in the show, though. She played such a small part, her character didn't even have a name. Furthermore, Olivia Colman's name was even misspelled in the credits, calling her "Olivia Coleman." Admittedly, showrunner Steven Moffat claims they "wasted" the award-winning actress by giving her such a small role through this guest star appearance. It's safe to say that things worked out for the actress, though. In addition to this minor part in the proceedings, Colman read the audiobook version of The Forgotten Army.

James Corden

Nowadays, James Corden has made a splash stateside through The Late Late Show with James Corden and Carpool Karaoke, but the actor/television personality first grew prominence in the U.K., and it shouldn't be a shock to know that he starred in an episode of Doctor Who. Specifically, Corden can be seen in Episodes 11, "The Lodger," and 12, "Closing Time," of Season 6, where he played the role of Craig Owens, a man who rented a room to the Doctor and later helped him defeat the Cybermen. In return, the Doctor helped Craig confess his feelings to his friend, Sophie. 

During his time on the show, Craig and Doctor Who shared a close and personal friendship. While not quite as known in the U.S. back in 2010, James Corden was quite a big name in Britain on both the telly and on the stage when these episodes aired. So, in that sense, Corden was considered a big guest star for the series.

Carey Mulligan

Before she became an Oscar-nominated actress for An Education, and appeared in movies like Never Let Me Go, Shame, The Great Gatsby, and Inside Llewyn Davis, Carey Mulligan could be seen in the 2007 Doctor Who episode, "Blink." In the Season 3, Episode 10 installment of the popular science-fiction series, Mulligan played Sally Sparrow, a photographer in London who encountered the Weeping Angels and indirectly helped Doctor Who in a mission. It came a curious time in Mulligan's career. It was shortly after she grew prominence for 2005's Pride and Prejudice but a couple years before the actress would become a household name through her Oscar-nominated lead performance in the aforementioned Best Picture-nominated 2009 drama, An Education.

Daniel Kaluuya

Before he became an Oscar-nominated actor made famous for his leading role in Jordan Peele's excellent Get Out, as well as stellar performances in Widows, Black Panther, and, most recently, Queen & Slim, Daniel Kaluuya had a prominent role in the Doctor Who episode, "Fifteen Million Merits," as Bingham "Bing" Madsen. In the Season 1, Episode 2 installment, Kaluuya served as the protagonist of the episode, which means that for many Doctor Who fans, this installment likely served as their introduction to the rising talent — a nice glimpse at his great acting talents years before he made it big.

Kylie Minogue

The Australian actress/musician known for constantly reinventing herself, Kylie Minogue fans have seen the artist take her career in a number of places. One such destination was the set of Doctor Who, where Minogue played Astrid Peth in the Season 4 premiere, "Voyage of the Damned." In her time in the show, Minogue played a native of the planet Sto who worked as a waitress for the ill-fated Titanic. She was nearly a companion for the Doctor. The actress/musician keeps busy with a variety of different projects, music-related and otherwise. This Doctor Who role only became a limited engagement.

Tom Ellis

Before he played the devil incarnate in Lucifer, Tom Ellis appeared in Doctor Who as Thomas Milligan, a doctor who worked for the NHS in 2008, i.e. the Year That Never Was, in "Last of the Time Lords," the 13th episode of Season 3. While he was referenced or alluded to again in a few other later episodes, this episode was his one and only role in Doctor Who (for now, at least). 

He played this part before he became a household name through his leading role in Lucifer, and there have been some fans eager to see Ellis play the part of Doctor Who in a future incarnation. Both Joe Henderson, the co-showrunner of Lucifer, and Ellis himself have responded to this request.

Nick Frost

Like his Cornetto trilogy co-star and frequent collaborator Simon Pegg, Nick Frost also made an appearance in Doctor Who. Specifically, Frost played Santa Claus in the 12th Season 8 episode, "Death in Heaven," and in the 2014 Christmas special, "Last Christmas." The former was used as a lead-in to the latter, as the 10th annual holiday episode saw Kris Kringle and Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) teaming up to save the North Pole from dream crabs.

Who are some other famous actors that people forget played a part in Doctor Who's long, long, long run on television? Let us know in the comments!

Olivia Colman is famous for playing queens but she'd not-so-secretly like to run the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is the reigning Best Actress winner heading into tonight's 92nd Academy Awards. Colman won for playing Queen Anne in The Favourite and now Judy star Renee Zellweger is the favorite to be the new Best Actress winner, with Joker star Joaquin Phoenix expected to pick up Best Actor.

Olivia Colman also plays Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown and had a great passive-aggressive turn on Fleabag. But a little while ago she said this when Vulture asked if there was a role she had yet to be offered that she's keen on playing:

I can't imagine Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige would turn down a chance to have every-award-imaginable winner Olivia Colman in an MCU movie. She just turned 46 and I doubt that's too old for a Marvel villain since Cate Blanchett just pulled it off in Thor: Ragnarok -- and she's now 50. (Do you think Colman wanted that role of Hela?)

If Michelle Pfeiffer, Marisa Tomei, Angela Bassett, and Gwyneth Paltrow can do it -- whether Gwyneth remembers she did it or not -- I don't see why they can't find a kickass role for the queen.

When Vulture said they'd love to see Olivia Colman in a Marvel movie, as a superpowered baddie, she responded with this:

Why should that dream be gone? Angelina Jolie is 44 and about to co-lead the MCU's Eternals team. Salma Hayek, age 53, is right there with her. The MCU has ambitious plans for Phase 4 and Phase 5, with a lot of overlap into Disney+'s shows. A ton of guys in the MCU are over 50 and I really don't think age would be a barrier for Olivia Colman at all. Hollywood does tend to cast her even older than her age, though, so maybe that's a concern. Frankly, they'd be lucky to have her.

What Marvel Comics role could she play? Hey, what about Leper Queen? Or Adriana Soria, aka Spider-Queen? Just trying to keep the queen train running.

Just recently, Harriet star and 2020 Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo said she'd love to be in a Marvel movie and her body is even suited to it. If you're wondering what other celebs think about superhero roles, this gigantic Reddit thread collected some quotes that've been made over the years. People change their minds, but it gives you a rough idea of who has interest out there.

The 2020 Oscars air Sunday, February 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

The Crown just premiered its third season on Netflix, and it may have already found its replacement for Olivia Colman. Her first season as Queen Elizabeth II just bowed on the streamer. Colman took the role over from Claire Foy, who played the monarch during The Crown’s first two seasons.

After recasting the leading players for The Crown’s third and fourth seasons, the process is reportedly underway again. Who could be the next one to wear "the crown"? Harry Potter actress Imelda Staunton, who played Dolores Umbridge, is in talks to take over as Queen Elizabeth II in Seasons 5 and 6, according to Deadline.

Imelda Staunton is undoubtedly a familiar face for film and television fans. Moviegoers recently saw Staunton in the movie follow-up to Downtown Abbey. Staunton starred as Lady Maud Bagshaw in the hit film. That was not Staunton’s only movie outing. She also reprised her role as Knotgrass in the Maleficent sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.

A deal for Imelda Staunton to star in The Crown has not been finalized yet. If it does end up happening, Staunton will be the third actress to play Queen Elizabeth II on the series. Due to The Crown’s sweeping historical chapters, it has required casting changes to keep up. Each set of the main ensemble has, so far, played their roles for only two seasons.

If Queen Elizabeth II is in need of recasting, you can bet the roles of Prince Phillip and Princess Margaret will be, too. Like Queen Elizabeth II, they also got recast for Season 3 and 4. The Crown's second Prince Margaret, Helena Carter Bonham, later claimed to have contacted Princess Margaret’s spirit through a psychic. So, there is that.

Other new additions for Season 3 included the casting of Princess Anne., while also joining the cast for its third outing has been Game of Thrones veteran/consummate scene-stealer, Charles Dance, who replaced Greg Wise in the role of Lord Louis Mountbatten. The Crown possibly recasting the Queen for Seasons 5 and 6 hints that more new cast members will follow!

For those wondering, no, you did not miss anything. The Crown has not officially been renewed by Netflix for Seasons 5 and 6. If it comes to fruition, already having cast the next Queen Elizabeth II will bode well for the future of the Netflix subscriber favorite. The royal drama is currently filming its fourth season, which Olivia Colman has already gotten fans hyped for.

Olivia Colman teased that fans could expect to see a “brilliant” Gillian Anderson in the role of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in Season 4. A performance to look forward to as you binge The Crown’s recently released season. If the pattern stays the same, the fourth season would be Colman's last as Queen Elizabeth II.

If you are already done with Season 3, CinemaBlend’s Gina Carbone has twelve other royal TV show suggestions. You will need something to watch while waiting for more Crown casting news! The first three seasons of The Crown are currently streaming on Netflix, among other new content. Speaking of which, TV is set to have a plethora of winter premieres.

After The Crown Season 3, prepare for Gillian Anderson to be “brilliant” in Season 4, according to her co-star Olivia Colman. In case you missed it, Anderson will be making her debut on The Crown next season. The star will portray Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the fan-favorite series.

If you are in need of a The Crown Season 4 tease for after Season 3’s release, you are in luck. Gillian Anderson’s performance is already getting massive accolades from her Oscar-winning co-star, Olivia Colman. Colman is wearing the tiara as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown’s latest season. Claire Foy previously portrayed the monarch during the series' first two seasons.

Season 3 awaits! However, the early tease of an excellent performance is always welcome. In the light of The Crown’s new season, Olivia Colman is already building buzz around Gillian Anderson’s portrayal of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Speaking about Anderson’s performance, Colman offered high praise, telling EW:

How nice is that? Gillian Anderson will originate The Crown’s take on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In Season 4, the new line-up of actors playing the central roles will have one season under their crown. That’s right, when fans tune in to Season 3 of the expensive costume drama, they will see a lot of new faces.

Along with Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, there will be a new Prince Phillip. Outlander’s Tobias Menzies is replacing Doctor Who’s Matt Smith. The Queen’s sister Princess Margaret will also be played by a different actress. Helena Bonham Carter is taking over from Vanessa Kirby. Last year, The Crown also found its Princess Anne.

Season 4 of The Crown will cover even more history with the royal family. For reference, Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979. The evolving timeline provided a different experience for Olivia Colman. Reflecting on the difference between Season 3 and Season 4, Colman said:

It will be a while before The Crown’s viewers get a chance to join, Olivia Colman and company, for the fun of Season 4. It has been a long road to Season 3. Following its premiere, the wait for Season 4 begins. Fans are no strangers to having to wait for the show’s royal family to return. Season 2 premiered in 2017.

All the way back in 2018, fans got their first look at Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown’s third season. Just remember that after you finish binging the latest season, you should be an impressive performance from Gillian Anderson to anticipate. I think Anderson is a fantastic actress, so expectations are understandably high for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher.

Prepare for the regal performances that will comprise Season 3! The third season of The Crown bows on November 17 on Netflix, among other premieres. The third season marks one of this fall’s premieres.

While the eyes of the entertainment industry were solely focused on the Dolby Theatre stage during the Oscars telecast on Sunday night, a small portion of high-stakes gamblers were also nervously thinking about Las Vegas, and a red-hot rumor that had sports books sweating as the evening approached the Best Director category.

Sports Business Analyst Darren Rovell, writing for ActionNetwork.com, noted that the sports book FanDuel had to take the category of Best Director off of the board completely after the betting odds on The Favourite filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos plunged. At one point considered a longshot to take home the Academy Award in the category, Lanthimos’ odds went from 45-1 all the way down to 5-1 before the category officially was taken off of the board.

What could have happened to swing the odds in Yorgos Lanthimos’ favor at the last minute? Darren Rovell is crediting two vents, similarly themed by at different sources. According to his reporting, two rumors that surfaced on two different college campuses led to a wave of fresh bets in Lanthimos’ favor, alerting casinos that the fix might be in.

One source told Action Network that a fraternity kid on Penn State’s campus started telling people that his father, who had major Hollywood connections, was hearing that Yorgos Lanthimos was going to pull off the upset in the Best Director category. Yet another potential gambler told the site that the rumor started at the University of Richmond, but it’s the same concept. They had a family member who was “in the know” about how the Oscars would play out, so bet now and pay off big.

Naturally, it didn’t work. Alfonso Cuaron took home the Oscar for Best Director for this work on the brilliant Netflix movie, Roma, and Yorgos Lanthimos went home empty handed.

Now, it wasn’t Yorgos Lanthimos who won for Best Director, but The Favourite was part of another major upset, so maybe THAT is what the rumor was attached to? Olivia Colman prevailed in the Best Actress category for her turn as the Queen, upsetting both Lady Gaga and Glenn Close, both of whom were believed to be frontrunners are different times. Maybe those college kids heard “Colman” and thought it was “Yorgos”? There was money to be made last night, people. We blew it.

The Academy ended up giving Best Picture to Green Book, while Best Actor went to Rami Malek. With no clear cut frontrunner in most categories, the Oscars spread the love to a lot of different movies. What were your biggest surprises from the night? And did you lose money on a Yorgos Lanthimos bet, before the category came off of the table?

For this year’s Best Actress acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, many expected one of two outcomes: an emotional Lady Gaga being recognized for her role as Ally in A Star is Born, or Glenn Close (and her adorable dog Pip?) finally winning an Oscar for The Wife after seven nominations without a win. In a stunning surprise, however, Olivia Colman’s name was called tonight,and she took the prize for her role as Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite. Based on her reaction, which you can watch in the video below, it seems that she was just as shocked - if not more so - than we were:

What a queen!! The actress’ win certainly made for an interesting development during the 91st Academy Awards that had, for the most part, fulfilled prophecy of prediction. The moment her name was called, the British actress was completely taken aback and was sandwiched with kisses by her husband Ed Sinclair, costar Emma Stone, and The Favourite director Yorgos Lanthimos before taking the stage.

She accepted her Oscar by saying “it’s genuinely quite stressful… this is hilarious” through happy tears. She thanked Yorgos Lanthimos and her costars Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, who had received nominations for Best Supporting Actress - but they lost out on the prize to If Beale Street Could Talk’s Regina King.

The actress then turned her focus to fellow nominee and the night’s frontrunner, Glenn Close, saying “You’ve been my idol for so long. This is not how I wanted it to be, and I think you’re amazing, and thank you very much.” The 71-year-old actress wearing sparkly gold smiled at her fondly, though after being recognized by the Academy for 36 years, with seven nominations, many expected this was her night.

Olivia Colman's speech was completely genuine, emotional and funny – inciting roars of laughter among the audience throughout, as she thanked important people in her life, said “any little girl who's practicing her speech on the tele, you never know!” and blew kisses back and forth to Lady Gaga before leaving the stage.

The moment certainly wasn’t foreseen by most. Lady Gaga was certainly the popular pick for Best Actress this year with A Star Is Born. Her performance is still stuck in the heads of many, from her memorable moments singing “Shallow," to eher acting her heart out with Bradley Cooper.

The Favourite marked Olivia Colman’s first Oscar nomination, and now her first win. The movie led the field this year with 10 nominations, though Colman’s Best Actress victory was the only trophy the movie took home by the end of the night.

The Favourite is a dark comedy masquerading as a period drama about Queen Anne (Colman), who is struggling with loss and illness as two Ladies, played by Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, fight for her attention. It’s a hilarious and unhinged look at the 18th Century English queen, and certainly deserves all of the recognition that it has received.

Olivia Colman’s win was no doubt the biggest bombshell of the night, but made for an energizing moment for the latter half of the show, and allowed for The Favourite to get earn some proper attention in a major category. Of course, it's not the only category of the night we're analyzing, so stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more of our 2019 Academy Awards coverage!

Some minor spoilers for The Favourite can be found throughout this story if you haven't caught the awards contender yet! In the meantime, be sure to check out one of our other excellent articles.

The Favourite has been out for a few weeks now, and if you've caught the historical-oriented flick you may already know it delves into delicious romance between Olivia Colman's Queen Anne and Rachel Weisz's Lady Sarah, with some Emma Stone thrown in for good measure. Colman recently revealed that kissing her co-star could have been way worse, noting it was like she had "won the lottery." She said in a recent interview:

According to Olivia Colman, both she and Rachel Weisz spent enough time together prior to filming their love-making scenes for The Favourite that kissing her co-star ended up being an easy and fun shared experience.

If you are going to have to make out with someone on the big screen, it might as well be with someone you really like.

The Favourite follows Olivia Colman as Queen Anne, a ruler who not particularly interested in ruling and more interested in having fun. At the start of the movie, she spends a lot of time with her advisor Sarah, who takes control of a lot of the political machinations within her kingdom. Sarah is able to maintain this power by keeping Queen Anne happy, in and out of the bedroom, although she does seem somewhat fond of Queen Anne. All of that changes when Sarah's distant relative Abigail shows up on the scene. Abigail has been living a life of poverty and will do anything to find a way out.

That also includes keeping Queen Anne happy in the bedroom. While Olivia Colman says scenes with Rachel Weisz were filmed without incident, on the other hand, when it came time for Emma Stone's Abigail to enter the foray, things got a bit stickier, no pun intended. Speaking to the BBC program Sounds, Colman revealed that she and Emma Stone really struggled with their sex scene.

Emma Stone has previously spoken out about sex scenes in The Favourite, discussing why she chose to get nude on camera for the first time. She said late last year that Olivia Colman didn't want her to get naked and that she was not pressured but that she felt her body being in the scene fit the movie better.

Knowing what we know now from both female actresses, it's easy to see how it took a few takes to make that Favourite scene work---it was perhaps, not their "favorite."

Still, Olivia Colman only has nice things to say about director Yorgos Lanthimos, noting that the script was so solid she basically took all of her cues from it; which is good, because Colman also said she basically knew nothing about Queen Anne before embarking on filming The Favourite.

If you've seen The Favourite, the comedic narrative does take some cues from the real-life history of Queen Anne and Sarah Churchhill, whose relationship really did turn sour, after which a new woman, Abigail Hill, sought to be of influence in Queen Anne's court. Rumors of lesbian romance have largely remained rumors in the years after Queen Anne's reign.

As a movie, some of the events that play out on the big screen are accurate, although director Yorgos Lanthimos has been clear in the press leading up to the movie that "a lot aren't" accurate. Still, all three women in the movie (and a side shoutout to Nicholas Hoult) put in great performances, and The Favourite has already been on a lot of awards shortlists this year. Although some historical movies have been dinged for accuracy this year, The Favourite has largely been seen as more of a comedy than an accurate biopic and has escaped such accuracy notice for the most part.

Coming up, The Favourite will have a showing at this year's Golden Globes Awards. The flick has been nominated for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. In addition, Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone have all landed nods. You can see whether or not the film will end up being a big winner very soon. In fact, the 76th Annual Golden Globes will officially be airing this Sunday night, only on NBC.

Oscar nominations aren't out yet and there are a few other nominations still set to be announced, but we'll be sure to keep you posted as the awards season progresses this year. For now, you can catch The Favourite in theaters. In addition, you can see what else is starting to trickle into theaters in 2019 with our full movie premiere schedule. There's a lot of good stuff coming this year, from period movies to superhero flicks.

One sure sign of the fall season in Hollywood is the arrival of the costume period dramas. These are movies that typically don't stand a chance at the box office in the earlier months of the year, but do have a shot of getting notable recognition via award consideration (even if it's only in below-the-line categories). On the surface, Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite may appear to be one of these films.

The Favourite is definitely not one of these films.

Lanthimos has long been speaking his own special cinematic language, and while his latest is an outlier in that it's not based on his own original script, it's a fantastic continuation of his fascinating style. The comedy is black hole-level dark -- primarily driven by acrimony, paranoia, and just plain ol' meanness -- and perfectly juxtaposes the beautiful regal dressings; while also evoking three of the best performances of the year from its central triumvirate.

Set in the early 18th century and inspired by true events, The Favourite begins as Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) sits on the throne of England -- utterly miserable and perpetually ill while her country fights the French in what would be known as the War of the Spanish Succession. Anne's behavior is erratic, if not straight-up mad, and her general melancholy steers her interests towards more eccentric pursuits instead of dealing with the escalating conflict between political parties, and a public on the verge of revolt. What stops the wheels from totally spinning off is the presence of Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), a stern and curt advisor and confidant to the Queen who essentially rules as a puppet master via persuasion. And while there is genuine affection in their relationship, there is also no questioning what role power has in Sarah's feelings, interests and goals.

It is because of her pursuit to maintain her control of Anne that Sarah becomes concerned with the arrival of Abigail (Emma Stone), her younger cousin from a disreputable branch of the family tree. As it turns out, Sarah is right to be worried. Coming from humble beginnings, Abigail has intense ambitions and a knack for social climbing. Thanks to her cleverness and perceptiveness she quickly finds her way in with the Queen -- but it sparks a conflict with Sarah that sees the two compete for Anne's favor and everything that comes with it.

Admittedly, The Favourite is a film you have to be open to in order to really embrace, largely because of the pretty hardcore acid spitting that is featured. This is a movie that has a number of protagonists, but none of them are heroes -- or even really good people. It's a story of bad people doing bad things to other bad people, which is a tone you have to be tuned into. But if you're the kind of person who can laugh as people are maliciously shoved into manure, and servants are screamed at solely for making eye contact, this is definitely your cup of tea.

One thing that is for certain is that Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz are all tuned into the feature's particular brand of viciousness, and it looks like they are having a blast the more spiteful, vindictive, hateful, and miserable The Favourite gets -- all of it performed with a nasty, wonderful glee. Stone in particular has a wonderful balance to play, needing to juggle both excessive levels of demure and ruthlessness, but it culminates as the best performance of her career. As Lady Sarah, Weisz is intense and excellent in a "extend a hand, return a stump" kind of way, and Colman does simply magnificent work with a comedic chemistry equation combining wretchedness and consistent low-level schadenfreude.

While The Favourite's underbelly is far darker and twisted than your typical Victorian period fare, it still maintains the gorgeous aesthetics of the genre, and is stunning even when its characters are at their most rotten. The costume and makeup work is beautifully elegant, not to mention the incredible production design and lighting, and it all serves as a wonderful and fascinating contrast to the tone and approach.

Much like the rest of Yorgos Lanthimos' work, The Favourite is destined to be polarizing, but it's also inherently only going to play to certain tastes. If you've read this review and feel like it's a movie up your alley, I'm betting that it will be. If you feel the opposite, then the opposite will be true. If you're personally in the former category, however, you're definitely in for a treat.

Among this year's critically-acclaimed films that are receiving Oscar buzz is Yorgos Lanthimos' far-from-proper period piece, The Favourite. The film starring Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone may have its leading ladies strapping into tight corsets, but their characters' language is quite unhinged, as frequent swings of "fucks" and "cunts" unapologetically comes from their mouths. But will the film's frequent use of swearing sway The Favourite's chances from being... the favorite? Olivia Colman recently weighed in:

As far as expletives go, "cunt" has been one that's not regularly spoken in film as much as "fuck" is spewed and whatnot. So it's possible that some Oscar voters might be put off by The Favourite for this reason. Olivia Colman, however, likely didn't star as Queen Anne in the film only to be recognized by the Academy, but because it was a role she wanted to tackle.

Olivia Colman does admit in her interview with The Guardian that she's dreamed of holding the golden trophy, but the whole concept of award season tends to make the actress feel sick. She doesn't want to count on it and then feel disappointed, so she's keeping herself in check and focusing on what's important: the movie itself. That's a wise choice.

The Favorite is set in the early 18th century and follows the relationship between Queen Anne and Lady Sarah, played by Weisz. When Sarah's cousin Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives to the castle, it starts a rivalry between the two over the Queen's affections and powers. Because Yorgos Lanthimos' film is such a rejection of the typically stuffy period piece, perhaps it was greatly intended for it to defy norms and put off people a bit.

Lanthimos' last film was 2015's The Lobster, but he's also directed some other eccentric movies such as The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Dogtooth. As award season continues to unfold, The Favourite has shown quite a bit of promise, as it recently scored four Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture and for the main trio of actresses. The Favourite also led the Critics' Choice Award shortlist, with 14 nominations.

Olivia Colman is especially high on the list as a possible winner for Best Actress in this year's award season, though she is among A Star is Born's Lady Gaga, The Wife's Glenn Close, Melissa McCarthy for Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Emily Blunt for Mary Poppins Returns.

When the second season of The Crown ended, fans of the Netflix drama knew that it would be the last for Claire Foy in the role of Queen Elizabeth II. All part of showrunner Peter Morgan's plan to chronicle the royal family's saga with different actors taking on the roles. Now fans can feast their eyes on their first look at The Night Manager's Olivia Colman as the Queen in Season 3. Check out the regal image for yourself below:

And what an image to kick off with! The familiar sight of the Queen preparing to drink some tea is about as The Crown as you could hope to see. It is hard to make a lot of judgments off of how an actor will do in a role based on a first look, but based on this image alone, it is seems that Olivia Colman will be an excellent fit as the Queen. Everything about her expression in this single image is enough to tease that.

This pivotal first look not only serves as the first official glimpse of Olivia Colman in the role of the Queen for fans everywhere, but also their first visual of the third season, overall. While Season 3 will welcome a bevy of new faces in both familiar and newly matured roles, The Crown's cinematography and feel appear to be pretty consistent with the series' hallmark lighting, which gives the palace walls that lived-in feel.

With The Crown giving viewers their first official peek at the Queen, fans can now anticipate catching a glimpse of Outlander's Tobias Menzies in the role of Prince Philip and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret. Menzies is taking over the role from Doctor Who alumn Matt Smith, while Bonham Carter will take the tiara over from future Fast And Furious franchise actress Vanessa Kirby. With lots of eyes watching, there is undoubtedly a lot of pressure on the new cast.

In this more domestic first look at the Queen in Season 3 -- she is not sporting her crown or a gown -- it offers a down to earth glimpse of the woman behind the title. Fans are definitely in for more royal drama in the series' third installment. With the Queen and Prince Philip's kids getting older, their roles as parents to more mature children than Season 2 left them with will certainly add new dynamics to their lives as parents and monarchs.

No date has been set for The Crown Season 3 to bow, yet. For other content set to arrive on Netflix this year, check out our 2018 Netflix premiere rundown and when you are done reading that, our guide to Amazon Prime's premiere schedule. For new television content while you wait for The Crown's return, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's summer premieres.

Claire Foy has done an excellent job portraying Queen Elizabeth and making The Crown a success for Netflix, but now the series has recast the role for a different stage in the queen's life. Luckily for us, they picked an acting veteran just as brilliant as Foy to play the part. Olivia Colman will take on the role for Seasons 3 and 4 of the series, as The Crown looks to show Elizabeth II advance in age.

According to plans for The Crown Season 3, the season is supposed to include the events of Princess Margaret's affair with Roddy Llewellyn. This means that Olivia Colman, whose casting news was reported by Variety, will portray Queen Elizabeth II sometime picking up in the early 1970s, which would put her in her 40s. Colman, who is in her 40s, is a good match for the role. Series creator Peter Morgan noted he wanted an actress who could "bring their own fatigue" into the role of being middle aged as the Queen.

For Olivia Colman, that's not the most flattering compliment to receive, but surely being British and having the opportunity to portray the Queen is such an honor that she can likely overlook just about anything. As an accomplished actress, starring in a critically acclaimed series is old hat for Colman at this point, as she was a part of Chris Chibnall's Broadchurch as well as the British series Fleabag, just to name a couple. Colman will also grace the big screen later this year as part of the star-studded cast for Murder On The Orient Express.

As for any fans of The Crown that are miffed that Emmy-nominated Claire Foy is out as Queen Elizabeth, don't fret. Foy knew the recast was a long time coming, and her performance on the series will undoubtedly lead to more opportunities for her to further her career in show business. As Foy will depart The Crown after Season 2, Colman can expect the same after Season 4. The show is expected to recast one more time before its planned ending in Season 6.

Season 2 of The Crown is set to debut December 8th on Netflix, so be ready for Claire Foy's last ride as Britain's monarch. For more on the series, check out how much cuter the show is with dogs as actors and how much the show actually costs despite what some believe. For more things to watch on Netflix, be sure to visit our Netflix guide for programs specifically coming to the service. Those looking for an all-encompassing list should visit our fall premiere guide and never be out of the loop on fall programming this year ever again.

Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos made a big splash in 2010 when his utterly bizarre feature Dogtooth was released and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film Of The Year (ultimately losing out to Susanne Bier's In A Better World), but only now is the filmmaker ready to make his English-language debut. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Lanthimos is now putting the pieces together for his latest movie, a strange-sounding project called The Lobster, and has lined up some big names to star, including Zero Dark Thirty‘s Jason Clarke, Skyfall‘s Ben Whishaw, and Blue Is The Warmest Color‘s Léa Seydoux.

Much like both Dogtooth and his last film, Alps, Lanthimos co-wrote the script for the new film with Efthymis Filippou, and while specific details about the plot and the characters aren't currently available, THR does makes note of its weird-yet-awesome sounding premise. The story is described as a romantic drama and will be set in a dystopian future where all single people must find a mate within 45 days. The consequence for failing to follow this societal law is that you get turned into an animal and sent into the woods. It will center on a man who is scheduled to be transformed but manages to escape. The trade sadly doesn't mention what characters the actors will be playing or how they fit into the plot, but I really only have one major question at this stage: where does the lobster come in?

Lanthimos' movies aren't exactly the most accessible titles out there, as its understandable that some people may be turned off by just how strange everything in his movies are, but if you're into that sort of thing his works are definitely worth a look. You can watch trailers for his two most recent films below.

Also set to appear in the movie, according to Deadline, will be Olivia Colman (Peep Show, Hot Fuzz), Ariane Labed (Before Midnight) and Angeliki Papoulia, who was in both Dogtooth and Alps. Production won't begin until March, so don't expect to see the finished product before the second half of next year - probably at the Toronto or Venice film festivals.