Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman have opened up about a momentary “speed bump” in their friendship while filming their new movie, The Roses.
The 49-year-old actor and 51-year-old Oscar-winning actress are starring in this remake of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses, which follows a couple embroiled in a bitter divorce and vicious legal battle.
In a recent interview, both stars admitted that fully diving into the story meant hurling some sharp insults at each other on set—sometimes so convincingly that it briefly crossed the line between acting and real tension.
A Moment of Real Tension on Set
Benedict candidly explained that while the experience was mostly fun, there was one scene that got a little too intense.
“There was one speed bump where it started to get a bit toxic, and I was like, ‘I might need to check in with you as a friend, because this is getting a bit nasty now,’” he said.
“But after that, it was just a lot of fun insulting each other and making it up [to one another].”
The scene in question depicts a heated fight after a disastrous dinner between their characters, which comes towards the end of the film.
Benedict added that during filming, he simply reminded himself that everything was part of the performance.
“It’s all the same as it was before the gloves started coming off.
So, the short answer is it was a lot of fun, but I did—I had a blip.”
Olivia Colman Keeps It Lighthearted
Olivia Colman confirmed that she never lost sight of the fact that the tension was all pretend.
“After that, we’d just go ‘aww’ and we would always have a little cuddle at the end of a scene,” she said.
She noted that these kinds of arguments wouldn’t fly in real life, though she jokingly admitted she might try it.
The dark divorce comedy stays true to the original 1981 novel, promising plenty of biting humor and dramatic courtroom antics.
The Roses is set for release on August 29.
Star-Studded Premiere Lights Up London
On Thursday night, Benedict appeared smitten as his wife, theatre director Sophie Hunter, accompanied him to the premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.
Sophie impressed in a mint green boat-neck gown, walking the red carpet proudly alongside her husband.
Meanwhile, Olivia Colman stunned in an exaggerated olive green Elie Saab cape gown with floor-length cascading sleeves, joined by her husband, Ed Sinclair, who looked sharp in a brown suit and matching tie.
The film also features American actress Allison, 65, as a divorce lawyer, who turned heads at the premiere in a striking bright red high-neck tulle gown with a pleated skirt, cinched waist, and sheer cape.
The cast’s glamorous appearance highlighted the film’s blend of dark comedy and high-profile star power.
