Olivia Colman reveals she feels nonbinary and describes herself as a gay man to her husband while discussing family life and career in the UK

Olivia Colman, the celebrated British actress known for The Crown, The Favourite, and Heartstopper, has shared intimate reflections on her gender identity.

At 52, Olivia revealed that she has always “felt sort of nonbinary” and has described herself as a “gay man” to her husband, Ed Sinclair, whom she has been married to for 25 years.

“I’ve never felt massively feminine in my being female,” Olivia explained.

“Throughout my whole life, I’ve had arguments with people where I’ve always sort of felt nonbinary.

I’ve always described myself to my husband as a gay man, and he goes, ‘Yeah, I get that.’ And so I do feel at home and at ease.”

She also told Them magazine that she tends not to spend much time with people who are “very staunchly heterosexual,” suggesting that her sense of identity fits more comfortably in queer and nonbinary spaces.

Life with Ed Sinclair and Their Family

Olivia and Ed’s love story began in the 1990s, when both were in their early twenties.

The couple married in 2001 and now have three children together.

Reflecting on their early days, Olivia told the Daily Mail in 2013: “My husband and I were very lucky.

We met when we had nothing and we loved each other then. So we were all right. For me it was thunderbolts straight away.”

She has admitted that being away from her family for work is a challenge.

On the Ruthie’s Table podcast, Olivia shared that before the pandemic, the longest she had been away from home was just two weeks.

“I get terribly homesick,” she said.

“I never used to be able to sleep very well if Ed wasn’t there. I miss the kids. I wanted to be there.”

New Roles Reflecting Personal Insights

Olivia’s latest project, the queer film Jimpa, echoes her own experiences with gender identity and family.

In the movie, she plays a mother who accompanies her nonbinary child to visit their gay father abroad.

Olivia stars alongside John Lithgow, and the film promises to explore themes of acceptance and the nuances of family life.

The Oscar That Stayed in the Cupboard

Despite winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2019, Olivia has a famously understated approach to her accolades.

On the Graham Norton Show in December 2022, she admitted that her Oscar had been stored in a cupboard.

“It feels a bit ostentatious to have it out. So I have it in the cupboard so I can go, ‘Hello!’” she said, recalling that she kept it on display for only a year before putting it away to focus on her work.

She later explained on the SmartLess podcast that the cupboard where she stored it turned out to be damp.

Thanks to her handyman, the trophy was rescued and now sits behind a book on a shelf—visible but discreet.

Olivia joked: “I know it’s there, and I can say ‘Hello’ to him.”

What’s Next?

Olivia continues to challenge traditional narratives both on-screen and in her personal life.

With Jimpa addressing queer family dynamics and her openness about gender identity, it seems she’s embracing projects that resonate with her lived experiences.

Fans can likely expect Olivia to take on more roles that explore identity, family, and authenticity, all while balancing her deep commitment to her husband and children.

Summary

Olivia Colman, 52, has shared that she feels nonbinary and has described herself as a “gay man” to her husband, Ed Sinclair.

Married for 25 years, the couple shares three children, and Olivia has admitted she struggles with being away from them for work.

Her new film Jimpa reflects themes of gender and family, aligning with her personal insights.

Despite winning an Oscar in 2019, Olivia has a modest approach to recognition, storing her trophy discreetly at home.

Her openness continues to make her a powerful voice in discussions around identity, family, and the evolving roles of women in film.