Olivia Colman is opening up about why queer-centered stories have always resonated so deeply with her and her honesty is striking a chord. The Oscar-winning actress recently shared that her connection to projects like Heartstopper stems from a lifelong feeling that she’s “always felt sort of non-binary,” a sentiment she says has shaped both her personal identity and creative choices.
In a candid conversation while promoting her new film Jimpa, Colman spoke about feeling at ease within the queer community and described herself as someone who has “a foot in different worlds.” She explained that she’s never felt strongly aligned with traditional ideas of femininity and often jokes with her husband that she’s “a gay man,” a description he immediately understands. For Colman, it’s less about labels and more about authenticity and comfort in who she’s always been.
Jimpa, directed by Sophie Hyde, follows a mother who travels with her non-binary teenager to Amsterdam to visit the teen’s gay grandfather. The film stars Colman alongside John Lithgow and Aud Mason-Hyde and explores themes of identity, family, and acceptance across generations. Colman said stories like these feel natural to her because they come from a community she deeply respects and feels welcomed by.
She also reflected on the people she gravitates toward in her own life, saying she tends not to surround herself with individuals who are rigid in their views of gender or sexuality. Instead, she values relationships with people who are emotionally open and comfortable expressing all sides of themselves. According to Colman, some of the most moving and beautiful stories she’s encountered come from queer voices, and she feels genuinely grateful to be embraced by that space.
The conversation around Jimpa has also extended beyond Colman’s comments. Aud Mason-Hyde, who appears in the film and has described Lithgow as a mentor figure, recently addressed mixed feelings about Lithgow’s casting as Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. While acknowledging that the franchise’s ties to J.K. Rowling are painful for many in the trans community, Mason-Hyde emphasized that Lithgow was consistently supportive, respectful, and affirming on set.
Mason-Hyde made it clear that their personal experience working with Lithgow was overwhelmingly positive and that his new role does not erase the meaningful collaboration they shared. For both Mason-Hyde and Colman, Jimpa represents the kind of storytelling that feels honest, human, and rooted in empathy; qualities Colman says she will always be drawn to.
