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Olivia Colman and husband Ed Sinclair© Getty

Everything you need to know about Olivia Colman's husband and children

The Wicked Little Letters star shares three children with her husband Ed Sinclair

Sharnaz Shahid
Deputy Online Editor
Updated: February 23, 2024
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Olivia Colman, who is best known for her roles in The Favourite and Broadchurch, is considered one of the country's most talented actresses, with an incredible career spanning nearly two decades, but first and foremost, the actress is a doting mother to three children, whom she shares with husband Ed Sinclair. With her latest film, Wicked Little Letters, gaining rave reviews, HELLO! explores everything you need to know about Olivia's family...

Who is Olivia Colman's husband Ed Sinclair?

Like his wife Olivia, Ed has a career in the acting world as actor and writer. Ed starred in BBC TV series Look Around You playing the part of Michael the Butler. He studied law at Cambridge University before deciding he preferred writing. The couple got married in 2001.

olivia ed© Photo: Getty Images

How did Olivia Colman and her husband meet?

The couple was first introduced during a production of Alan Ayckbourn's Table Manners at Footlights Dramatic Club, which also included comedians David Mitchell, Robert Webb and Peter Serafinowicz.  According to Olivia, it was love at first sight when she met Ed at university. "There's the bloke I'm going to marry," the star previously told The Telegraph. "My husband and I were very lucky. We met when we had nothing and we loved each other then. So we were all right." She added: "We were 20 and he was also an actor. If you meet at that age then you're fine. For me, it was thunderbolts straight away."

Olivia Colman and husband Ed's children

Olivia and Ed are proud parents to three children. They have two sons and a daughter. Despite being one of the country's most successful actors, Olivia prefers to shun the spotlight to spend time with her family.

Olivia Colman walks the red carpet ahead of the 'The Favourite' screening during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 30, 2018 in Venice, Italy.  (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)© Stephane Cardinale - Corbis
Olivia Colman prefers the quiet life

Speaking about her win at the BAFTAs in 2014, where she won best actress for Broadchurch, Olivia revealed that she and Ed quickly made their excuses and left the star-studded ceremony. "We were in our socks, drinking tea by 10 o'clock, I couldn't take it all in," she admitted to the Guardian. "As long as I have Ed and the boys, everything is alright." 

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