Olivia Colman can’t stop cursing.
That’s due in large part to the Oscar winner’s new film “Wicked Little Letters” (in theaters Friday), about a prudish spinster (Colman) and her uncouth next-door neighbor (Jessie Buckley), who’s accused of sending foul letters to folks in their 1920s-era English town. The cheeky subject matter has lent itself to a potty-mouthed promotional tour.
“I’ve never said (the c-word) as often as I have lately,” Colman, 50, jokes. “Everyone should go and watch the film. They’ll have a really nice time, they’ll giggle and they’ll learn some ridiculous new swears.”
The R-rated comedy is inspired by the shocking true-life story of Edith Swan (Colman) and Rose Gooding (Buckley), with heaps of floridly inventive insults that are unpublishable. “It’s like a kid who’s learned all these naughty words and they’re trying to put them all into one sentence,” director Thea Sharrock says of the profanities, which are pulled directly from the real letters.
Colman and Sharrock caught up with USA TODAY to chat about their favorite obscenities and more.
Question: Rose is vilified for drinking and cursing just like men do. What do you think this film says about the double standards women face?
Olivia Colman: It’s fascinating to look at because many women are still expected to behave in certain ways.
Thea Sharrock: One of the nice things about period pieces is that you’re always reflecting on today. If on one level, this movie makes people think about how we can move positively in certain directions, that would be amazing.
Has a text or email ever gotten you in trouble?
Colman: I’m not terribly good with gadgets. I don’t find it interesting, mainly. But you know on WhatsApp, how you can choose a happy face or a thumbs up (to react to a message)? I only just learned this. But someone said something sad on a group chat, and I was trying to reply with a broken heart but I accidentally replied with a laughing face. I wrote a long message saying, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to send a smiley face!” And I didn’t get much back.
Sharrock: Is that why you like doing voicemails? So you can say what you really want to say?
Colman: Yeah, they’re much better than my fat, dumb fingers.
As parents, do you have any rules about swearing at home?
Colman: I grew up with parents who were sweary. Not in anger, but just like, “(Expletive) it, let’s have a cup of tea.” It was more descriptive and I knew what it meant and it was never shocking. But now I’ve got kids, and I remember saying to them, “When you’re 18, the morning you wake up, you can say all the words you like! But until then, you’re not allowed to.” It just doesn’t sit nicely. In a kid’s mouth, swearing just makes me feel uncomfortable. But a naughty word can be so helpful sometimes. There can be a real power to it.
Sharrock: Particularly if you restrict it. You’re teaching them when it’s appropriate and when it’s not, and also to own it. You have to pick and choose when you use it.
What do you think is one of the funniest insults?
Colman: I remember one time, somebody was driving so aggressively on the motorway. My husband, Ed (Sinclair), could have been raging about it, but instead, he was like, “Oh, you silly sausage!” It made us all giggle.
Olivia, have you spoken to Emma Stone (Colman's co-star in "The Favourite") since her Oscar win?
Colman: Yes! I left a screaming voice message for her and she left a screaming message back for me, which was lovely. She was quite hoarse. It was so exciting.
Speaking of Oscar movies, Helen Mirren recently said that you filmed a "Barbie" cameo with her that wound up getting cut. What do you recall about shooting it?
Colman: It was really good fun! I was only there for a couple hours. And then when the film was due to be released, I had a call with David Heyman, the producer, who was just like, "I'm terribly sorry! The film was too long and it didn't add to the story." And he was right! It actually worked out brilliantly because I got paid for it and no one could say that I was bad in the film. So it was kind of perfect. But I didn’t get to meet Ryan (Gosling) and I was really cross about that.
