Olivia Colman (born 30 January 1974) is an English actress best known for her comedic performances, such as Sophie Chapman in Peep Show, and Harriet Schulenburg in Green Wing. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has appeared in radio, television and theatre.

Colman is very good friends with David Mitchell and Robert Webb, stating that she "adores" them. She met the duo at Cambridge University in the early 1990s, after auditioning for Footlights. This resulted in a solid working relationship, where she has appeared alongside them in many TV and radio projects.

Colman has appeared in many BBC and Channel 4 television programmes such as Green Wing, Look Around You, Black Books, The Office and Peep Show. She regularly features in BBC Radio 4 comedies, including Think The Unthinkable and That Mitchell and Webb Sound. She also appears in every episode of the television version, That Mitchell and Webb Look. She provided the voice over for the Five poll for Britain’s Funniest Comedy Character.

Her film credits include the British mockumentary film, Confetti (in which she plays a practising naturist), I Could Never Be Your Woman and as Doris Thatcher in Hot Fuzz alongside many of the British television comedy actors she has been known for working with. She appeared as 'Bev' alongside Mark Burdis as 'Kev' in a television advert for AA car insurance.