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Broadchurch star Olivia Colman admits to crying 'a bit too much'

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Olivia Colman has taken on some tough roles on the small screen – perhaps most notably as DS Ellie Miller on ITV’s Broadchurch, which returned for its second series this week. In an emotionally charged first episode, viewers saw Ellie in court coming face-to-face with her husband Joe, the man charged with the murder of 11-year-old Danny Lattimer. Her portrayal of Ellie has been applauded by critics – and even earned Olivia a BAFTA. But in a revealing new interview, the actress shares her fears that she gives in to her emotions too much.

olivia colman broadchurch © Photo: ITV

Broadchurch star Olivia Colman has shared her fears that she cries too much on screen

"I have a sneaking suspicion that audiences have seen me crying a little bit too often in the past couple of years. And if people get really fed up with me, then I won't get more work. And if I can't do what I love, then I will shrivel up and die," Olivia, 40, confessed to Vogue. "If something touches me, I cry. That's it. I'm a bit raw, a bit rubbish really," she continued. "Often a director will say to me, 'I don't think this is a scene where your character cries.' It was slightly embarrassing at a parents' meeting when a teacher was nice about my boy and I started to well up." Olivia is now considered one of the country's most acclaimed actresses, but despite earning countless accolades and awards in recent years still prefers to shun the spotlight.

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Olivia Colman after collecting her Best Actress award at last year's BAFTAs

Speaking about last year's BAFTA ceremony, at which she won best actress for Broadchurch, Olivia revealed that she and her husband Ed made their excuses and left shortly after she received her trophy. "We were in our socks, drinking tea by 10 o'clock," she admitted, adding, "As long as I have Ed and the boys, everything is alright."