Advertisement

Olivia Colman pays tribute to late father in emotional Emmys speech

Watch: Olivia Colman remembers her late father as she accepts Emmy Award

Olivia Colman burst into tears as she remembered her late father in her acceptance speech at the Emmy Awards.

The 47-year-old actor won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series award for her portrayal of the Queen in The Crown.

Colman told the ceremony in Los Angeles, California, from an Emmys watch party in London: "I’m going to be very quick as I’m very teary.

Read more: Olivia Colman on working with Anthony Hopkins on 'The Father'

"I wish my dad was here to see this. I lost my daddy during COVID, and he would have loved all of this."

Her father Keith was a chartered surveyor from Norwich.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19:  Olivia Colman with her Emmy award for 'Outstanding Lead Actress for a Drama Series', at the
Olivia Colman accepted her Emmy at a party in London, linked by video to the ceremony in LA. (Getty Images)

Colman had not previously revealed that he had passed away. It is not known if he contracted coronavirus.

She talked about him earlier this year while discussing her role opposite Sir Anthony Hopkins in Oscar-winning film The Father.

Colman told the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine in an interview published in January: "He's a lovely man. He's getting on of course.

"He's relatively frail compared to the young man I remember, and that's upsetting. But he's a very nice daddy."

Tobias Menzies and Olivia Colman in the fourth series of 'The Crown'. (Credit: Alex Bailey/Netflix)
Olivia Colman won the award for her portrayal of the Queen in the fourth series of The Crown. (Netflix)

Colman began her brief speech at the Emmys saying: "I’d have put money on that not happening! I don’t know what to say, thank you very much, this is amazing.

"And what an extraordinary end to this lovely family. I loved every second of it and I can’t wait to see what happens next."

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 19: Michaela Coel from 'I May Destroy You' appears at the 73RD EMMY AWARDS, broadcast Sunday, Sept. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/5:00-8:00 PM, live PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. (Photo by Cliff Lipson/CBS via Getty Images)
Michaela Coel at the Emmys in LA, where she dedicated her award to all sexual assault survivors. (CBS via Getty Images)

She will be replaced by Imelda Staunton as the Queen in the next series of Netflix royal drama.

Colman ended her speech saying: "Michaela Coel, f**k yeah!"

Read more: Olivia Colman's real name is NOT Olivia Colman

Coel had dedicated her Emmy award for BBC drama I May Destroy You to all survivors of sexual assault.