British actor Olivia Colman, reknowed for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, has a surprising confession: she loves a good swear word. As long as it’s used responsibly, of course. This revelation comes just in time for her latest film, Wicked Little Letters, a comedic whoudnit brimming with creative expletives.
“I rarely swear at another person in anger,” clarifies Colman, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of another monarch, Queen Anne, in The Favourite. “I use it every day or I use it if I’m cross about something. I think it’s a useful tool and I think it’s a wonderful seasoning of language,” she adds
In Wicked Little Letters, Colman sheds her regal image to play a pious spinster named Edith living in a conservative English coastal town during the 1920s. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she starts receiving anonymous poison pen letters filled with colourful language.
Outraged, she accuses her free-spirited neighbour Rose, played by Irish actor Jessie Buckley, and gets her wrongfully imprisoned. But a lone female police officer, played by Singnaporean actor Anjana Vasan, suspects foul play and delves deeper into the case.
This female-led comedy explores themes of post-war trolling, societal expectations, and surprising power of profanity as a tool for liberation.
Buckley adds, It shows trying to shackle women “only causes some kind of lav overspill,”
Interestingly, 85% of the strong language in the film’s script was reportedly original, challenging the perception that people in the 1920s were prim and poor. Director Thea Sharrock even hopes the film will resonate with younger audiences despite its mature rating.
“Apart from the swearing, there is no reason why young teenagers can’t see this movie,” she argues. “There are lessons to be learned… about language and the use of it and about why it’s really important to know that there have to be boundaries,” she mentions.
Colman, true to her character, doesn’t shy away from using strong language to express her disapproval of online trolls. “We’re not on social media, so we take ourselves out of that arena and we are much happier people because of it.”
However, both she and Buckley admit enjoying the occasional well-placed swear word. Colman currently favours the “C-word,” while Buckley prefers the classic “F-bomb.”
“I love that it still holds so much power,” says Colman about her chosen word, suggesting it can even be used as a term of endearment with the right tone. “I think it’s important for women to own that word because it’s ours.”
Wicked Little Letters promises to be hilarious and thought-provoking exploration of language, societal norms, and the enduring power of female voices, all delivered with a healthy dose of wit and, of course, some colourful vocabulary.
The story is based on true events that took place in 1920s in London, leading more excitement for the audience, Wicked Little Letters is a package of old-English culture filled with mystery.
