Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch are tearing each other apart on screen in “The Roses,” portraying a couple locked in a brutal divorce battle. But off-screen, these acclaimed actors share surprisingly warm relationships and secrets to enduring marriages. What’s their real-life recipe for love compared to their characters’ bitter feud?
Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, two of Britain’s most celebrated Hollywood actors, have recently plunged audiences into the intense drama of marital breakdown in their latest production, “The Roses film.” Far from their real-life personas, the duo embodies Ivy and Theo Rose, a once-blissful, affluent couple whose love has soured into an acrimonious divorce battle, demanding a visceral and often unsettling performance from both.
The film, a contemporary adaptation of Danny DeVito’s 1989 black comedy “The War of the Roses,” sees Colman and Cumberbatch unleash a torrent of raw emotion, from bitter arguments to subtle sneers. Their on-screen chemistry, though depicting detestation, is undeniably powerful, highlighting the destructive nature of a marriage spiraling into resentment and hostility.
As the narrative unfolds, the characters’ lives diverge drastically. Theo, a stay-at-home father, dedicates himself to getting their two children into a sports scholarship school, while Ivy embarks on an ambitious career, jetting across America to open new restaurants. This imbalance fuels the growing animosity, portraying a deeply relatable struggle within modern relationships.
In stark contrast to their characters’ tumultuous relationship, both Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch share remarkably stable and happy marriages in their private lives. Colman is famously married to producer Ed Sinclair, with whom she shares three children, embodying a grounded domesticity often unseen in the high-octane world of Hollywood.
Similarly, Cumberbatch maintains a strong family unit with playwright and director Sophie Hunter, also raising three children. Their ability to portray such intense marital discord while maintaining harmonious personal lives speaks volumes about their acting prowess and dedication to their craft, offering fascinating marriage insights for audiences.
Discussing their experience filming “The Roses,” the actors revealed that the dramatic on-set environment surprisingly did not alter their perspectives on love and relationships. Instead, they humorously shared unconventional “marriage advice” learned from their characters’ extreme actions, like avoiding hard fruit and not wearing headphones in the bath, underscoring their lighthearted approach to the intense material.
Beyond “The Roses,” both Hollywood actors continue to dominate the entertainment landscape with diverse roles. Cumberbatch is set to reprise his role as Doctor Strange in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday,” while Colman has recently appeared in Disney+’s “Secret Invasion.” There’s even playful speculation about Colman potentially joining the Marvel universe, hinting at exciting future celebrity relationships on screen.
Critics have widely lauded “The Roses film,” praising its “relentlessly entertaining” quality and highlighting Colman and Cumberbatch’s “deliciously savage” performances. While their future joint projects remain a tantalizing mystery, the undeniable on-screen magic between them ensures that this intense cinematic pairing is unlikely to be their last, offering more fascinating marriage insights through their work.
