Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch Talk Love, Marriage, and The Roses
When two of Britain’s most beloved actors, Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, sit down together, the conversation is bound to be lively, sharp, and filled with laughter. The pair, who star as Ivy and Theo in The Roses , a new adaptation of The War of the Roses , spoke about love, marriage, and why relationships can be both wonderful and exhausting at the same time.
Also Read:In the film, Ivy and Theo are a couple whose seemingly picture-perfect life begins to unravel. She becomes a celebrated chef, while his career as an architect falters, leaving him to shoulder domestic duties. What follows isn’t just the crumbling of a marriage, but also a satirical exploration of ego, ambition, and the messy balancing act of modern love. Unlike the 1989 Danny DeVito version, this retelling softens some of the darker edges but keeps the focus on what happens when two people love each other, yet can’t quite survive the pressures of life together.
Colman and Cumberbatch bring warmth and wit to the roles, and their off-screen banter is just as compelling. Asked what they love and loathe about one another, Cumberbatch admitted he hates how predictable he feels around Colman, because she always seems a few steps ahead. Colman, in turn, teased him while reassuring him with affection, encouraging him to stop being so hard on himself. Their chemistry reflects a friendship that has lasted years, with genuine admiration layered beneath the jokes.
The two also spoke about the realities of long-term love. Cumberbatch reflected that society often romanticizes love to an impossible degree. Movies and classic ideals have convinced us that romance is all passion and perfection. But in truth, he said, it eventually comes down to ordinary things—being tired, taking out the bins, showing up when it matters. Colman chimed in with her characteristic cheer, saying she loves love, even if it sometimes looks less like a fairy tale and more like teamwork.
The film itself draws attention to modern pressures—dual careers, raising children, mortgages, and the constant expectation to be “special.” Screenwriter Tony McNamara points out that capitalism has crept into relationships, making success and fulfilment as much a part of marriage as love itself. Colman, though, insists the story isn’t about gender battles so much as shared responsibility at home, noting it could just as easily apply to a same-sex couple.
Despite the heavy themes, both actors insisted that love, though challenging, remains something to celebrate. Colman joked that the best cure for Hollywood glamour is going home to deal with something ordinary—like cleaning up after the dog. Cumberbatch agreed, saying it’s about finding meaning beyond the romantic ideal, something that lasts even when the passion ebbs.
In the end, The Roses may be about a couple at war, but through Colman and Cumberbatch’s eyes, it’s also about survival, laughter, and the imperfect beauty of sticking it out when love feels less like fireworks and more like simply doing the bins together.
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