In a candid and deeply personal interview published on February 6, 2026, Academy Award-winning British actress Olivia Colman has sent shockwaves across social media and the entertainment world by revealing that she has “always felt sort of nonbinary” and has long described herself to her husband as “a gay man.” The 52-year-old star’s remarks, made while promoting her new film Jimpa, have exploded online, garnering millions of views, heated debates, memes, and an outpouring of support and criticism in equal measure.

The interview, conducted by the LGBTQ+ publication Them, centered on Colman’s role in the upcoming drama Jimpa, directed by Sophie Hyde. In the film, Colman plays Hannah, a mother who accompanies her trans non-binary teenager Frances (played by Hyde’s real-life child Aud Mason-Hyde) to Amsterdam to visit the grandfather, a gay man who witnessed the AIDS crisis. The project’s themes of intergenerational queer experience, evolving gender language, and family acceptance prompted Colman to reflect openly on her own sense of identity.

“Throughout my whole life, I’ve had arguments with people where I’ve always felt sort of nonbinary,” Colman told the interviewer. “Don’t make that a big sort of title! But I’ve never felt massively feminine in my being female. I’ve always described myself to my husband as a gay man. And he goes, ‘Yeah, I get that.’ And so I do feel at home and at ease. I feel like I have a foot in various camps.”

She continued, emphasizing her comfort within queer spaces: “I know many people who do. I don’t really spend an awful lot of time with people who are very staunchly heterosexual.” Colman also expressed feeling “honored to be welcomed” by the LGBTQ+ community, particularly after working on projects that explore trans and non-binary experiences.

The comments were quickly seized upon by media outlets worldwide. Headlines ranged from supportive—“Olivia Colman Embraces Non-Binary Identity and Queer Comfort”—to sensational—“Olivia Colman Comes Out as Non-Binary Gay Man, Internet Explodes.” Within hours, clips and quotes from the interview racked up tens of millions of views on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Hashtags such as #OliviaColman, #NonBinary, #GayMan, and #Jimpa trended globally, with reactions spanning admiration, confusion, humor, and backlash.

Supporters praised Colman for her honesty and vulnerability. Many in the LGBTQ+ community celebrated her words as an authentic expression of gender fluidity and self-understanding. “Olivia Colman saying she’s felt nonbinary her whole life and calls herself a gay man to her husband is so real,” one X user wrote. “She’s not trying to claim labels for clout—she’s just being herself.” Others highlighted the refreshing lack of fanfare: Colman repeatedly downplayed the need for “big titles,” framing her feelings as a lifelong personal truth rather than a formal coming-out declaration.

Critics and skeptics, however, questioned the phrasing and implications. Some argued that describing oneself as “a gay man” while remaining in a heterosexual marriage and presenting as a woman could dilute or misrepresent queer identities. “It’s giving ‘I’m not like other girls’ energy but for gender,” one viral thread read. Others accused media outlets of sensationalizing the story, turning a nuanced reflection into clickbait headlines that implied a dramatic “coming out” when Colman herself avoided such framing.

Conservative commentators and gender-critical voices were particularly vocal. On platforms like Mumsnet and GB News, users mocked the statement with phrases like “spicy-straight woman” or “brave coming out as a queer non-binary gay man.” Some questioned how Colman could “know what a gay man feels like,” while others dismissed non-binary identity altogether as a modern trend.

Colman’s long career has frequently intersected with queer narratives. From her Oscar-winning role as Queen Anne in The Favourite (2018), a film steeped in same-sex desire and power dynamics, to her Emmy-winning performance as a supportive mother in Netflix’s Heartstopper, she has built a reputation as an ally and collaborator on LGBTQ+ stories. Her marriage to Ed Sinclair, a writer with whom she shares three children, has been described as loving and supportive—Sinclair’s “Yeah, I get that” response to her self-description was cited as evidence of their deep mutual understanding.

The timing of the interview coincides with growing visibility for non-binary and gender-fluid celebrities. Figures like Demi Lovato, Sam Smith, and Elliot Page have helped normalize conversations around gender identity, but Colman’s approach stands out for its casual, almost humorous tone. She explicitly asked not to make her feelings “a big sort of title,” suggesting she views them as part of a broader spectrum rather than a rigid label.

In the days since publication, Colman has not issued further clarification, allowing the conversation to unfold organically. Representatives for the actress have not commented on the viral frenzy, though sources close to the production of Jimpa say she is focused on the film’s release and the important stories it tells about family, acceptance, and queer history.

The internet reaction underscores a broader cultural moment: public figures’ personal reflections on gender can spark joy, confusion, division, and everything in between. For some, Colman’s words are liberating—a high-profile woman articulating a lifelong sense of not fully fitting binary expectations. For others, they raise questions about language, authenticity, and the boundaries between personal identity and public representation.

As the discourse continues, one thing is clear: Olivia Colman has once again proven her ability to captivate audiences, this time not through a scripted role but through unfiltered honesty about who she has always felt herself to be.