Empire of Light is Mendes’ most personal film to date. He and its stars, including Colman, Micheal Ward and Toby Jones, talk medication, escapism and kicking down sandcastles
Just before she falls asleep, Olivia Colman often has the same fantasy. “There’s a phrase in French,” she says, “which is that as you’re going into your slumber, you become your most eloquent. I don’t know what it is, but I love that they have a word for it. Anyway, I have these incredible dreams about seeing a bully. Nowadays I think I could go: ‘Don’t fucking do that!’ But as a younger person, I couldn’t. So in my dream, I stand up and I do a speech and go: ‘Fuck you!’ And the people go, ‘Oh! I’m so sorry for my behaviour!’”
She shivers with pleasure. From the next chair, a great thunderclap of cackles courtesy of Micheal Ward, her co-star in Empire of Light. Colman clarifies: “I’ve never done that, given a speech like that. But to watch someone with no inhibitions, unleashed to say what they want to say … goosebumps!”
