Brief

Olivia Colman says viral wicker memes are a first for her career

The actress credits Alexander Skarsgård’s costume and the film’s fantasy premise for the online frenzy.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:58:44 GMT

Speaking at the London Film Festival premiere of the new rom‑com Wicker, lead star Olivia Colman told the BBC that the torrent of memes and jokes about the film’s “wicker husband” is unprecedented in her career. “No, literally this has never happened for anything I’ve done before,” she said, adding that the quirky premise – a medieval fisherwoman who commissions a basket‑maker to create a partner out of wicker – has sparked a “big reaction” online.

Colman noted that Alexander Skarsgård’s appearance in an “interesting outfit” – a life‑size piece of furniture that serves as the titular husband – is the main driver of the buzz. “We all love a little bit of escapism. That’s what film is beautiful for. It’s magical, a bit of fantasy, and people love that, especially currently,” she explained. The film also features Peter Dinklage as the basket‑weaver, Elizabeth Debicki as the tailor’s wife, and Richard E Grant as the village doctor.

Debicki agreed that Skarsgård’s costume is a key factor, saying, “I think it was a lot to do with Alex in a wicker man costume, really,” as reported by the BBC. Skarsgård himself gave credit to the designers, stating, “All I had to do was get stuck into it,” and described the sex scenes as “super fun” to shoot, adding that the comedic bed‑crash moments were “great”.

The viral reaction has even drawn in brands; IKEA posted photos of its rattan furniture on Instagram with the caption “husband material”. The film, based on Ursula Wills‑Jones’s short story The Wicker Husband, premiered earlier at Sundance and received a two‑star review from The Guardian, which praised its eye‑catching premise but warned of “too much wood but not enough fire”.

Key facts

Olivia Colman said the meme frenzy around Wicker is unprecedented for her. (bbc.co.uk)
Alexander Skarsgård appears as a life‑size wicker husband, driving much of the online buzz. (bbc.co.uk)
IKEA posted a nod to the film on Instagram with the caption “husband material”. (bbc.co.uk)
The film is based on Ursula Wills‑Jones’s short story The Wicker Husband. (bbc.co.uk)
The Guardian gave the film a two‑star review, noting an eye‑catching premise but too much wood. (bbc.co.uk)