Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman stars alongside Alexander Skarsgard in the upcoming British romantic fantasy film *Wicker*, which opens in the UK and Ireland this Friday. The film tells the story of a solitary fisherwoman who commissions a husband made entirely of wicker, sparking an unconventional romance that disrupts the quiet life of their village.

Directed and written by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, *Wicker* is based on Ursula Wills’ short story *The Wicker Husband*. The cast includes notable actors such as Peter Dinklage, who plays the basket weaver, along with Elizabeth Debicki and Ella Bruccoleri.

Colman, 52, who won an Academy Award for her role in *The Favourite* (2018), describes her character’s journey as one of personal empowerment through love. The actress explains that while the fisherwoman is content with her solitude, experiencing love reawakens a sense of worthiness and adds depth to her strength. “She’s perfectly happy on her own... but then to experience being loved, which she can’t remember, I think, it empowers her,” Colman said. “I don’t think she ever felt not strong, but she feels more worthy, and that sort of love should make you feel even better than you feel anyway.”

Skarsgard, 50, who plays the wicker husband, called his character a “pretty good partner,” highlighting his loving and attentive nature. He added, “I’m not sure he’s perfect... OK, he is perfect.” He further noted that beneath its whimsical premise, the story delivers a feminist message about a woman taking control of her happiness, upsetting the social order and provoking jealousy among other village women.

The film’s narrative explores how the fisherwoman’s newfound relationship stirs intrigue, envy, and social upheaval, threatening to unravel the community’s dynamics. Colman praised the British film industry for its support of original and unconventional stories. “It can get a little samey, some of the scripts that come through, and this was so exciting that it was totally different,” she said. “I love the British film industry. I think it’s alive and kicking.”

*Wicker* represents a blend of fantasy and social commentary, marking a distinctive entry in the current cinematic landscape.