Empire Of Light Filming Location, Cast And Character Guide

Empire of Light has a star-studded cast starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Monica Dolan, and Tom Brooke among others.

Olivia Colman Plays Hilary Small

Olivia Colman as seen as Hilary Small in the film Empire of Light — Source : rottentomatoes

Hilary Small has huge problems in her life, she is a cinema manager. She is struggling with mental health issues for not quite clear reasons. Hilary is also exploited by her boss while overseeing the day-to-day operations of the front house. She finds safe haven with her new employee but their fate is unsure.

Portraying the protagonist Hilary Small is actress Olivia Colman. Her real name is Sarah Caroline Sinclair but she is well-known among her followers by her moniker Olivia Colman. Known for her comic and dramatic roles, Colman has several accolades and awards including one Oscar, one British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards among others.

She made her debut in the television series Bruiser back in the year 2000. She is also best known for portraying her majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the television series The Crown. Other appearances among her 117 acting credits include The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Thomas & Friends: Meet the Characters!, and several others according to her IMDb profile.

Micheal Ward Plays Stephen

Micheal Ward as seen as Stephen in the film Empire of Light. — Source : imdb

Stephen is the new employee at The Empire theater in a seaside small town in England. He has his own struggles with emotions and mental health in the middle of the racism he faces but finds a bond with his manager Hilary at the theater. The two grow a magical bond, something like love, between them but their fate is unknown.

Hilary's love interest Stephen is played by actor Micheal Ward. He is a Jamaican-British actor and former model best known for his appearance in Top Boy, Blue Story, The A-List, and many others. The actor has 16 acting credits on his IMDb profile since making his debut in 2016 in Brotherhood. He was also awarded the 2020 BAFTA Rising Star Award for his performance.

The 25-year-old actor was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica on November 18, 1997, to his then-18 years old mother Keisha. He has three sisters in his family, and they moved to the United Kingdom when Ward was just 4 years old. He has always had an interest in acting and started pursuing his dream while he was still in college.

Colin Firth Plays Donald Ellis Aka Mr. Ellis

Colin Firth as seen as Donald Ellis in the film Empire of Light. — Source : collider

Donald Ellis aka Mr. Ellis is Hilary's boss or superior manager at The Empire theater. He has exploited Hilary while she worked at The Empire theater but much about Donald's role in the film has not come to the surface.

Mr. Ellis is portrayed by actor Colin Firth. He has 90 acting credits in his IMDb profile which he has amassed since his debut in 1984 with the television series Crown Court. He has since appeared in acclaimed films and television series including A Single Man, Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Staircase, and several others.

The 62-year-actor was born to academic parents Shirley Jean and David Norman Lewis Firth on September 10, 1960, in Grayshott, Hampshire, England. He broke out of his family traditions pursuing acting rather than being an academic. He started drama workshops at the age of 10 years old and had already made up his mind to pursue acting as a career by the time he was 14.