The Lost Daughter: Netflix release date, trailer and cast of Olivia Colman film based on Elena Ferrante novel

The Lost Daughter – Olivia Colman’s new psychological drama about a missing child – is coming to cinemas on 17 December and then to Netflix on 31 December.

Here’s everything you need to know about The Lost Daughter.

What is The Lost Daughter about and is it based on a novel?

The Lost Daughter is about Leda (Olivia Colman), an academic on holiday in Greece. Her holiday is disrupted when an American family arrives at the same beach, even more so when their child goes missing. Leda helps them find their lost daughter, and in turn reflects on her own past as well.

It received a four-minute standing ovation after its premier at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year.

The Lost Daughter is based on a novel by Elena Ferrante, who wrote the highly acclaimed novel My Beautiful Friend. There have been three sequels, which together have sold over 10 million copies in 40 countries, and it was adapted into a television series on HBO in 2018.

Who is in the cast of The Lost Daughter?

The Lost Daughter stars Olivia Colman (Broadchurch, The Favourite) as Leda, a divorcee on her first holiday in years. Jessie Buckley (Chernobyl, Wild Rose) plays a younger Leda in flashback sequences.

Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) plays Nina, a young mother who crosses paths with Leda on holiday. Her daughter Elena reminds Leda of her own children, who have now moved to Canada.

The rest of the cast includes Ed Harris (Westworld), Paul Mescal (Normal People), Peter Sarsgaard (Dopesick) and Dagmara Domińczyk (Succession).

The Lost Daughter has been written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Deuce), based on a novel by Elena Ferrante (My Beautiful Friend). It is Gyllenhaal’s feature film directorial debut.

Where can I see the trailer for The Lost Daughter?

You can find the trailer for The Lost Daughter right here. You can see Leda (Olivia Colman) on the beach, and some of her interactions with Nina (Dakota Johnson).

Where was The Lost Daughter filmed?

The Lost Daughter was filmed on the Greek island Spetses, which is a two-hour ferry from Athens.

It began filming in September 2020.

Is The Lost Daughter going to win any Oscars?

It’s a little early to say for sure, but currently it’s expected that Olivia Colman will pick up her third Oscar nomination (after The Favourite in 2019 and The Father in 2020) and very possibly her second win too.

There’s also a lot of buzz around Maggie Gyllenhaal’s writing and directing, especially after she won the Golden Osella Award for Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival. It’s likely she’ll get nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and possibly Best Director too.

Jessie Buckley may receive a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and the film itself is likely to get a Best Picture nomination.

Has the Lost Daughter won any other awards?

On 6 March, The Lost Daughter won several awards at the Film Independent Spirit Awards: Best Screenplay and Best Feature for Maggie Gyllenhaal, and the overall Best Feature award as well.

Where can I watch The Lost Daughter?

The Lost Daughter is being released in cinemas on 17 December.

Shortly after that, it will also be available on Netflix from 31 December.

Why should I watch it?

Because critics are already hailing it as another unmissable performance from Olivia Colman.

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going. You can also sign up to our email newsletters and get a curated selection of our best reads to your inbox every day.