Academy-Award winner Olivia Colman, the star of ‘The Favourite, ‘The Crown’, ‘Heartstopper’ and ‘Peep Show’ steals the show as ‘Oblivia Coalmine’, a latex-wearing, potty-mouthed CEO of a fossil fuel company paid for by UK pension holders.

The extraordinary advert – created by Lucky Generals on behalf of Make My Money Matter; the campaign headed by BAFTA Award-winner Richard Curtis – highlights the shocking relationship between UK pension schemes and the fossil fuel industry.

In the spoof feature, Oblivia is clad in black latex in the boardroom of her global fossil fuel company. Surrounded by black opulence, she thanks UK pension holders for their ‘generosity’ in helping her achieve record-breaking profits. The advert ends with a furious Oblivia having her own ‘oil spill’, as she dribbles viscous black champagne down her latex coat.

https://youtu.be/EeZwnnOkrvw?si=4nkj0xxJP\-j3TlLn

Olivia Colman, star of ‘Oblivian’, commented:

“Fracking Hell, Oblivia Coalmine really is a nasty piece of work! But the scariest thing about her is that she represents something very real.

That’s why this is such an important campaign. I hope everyone who sees this ad realises the shocking - but unintended - impacts of our pensions and makes their money matter. It really is one of the most powerful things we can all do to protect the planet.”

The ad, directed by Raine Allen-Miller, the acclaimed director of 2023’s ‘Rye Lane’ - nominated for 16 awards at this year's British Independent Film Awards - aims to raise public awareness of the impacts of the pension industry on the climate emergency, and encourage UK schemes to end their investments in fossil fuel expansion.

It will break just days before COP28; with this year’s critical conference based in the UAE and presided over by Sultan Al Jaber, who runs the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, where the future of fossil fuels will be high on the agenda.

Research from Make My Money Matter shows a staggering £88 billion of UK pension savers money is invested in fossil fuel companies. This includes £20 billion in Shell alone, a company which, despite bumper profits, has publicly rolled back on climate targets this year.

New public polling shows that such investments are not just bad for the planet – but they are also unpopular with savers. Just 19% of UK pension holders support their scheme investing in oil and gas, compared to two thirds (66%) who support their pension investing in renewables.

Despite this, industry action on this agenda is painfully slow. Not one major UK pension scheme has publicly committed to stopping finance for fossil fuel expansion. This despite clear guidance from the International Energy Agency that new oil and gas is incompatible with the 1.5-degree warming target of the Paris Climate Agreement, and the growing long-term risks investments in fossil fuel expansion poses to pension holders.

Ahead of COP28, Make My Money Matter hopes that Oblivia’s explosive performance will raise public awareness of the links between their pensions and fossil fuels, and encourage pension funds to stop financing fossil fuel expansion. Pension holders can show their support for the campaign on the Make My Money Matter’s website.

Richard Curtis, Co-Founder of Make My Money Matter, commented:

“I’ve seen some dark, dystopian characters in my career, and that doesn’t even include Hugh Grant in Love Actually. But I think Oblivia Coalmine is right up there with the worst.

At Make My Money Matter, we hope this sinister performance by Olivia Colman highlights a more serious issue – that billions of pounds of our hard-earned pensions are driving the climate crisis. People across the UK want their money to help our planet, not harm it and all our pension schemes must now pay attention and take immediate and urgent action.”

Raine Allen-Miller, Director of “Oblivian”, commented:

“This was a joy to direct - a brilliant cause with a brilliant actor. I hope this message spreads far and wide, and these pension schemes stop messing with our money!"

Danny Brooke-Taylor, Co-Founder of Lucky Generals, commented

"The cruel irony is that whilst we all save for the future, the pension companies are investing in industries that are actively destroying it."