ARTIST OF THE DAY: SALLY HAWKINS

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I travelled from New York City to pick up a dear friend in New Britain, CT so that we could drive to Litchfield County on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to see MAUDIE with Sally Hawkins at the historic BANTAM MOVIE THEATER, a single screen movie theatre in a quaint little barn. MAUDIE was THIS important for me to share with THIS particular friend. A beautiful movie outing that was intended to bridge a complicated relationship…it was well worth the travel time, the expense (train from my apartment to Grand Central Station to New Haven, to UBER, to car rental site, to New Britain to Litchfield and back in ONE day. Yeah, sometimes we have to have grit and courage to demonstrate love for people in our lives and share pieces of art with them that illustrate who we are, how we love and what we’re all about..even if they don’t love us back). MAUDIE was the movie that spoke to me, spoke to my life. Sally Hawkins was the beautiful conduit of that message. The female creature who creates from a some soul level that is so rare that when I see it, I have to SHOUT IT TO THE MOUNTAIN TOPS like the “house is on fire!”

SALLY HAWKINS FILMOGRAPHY

if you don’t know Sallie Hawkins work, now that we are holed up and homebound, you might want to check out her impressive filmography where she delivers nothing less than stunning performances. Check out her work on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1020089

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT SALLY HAWKINS

Sally Hawkins was born on April 27, 1976, in Dulwich, London.

She is an English actress who made her film debut playing Samantha in ‘All or Nothing’. Hawkins first aspired to become a performer at the age of three after a trip to the circus. She knew then she wanted to perform and entertain audiences. Initially, she intended to establish a career as a comedian but decided she was best-suited to a career in acting. Her acting experience is extensive as she has played roles on the stage, on the television, in movies, and on the radio. Most recently she played the role of Elisa in the 2017 movie ‘The Shape of Water’, directed by Guillermo del Toro and she has started filming for ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’.Here are five more facts that you don’t know about Sally Hawkins. 

1. She is From a Creative FamilyIt is no wonder that Hawkins opted for a career in a creative field as creativity runs in her family. Her parents, Jacqui and Colin Hawkins, are well-known authors and illustrators of children’s books. Sally’s brother, Finbar, works in the television and film industry as a producer.

2. Her Acting Career Began on the StageHawkins studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA). When she graduated in 19998, she began her career by getting roles in plays. These included ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, The Cherry Orchard, and Romeo & Juliet’. Although the majority of her work is now on television or in movies, she is not averse to taking to the stage. Her most recent theater role was in 2015 as a reader for ‘Letters Live’ at Freemasons’ Hall.

3. James Corden Said He Would Marry Hawkins. James Cordon is best-known for playing the role of Smithy in ‘Gavin & Stacey’. However, he was a member of the cast of ‘All or Nothing’, the movie that launched Hawkins’ film career. This is where the pair met and developed a friendship. Corden once said in an interview that he had made a pact with Sally that if neither of them was married by the age of 35, they would marry each other. Sadly for Hawkins, James Corden married Julia Carey in 2012 and the couple now has two children.

4. Three of Her Movies Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. In 2010, three of Hawkins’ movies all premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and each received fantastic reviews. The movies were ‘Never Let Me Go’, ‘Submarine’, and ‘Made in Dagenham’. This was a busy year for Hawkins as she also played the role of Linda/ Gitali in ‘It’s a Wonderful Afterlife’, directed by Gurinder Chadha.

5. She is an Award Winner. In ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’, a 2008 film directed by Mike Leigh, Hawkins plays Poppy Cross. For this role, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and was given the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. She won many other awards and was nominated for even more. For her role as Ginger in the Woody Allen film directed 2013 movie ‘Blue Jasmine’, Hawkins won the Empire Award for Best Supporting Actress.

QUOTE BY SALLY HAWKINS

“I remember once giving my dad some drawings and writings and said, 'If you could just give these to the publisher, that would be great.' And I was about five!”

WHAT I WISH FOR YOU

I wish you the courage to return to one a dream you had as a FIVE YEAR OLD, and just think about it. That all, just think about it. And if you want…yeah, go ahead and make a list of the steps you’d need to take to make it that DREAM come true.