Sally Hawkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sally Hawkins
Hawkins at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival
Born	Sally Cecilia Hawkins (1976-04-27) 27 April 1976 (age 49) Dulwich, London, England
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1998–present
Works	Full list
Parent(s)	Jacqui Hawkins
Relatives	Finbar Hawkins (brother)

Sally Cecilia Hawkins (born April 27, 1976) is an English actress. She started acting on stage and later became famous in movies. She has won many awards, like a Golden Globe Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards and two British Academy Film Awards.

After finishing her studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Sally began her acting journey on stage. She performed in famous plays like Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Her first big movie role was in Mike Leigh's film All or Nothing in 2002. She continued working with Mike Leigh, appearing in Vera Drake (2004) and playing the main character in Happy-Go-Lucky (2008). For Happy-Go-Lucky, she won several awards, including a Golden Globe Award and the Silver Bear for Best Actress.

Sally Hawkins has also appeared in films by Woody Allen, such as Cassandra's Dream (2007) and Blue Jasmine (2013). For Blue Jasmine, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has played lead roles in movies like Made in Dagenham (2010), Paddington (2014), Maudie (2016), and Paddington 2 (2017). She also appeared in big films like Godzilla (2014), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), and Wonka (2023).

In the fantasy film The Shape of Water (2017), Sally played Elisa Esposito, a cleaning woman who cannot speak. Her performance was highly praised, and she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

She has performed in plays at the Royal Court Theatre in London. In 2010, she made her Broadway debut in Mrs. Warren's Profession. On television, she appeared in BBC shows like Tipping the Velvet (2002) and Fingersmith (2005). She also played Anne Elliot in Persuasion (2007), a TV adaptation of Jane Austen's novel.

Early Life and Education

Sally Hawkins was born in Dulwich, London, on April 27, 1976. Her parents, Jacqui Hawkins and Colin Hawkins, are famous authors and illustrators of children's books. Both of her parents have Irish family roots. Sally has a brother named Finbar, who is a television and film producer for Aardman Animations and also writes children's books.

Sally grew up in Blackheath, in a special gingerbread house protected by the National Trust. She became interested in acting when she was just three years old after seeing a circus show. She first wanted to do comedy but ended up performing in theater plays. She went to James Allen's Girls' School in Dulwich and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1998.

Acting Career Highlights

Sally Hawkins began her career mainly as a stage actress. She performed in plays such as Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Romeo and Juliet, The Cherry Orchard, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also had small roles in TV shows like Casualty and Doctors. In 1998, while still a student, she was an extra in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

In 2002, she played Samantha in Mike Leigh's film All or Nothing. This was the first of three movies she made with Leigh. The second was Vera Drake in 2004. She also appeared as Slasher in the 2004 action film Layer Cake.

Her first major TV role came in 2005. She played Susan Trinder in the BAFTA-nominated BBC drama Fingersmith. This show was based on Sarah Waters' novel and she starred alongside Imelda Staunton. She then appeared in another BBC show, Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky. From 2003 to 2005, she was in four episodes of the BBC comedy series Little Britain.

Hawkins on the set of Persuasion in 2006

Sally has also used her voice for many radio shows. These include Concrete Cow, where she also helped write, Ed Reardon's Week, and Think the Unthinkable.

In 2006, Hawkins returned to the stage at the Royal Court Theatre in a play called The Winterling. In 2007, she played Anne Elliot in the TV film Persuasion, based on Jane Austen's novel. Critics loved her performance, and she won a Golden Nymph. She also had a supporting role in the Woody Allen film Cassandra's Dream, which starred Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor.

Breakthrough Role in Happy-Go-Lucky

In 2008, Sally had her big breakthrough role. She worked with director Mike Leigh for the third time in the comedy-drama film Happy-Go-Lucky. She played Poppy Cross, a kind and cheerful primary school teacher. Critics praised her acting. Roger Ebert said she was "a joy to behold," and Peter Bradshaw called her performance "superb." Tom Long of The Detroit News even called it "Oscar-worthy." Her performance won her many awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and the Silver Bear for Best Actress.

Recent Film Successes

In 2010, three films starring Hawkins premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival: Made in Dagenham, Submarine, and Never Let Me Go. All three received good reviews, and Sally's acting was highly praised. For Made In Dagenham, Roger Ebert noted her "effortless lightness of being." In October 2010, she performed on Broadway in Mrs. Warren's Profession.

In 2013, Sally starred with Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine, directed by Woody Allen. For this role, she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She also received nominations for the BAFTA and the Golden Globe.

In 2014, she appeared in Godzilla as Dr. Vivienne Graham, a scientist. Godzilla was a big success, earning over $529 million worldwide. She played the role again in Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019).

Hawkins' "Paws"-themed Paddington Bear statue in London, auctioned to raise funds for the NSPCC

In November 2014, Sally Hawkins played Mrs. Brown in the popular film Paddington. This movie is based on the children's books about Paddington, a bear who moves from Peru to London and is adopted by the Brown family. Sally played Mrs. Brown again in the sequel, Paddington 2 (2017), which was also very successful. For the first Paddington movie, Sally designed a special "Paws"-themed Paddington Bear statue. This statue was one of 50 placed around London and was later sold to raise money for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

In 2017, she starred in the Guillermo del Toro film The Shape of Water. She played Elisa Esposito, a woman who cannot speak and falls in love with a captured creature. Her performance was widely praised. Critics called her "sublime" and said she delivered a "beautiful performance." Sally earned nominations for the Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award for Best Actress. The film itself won Best Picture at the 90th Academy Awards.

In 2022, she starred in The Lost King. This film tells the true story of Philippa Langley, the woman who led the search to find King Richard III's remains under a car park in Leicester. In 2023, Hawkins appeared in Wonka, a film that explores the early life of Willy Wonka from the famous book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Personal Life

In 2018, Sally Hawkins shared that she has lupus, a health condition that can make it hard for her to travel. She also has dyslexia, which means she sometimes finds reading and writing a bit challenging.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Sally Hawkins has received many awards and nominations throughout her career. Here are some of her notable achievements:

Images for kids

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  Hawkins at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival

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  Hawkins on the set of Persuasion in 2006

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  Hawkins' "Paws"-themed Paddington Bear statue in London

See also

In Spanish: Sally Hawkins para niños