PODCAST: Sally Hawkins, perky star of 'Happy-Go-Lucky,' is the best actress sleeper who woke up

With the possible exception of Terence Malick, it is nearly impossible to think of any filmmaker who has made as few films films but is held in as high regard as Mike Leigh. Over the course of a 28-year career, the notoriously intense and guarded Brit has churned out a mere 10, but virtually every one of them has been an unqualified critical (if not commercial) success.

Further, these few films have provided several of the meatiest roles for women during that period, and he has directed three of them — Brenda Blethyn and Marianne Jean-Baptiste for "Secrets & Lies" (1996) and Imelda Staunton for "Vera Drake" (2004), all virtually unknown prior to these films — to unlikely Oscar nominations. Leigh's most recent film is "Happy-Go-Lucky," and its central character, Poppy, is also played by a no-name who just might increase that number to four.

Sally Hawkins, a 1998 RADA graduate, was invited to join Leigh's vaunted stock company in 2002 and played supporting parts in his two most recent films. In between, she's also turned up on numerous British television shows and films, as well as in the motion pictures "Layer Cake" (2004), "The Painted Veil" (2006) and "Cassandra's Dream" (2007). It wasn't until Leigh cast her as imperturbable, irrepressible Poppy, though, that she found a proper showcase for her talents.

Poppy is part Annie Hall, part Mother Teresa. And like any saint or sinner, she can be both fun and grating to be around. On the whole, though, she is a singular creation who is nothing if not fascinating to watch and try to understand, which probably explains why Hawkins — despite her lack of name recognition — has been feted left and right ever since "Happy-Go-Lucky" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

At the fest, she picked up the Silver Bear for best actress and has since added awards from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, Boston Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Assn., New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online and San Francisco Film Critics Circle, as well as a nomination for a Golden Globe from the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.

With a track record like that, it would be foolish to consider Hawkins anything but a serious contender for an Oscar nomination, as well, even if she is up against much bigger names including Meryl Streep ("Doubt"), Kate Winslet ("Revolutionary Road"), Cate Blanchett ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Anne Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married"), Angelina Jolie ("Changeling"), Kristin Scott Thomas ("I've Loved You So Long") and Kate Beckinsale ("Nothing but the Truth"), to name just a few.

Whatever happens will be just wonderful as far as Hawkins is concerned — and what else would you expect from the woman who brought Poppy to life? As you can hear for yourself by checking out some of the audio excerpts (below) from an hourlong interview that I conducted with Hawkins a few weeks ago, the actress seems eerily similar to the character ... except, if you can believe it, even happier.

• Hawkins recounts her childhood and path into acting

• Hawkins describes how she first broke into director Mike Leigh's stock company

• Hawkins offers a detailed description of the unique way in which Mike Leigh's films come together

• Hawkins talks about various ways of getting great performances out of actors

• Hawkins addresses how and why Mike Leigh elevated her from a supporting player to a lead

• Hawkins discusses Poppy, the psychology behind her behavior, and audiences' strong reactions to her

• Hawkins breaks down the most interesting scenes in the film

• Hawkins speculates about how audiences reconcile a very happy film with a very unhappy national mood

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Photo: Sally Hawkins in "Happy-Go-Lucky." Credit: Miramax Pictures

Comments

[Matt Mazur]

You know, I think we might be separated at birth, Scott -- I am doing a column on Hawkins, Leigh and Happy Go Lucky for next month! lol! This was a great read, keep them coming!