In the new movie, Happy-Go-Lucky, Sally Hawkins plays Poppy, a 30-year-old teacher who is so extremely perky and optimistic that it confuses the people around her.  The film has received overwhelmingly positive press, including three awards: the Bringer of Joy Award from the Norwegian International Film Festival, Best Actress for Hawkins at The Berlin International Film Festival, and Best Director for Mike Leigh at the Pula Film festival. We sat down with Sally to discuss how she feels about all the attention and her breakthrough performance.

Filmazing:  How do you feel about your performance getting so much recognition? 

Sally Hawkins: Well that’s beautiful and it’s really quite magical.  As an actor, it’s an incredible position to be in, and I feel very lucky.  I’m so proud of this film.  Since this part was sort of created out of thin air, you never know where it’s going to end up. So to be there and to be in that position is remarkable and beautiful.

Filmazing: You and director Michael Leigh pretty much created Poppy yourselves, right?  Did you have any idea how far this was going to go?

Sally Hawkins: No idea, we didn’t know where it’s was going to end up, which was very exciting, and also terrifying.

Filmazing: What exactly is the message of the film?

Sally Hawkins: I think there are many messages.  I think you probably need to ask Mike about the ultimate message of the film, but she (Poppy) has an extraordinarily ablility to cope with life and people and is able to bounce back from whatever is thrown at her.  I think that’s not to negate the problems, there are many problems of life, and she doesn’t dismiss those, but she treats them with a smile.  I learned that from her actually, that extraordinary ability to just flow through life and whatever’s thrown at you, bounce right back up.

Filmazing: Has the buoyancy changed your personality?

Sally Hawkins: Well not changed, but I think definitely opened my eyes.  I think being with her for such a long time, I did learn a lot from her.  I think mostly her ability to cope and to not judge herself or not judge other people.   I think she did rub off on me, and I think that’s partly her magic.  I hope she rubs off in a positive way on other people too.

Filmazing: Two weeks ago you were in the hospital having an operation on your clavicle.  Tell me about that and being interviewed with a sling on.

Sally Hawkins: It’s a bit of a privilege to be here.  I had a pin taken out because my collar bone was broken. I was doing a stunt.   I should never do my own stunts. That’ll teach me.  A few months ago I had to have it pinned, and then the pin was giving me trouble.  When I was in New York doing press for this film, I had to be rushed to the hospital to have surgery and have it removed.  I’m sorry about the sling, but I’m on the mend definitely. I feel much better than I did.