Sally Hawkins Quotes

Powerful Sally Hawkins for Daily Growth

About Sally Hawkins

Sally Hawkins is a celebrated British actress known for her captivating performances and unique acting style. Born on April 27, 1976, in Lewisham, London, England, she grew up with a passion for the arts that was nurtured by her parents, Jenny, a journalist, and Colin Hawkins, a lecturer. Hawkins' interest in acting began early; at just three years old, she joined Lewisham Children's Theatre. This laid the foundation for her future career as an actress. She pursued formal training at the Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 1998. Her breakthrough role came in Mike Leigh's 2006 film "Happy-Go-Lucky," where she portrayed Poppy Cross, a cheerful primary school music teacher. Her performance earned her critical acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. In 2017, Hawkins garnered worldwide recognition for her role as Elisa Esposito in Guillermo del Toro's critically-acclaimed film "The Shape of Water." Her silent and emotionally powerful performance as a mute cleaning woman who falls in love with a sea creature won her another Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actress. Hawkins is also renowned for her work on stage, receiving the Olivier Award for Most Promising Female Performer for her role in "Happy Now" at the National Theatre in 2012. Throughout her career, Hawkins has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to bring depth and complexity to her characters, earning her a reputation as one of Britain's most talented actresses. Her versatility, authenticity, and commitment to her craft make every performance an unforgettable experience.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I think you either go mad or you're a genius. Or both."

This quote by Sally Hawkins suggests that individuals who choose to embark on unconventional paths, exploring complex ideas or pushing boundaries in their work, may find themselves labeled as "mad" or eccentric by society. However, these same individuals might also possess exceptional intellectual abilities, making them geniuses. The quotation implies that there can be an overlap between the traits of madness (often associated with creativity and unconventionality) and genius, and that it's possible for someone to be both, as they navigate their unique creative journey.


"The human heart is an amazing thing. It can break and still keep beating."

This quote highlights the resilience and strength of the human spirit. Even when faced with pain or emotional trauma, a person's capacity to endure and continue living shows the incredible power within us. The broken heart symbolizes hurt, sorrow, or loss, yet its ability to keep beating signifies that life goes on despite these adversities. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance and hope in the face of difficulty, reminding us all of our inherent strength and ability to heal and move forward.


"I always felt like I was made to be an actor because it allows me to express things that I couldn't put into words."

This quote by Sally Hawkins suggests that acting is a means for her to convey emotions, feelings, or experiences she finds difficult to articulate through language alone. The art of acting offers her an outlet to creatively communicate and share aspects of herself and human nature that may remain hidden or unexpressed in everyday life.


"I feel that as an actor, you have a responsibility to be truthful to the story."

This quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity in acting. Sally Hawkins suggests that actors should strive to portray their characters truthfully, ensuring their performance aligns with the narrative's essence. By being truthful to the story, they can create a more engaging and believable experience for the audience. In doing so, the actor also respects the integrity of the character and the tale being told.


"I think when you're in love with someone, you don't need words to communicate with them."

This quote implies that deep, emotional connections between two people transcend the need for spoken language. When individuals are deeply in love, they can understand each other on a profound level, even without the use of words. Emotions like compassion, empathy, and unspoken understanding become the primary means of communication, allowing them to connect on a deeper, more intimate level.


You only do good work when you're taking risks and pushing yourself.

- Sally Hawkins

Work, Risks, Good Work, Pushing

Comedy was why I got into acting the first place. Peter Sellers was a huge influence on my wanting to act. I grew up with him and found him hysterical. The Pink Panther films were an inspiration, from my earliest childhood days, when I was watching them with my brother and my dad.

- Sally Hawkins

Pink, Wanting, Dad, Huge Influence

I love working and I love doing lots of things and a variety of things. It keeps your mind active... and you don't end up worrying about just the one thing. When I chew things over or analyze too much, that is when I can trip myself up.

- Sally Hawkins

Love, Doing, About, Analyze

It's different for every project. Some parts are quicker than others to get and know; sometimes right up until the last moment you're just praying that something will click. But you can only do a certain amount of work and then at some point you've got to think: 'OK, I'm just going to have to leap now.'

- Sally Hawkins

Project, Sometimes, Some, OK

I first started acting in primary school, just doing little plays. And from the moment I began, something just went 'click' inside me. Suddenly I wasn't shy anymore. Instead I felt confident and happy. I can remember the enormous sense of relief it gave me. I loved the feeling of making people laugh.

- Sally Hawkins

Doing, Shy, Confident, Primary

I know from my own experience that great films and great actors can have a really big influence on you. There is a place for art in the world, and if you're lucky enough to be good at something and to keep being given work, it's not such a bad thing.

- Sally Hawkins

Lucky, Big, Bad, Big Influence

I don't wear bright orange clothes or leopard skin boots, but it was really good fun to play someone that does and have an excuse too!

- Sally Hawkins

Play, Bright, Wear, Boots

I'm not very well known. However, the more well known you get, the more people are going to have expectations of you. Although that's great, it also imposes certain pressures.

- Sally Hawkins

Very, However, More People, Pressures

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!

- Sally Hawkins

Give, I Remember, Some, Publisher

Characters that are not the norm or a bit out of the ordinary are always a challenge as an actress. You learn more by using different tools for those type of characters. They are always much more fun to play and much more interesting. They take you places that you wouldn't necessarily go in your everyday life.

- Sally Hawkins

Play, Your, Bit, Everyday Life

A different script calls for different things. It always takes me a long time to get to know the part, and know the logic behind the words. I have to be with the script for quite a long time before things start to fall into place, before they become part of the character.

- Sally Hawkins

Behind, Before, Part, Quite A Long Time

Different directors have different things, so when I left Mike Leigh, as it were, and I went into other projects after 'All or Nothing,' it took some getting used to - what do you mean there's a script?!?' That kind of thing.

- Sally Hawkins

Some, Other, Projects, Different Things

Sometimes you go into a film and you have no time to prepare and have to compress the details into a few days and then rely on the instinct and what happens when you're in a scene with other actors and that chemistry or not.

- Sally Hawkins

Chemistry, Prepare, Other, Compress

People are funny, and in the most tragic situations, when comedy erupts from nowhere, it can turn on its head within the space of a second or a minute. You're laughing one minute and you're crying the next and that's just life for me, and that is what people are like.

- Sally Hawkins

Space, Turn, Next, Laughing

I love disappearing. That's what acting is. For me it's about putting on a persona, stepping into a pair of shoes. It's my face, but I'm using it as a tool for that spirit, that character.

- Sally Hawkins

Love, Using, Persona, Tool

Being in nature is very important to me. I'm not a glamour puss.

- Sally Hawkins

Nature, Important, Very, Glamour

I do worry about young people in the business who have experienced a lot of success and are punted around doing those manic publicity trails, when you don't really know who you are yet.

- Sally Hawkins

Doing, Young, About, Experienced

You always want your films to go as far as they can.

- Sally Hawkins

Always, Far, Films, As Far As

My parents have a strong work ethic, but their attitude to life, their philosophy, is: 'whatever makes you happy.'

- Sally Hawkins

Work, Strong, Happy, Ethic

One of the things I love about acting is that I can enter into these other people's lives. But going back to being me at the end of the day is very important, too. That process of remembering who I am.

- Sally Hawkins

Love, Other, Very, Enter

I never come away from a film thinking I nailed it.

- Sally Hawkins

Never, Away, Come, Nailed

You can't be a woman and not be a feminist, I don't think. If you care about the world and the world you exist in and your rights.

- Sally Hawkins

Woman, Think, About, Feminist

You say something, things you would rather forget, and then they are out there. It makes me anxious and I don't know why people are interested in me anyway. If I had my way, I would rather exist in a little hole and not speak to anyone.

- Sally Hawkins

Why, Rather, Had, Hole

Of course you want to be good and you want to do the best you can, but I am inspired by great writing. If there's something about the script, that's what I go for, although I know that that doesn't always translate because sometimes it's about the vision of the director.

- Sally Hawkins

Best, Sometimes, About, Translate

What works for me is knowing the character in an emotional sense. I wish I was more logical but it doesn't work for me like that. I need quite a lot of time; it's why I always worry when I'm doing more than one thing at a time. I hope that some sort of magic will kick in.

- Sally Hawkins

Magic, Doing, Some, Logical

I loved working with kids, and kids are the most incredibly discerning audience. And if they don't believe you, they will tell you and let you know. I mean, kids is where it's at, really.

- Sally Hawkins

Audience, Will, Tell, Discerning

You think that adulthood will hit and you'll suddenly be more capable. But that doesn't happen, ever, does it?

- Sally Hawkins

Think, Happen, Ever, Adulthood

When an audience is affected in a way that I've seen with some people, it's so inspiring to me an actor. You know that you're on the right track and you're doing work that can affect people. When that goes hand-in-hand with important issues that we're still living with, and we will be for a long time, sadly, it's so confirming of everything.

- Sally Hawkins

Doing, Some, Affect, Right Track

I grew up with 'Jane Eyre,' reading it at school, and it's one of those, I think, for a lot of women, a lot of girls, it's the iconic story and so many girls relate to Jane Eyre and her character.

- Sally Hawkins

Think, Iconic, I Think, Jane

I'm quite an optimist, quite happy in life, quite smiley.

- Sally Hawkins

Life, Happy, Optimist, Quite

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