Sally
out under this rubber suit, soaked through with water, weighing a ton.
H AW K I N S
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I never saw Doug, I saw this incredible being that loved Elisa. They recognize each other, and that’s all that matters. How can you look at him and think that he’s a monster? He’s incredibly sexy. That was very important to Guillermo. He has this incredible body, and getting his bottom right was so important to Guillermo. It’s a beautiful bum
The British actress found a special connection to her character in Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water. BY J OE U T IC H I
[laughs]. Elisa is mute and she communicates with sign language. What was involved in learning that? It was a lot of work. I’d done a brief bit of sign language before, in a scene in a play. But it really is learning a new language. Having only a few weeks to do it in, you’re never going to be fluent, but I didn’t want to give myself away. I wanted it to feel as seamless as possible, so I could never do enough preparation. It was a period piece, as well,
SCAR LOVES A GOOD SPEECH. And in Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, Sally Hawkins’ Elisa gets one of the best and most moving in recent memory. And yet, she does it without saying a word. Elisa is mute, and Hawkins had to learn period ASL for the ’60s-set tale of a cleaner (Hawkins) at a government facility who falls madly in love with an unusual creature from the deep being studied in the lab. “The way he looks at me,” she signs, “he doesn’t know what I lack, or how I am incomplete.”
O
so it was period ASL [American Sign Language], and yet also with it being an amalgamation of things she cobbled together, because of where she would probably have learned it. We discussed briefly that she’s probably learned it from a book, and spliced it together from things she’d picked up. So she had her own language within that, which gave a bit of leeway. I still wanted to be as accurate as possible, for it to have that layer of richness, so that it could be understood on another level.
How does it feel to learn Guillermo del Toro
strange thing, because her inner life is so strong
has written his new script with a lead role
and rich, and yet no one would really know about
acquire, and quickly. I had the luxury of a little bit
meant for you?
it. All the dreams, and the things she would talk
of time beforehand to do some dance practice for
It’s an incredible thing. A lot of directors do that;
to herself about. We all have that, really. And Elisa
that sequence, and I wanted to start learning ASL
they write for the voice in their head. And Guillermo
does express herself. She speaks just as clearly as
in London, as quickly as I could. I happened to be
wrote those roles for Octavia Spencer and Michael
the rest of us, just without using language.
in LA preparing the dance, and then I learned some
There were certain technical things I needed to
Shannon, too. And Doug [Jones], of course. That’s
Finding the purity of Elisa, and getting her
the kind of man he is. It’s like a gift that has landed
soul right—her energy, her essence—was such a
Once I got to Toronto, where the film was shot, it
from the skies.
delicate, fine thing. That purity of her soul was
was stepped up to another level. It’s like doing an
important. She has a real gentleness of heart, and
intense course, and you can never do enough work.
more ASL there. But it was all the foundations.
What kind of a director is he?
yet there’s a real strength within her. I feel that
He is the most remarkable person, and you feel
so strongly because I think it’s something we are
The world premiere in Venice, at the film festi-
honored to be in his presence. He inspires everyone
often really, really missing in this world. I find that
val, was an emotional experience for every-
he comes into contact with, and everyone who he
very scary, that we have become more and more
one. What went through your mind?
works with just wants to do the best for him and
cynical. True innocence, and true purity of being,
will go above and beyond to make sure his vision
has been lost.
is fulfilled. Guillermo is an important filmmaker,
It was overwhelming, and incredibly emotional, that night. I hadn’t actually seen the film in its
and a force for good in the film industry. He has
Elisa’s relationship with the creature Doug
anything with a huge audience. The pressure of
so much knowledge, and creativity in abundance.
Jones plays is so natural—the fact that he’s
that night, when you’re being watched, that was
He’s good humored, he has an incredible heart and
a creature from the deep seems almost inci-
hard. But, for whatever reason, I wasn’t able to see
he crackles with intelligence. He makes you feel like
dental. How did you work with Doug on that
it before, so that was my first experience. You’re
you could be the best version of yourself. You learn
relationship?
trying to process all you’re seeing, and then the
so much from him.
Elisa doesn’t see him in any other way than just
emotion of the night at the same time. It’s the
the being that he is, and she sees his soul. It makes
first launch of this film that means so much to you
Did you immediately know who your charac-
her recognize something in herself. It was won-
and has been a huge part of your heart. It’s more
ter, Elisa, was?
derful to work with Doug because, like Guillermo,
than I can really put into words, and the response
As soon as I knew about her, I felt I knew her. She
he’s another genius. He has an incredible ability to
was just beautiful. And it was beautiful, especially,
is an extraordinary woman, and so complex. I love
move and transform his body, but it’s his heart that
because of how it affected Guillermo. To see him
the contradictions and tensions within her. She’s
shines through. This relationship wouldn’t work
be honored in that way, with that standing ovation
not one thing or the other, she’s both. It’s a very
without Doug, and the incredible heart that sings
to him, that response meant everything. ★
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entirety until then, and I never really like to see
Chris Chapman
11/21/17 2:24 PM