Claire Foy recently shared her thoughts and experiences regarding her acting career during an appearance at the Zurich Film Festival.
The talented British actress received the prestigious Golden Eye Award while promoting her new film, “H Is for Hawk,” which recently premiered at Telluride Film Festival.
In “H Is for Hawk,” Foy plays the character Helen, who navigates the profound loss of her father, portrayed by Brendan Gleeson. In her journey of grief, Helen finds solace by caring for a hawk named Mabel. Under the direction of Philippa Lowthorpe, this film is adapted from Helen MacDonald’s acclaimed memoir. Variety critic Peter Debruge described it as an “unconventional yet moving grief drama.”
Speaking about her character and the themes of the film, Foy conveyed, “I had a strong, visceral reaction when I read it.” She emphasized that the story points to the importance of asking for help during tough times, noting, “It’s also a real story of friendship and not abandoning people when they are being very difficult.”
To prepare for the role, Foy learned the art of falconry. Reflecting on her previous experiences, she humorously stated about her role in “Breathe,” “I don’t know if I ‘worked’ with an elephant. The elephant was just there.” She highlighted her admiration for the “incredible birds” she trained with for her latest film.
Foy explained the falconry training process, noting, “The training is basically to allow the bird to trust you and get used to you. You just have to be patient and kind, and compassionate. It’s like a house spider – you are terrified of it but it’s more terrified of you.” She also mentioned how each bird had its own personality, adding, “I loved all of them.”
From her notable breakout roles in “Little Dorrit” and “Upstairs Downstairs,” to her unforgettable performance in “Wolf Hall,” which she described as a “job of a lifetime,” Foy’s career continues to evolve. She fondly recalled meeting author Hilary Mantel, stating, “I met Hilary Mantel and asked her what she had for lunch. I just thought: ‘Say something, say something.’”
Foy shared nostalgic memories of her teenage years and her initial struggles with her identity in the spotlight, reminiscing about her obsession with the musical “Titanic” primarily because of Leonardo DiCaprio.
She also reflected on her unique experience working alongside Nicolas Cage in the film “Season of the Witch,” where she marvelously recalled the extravagance of that environment, stating, “People were getting helicopters and private jets, and that doesn’t exist anymore.”
However, it was her role as Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix’s “The Crown” that catapulted her to international fame, leading her to win two Emmy Awards for her performance. At the time, she was heavily pregnant, facing unique challenges on set. “[Stephen Daldry] had me flirting with Winston Churchill as a very pregnant queen. I loved it – it felt like someone was paying attention,” she shared.
Addressing her interpretation of the Queen, Foy noted, “I could see her as a person, not as a figurehead.” Despite the rigid structure of the institution, she recognized a significant difference between her character’s public persona and private self, stating that the Queen was “much more unguarded [as a younger woman].”
Foy expressed her lack of apprehension about being typecast, humorously noting, “There are not that many queens.” Looking ahead, she mentioned an upcoming adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s novel, the “Magic Faraway Tree,” in which she will star alongside Andrew Garfield.
Reflecting on her past experiences at the Zurich Film Festival, she recalled, “I was at Zurich before, with ‘Breathe,’ but it was Andrew Garfield who won the Golden Eye,” displaying her humorous side.
On receiving the Golden Eye Award, she candidly admitted, “With [lifetime achievement] awards, you always think you don’t really deserve that. It’s other people who get these things.” But now, as she embraces her success, she can definitively say, “Not anymore.”
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