The 21st edition of the Zurich Film Festival honors British actress Claire Foy with the Golden Eye for her versatile career and her outstanding performance in her new film H IS FOR HAWK. The award will be presented to her on September 29 at the Kongresshaus in Zurich. In addition, she will give insights into her work as part of a ZFF Masters.
From Highnesses to hawks: Claire Foy first made a name for herself with television productions such as LITTLE DORRIT (2008) and UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS (2010), and the BBC adaptation of WOLF HALL (2015) for which she received a BAFTA TV nomination. However her international breakthrough came with the Netflix series THE CROWN (2016–2017). In the first two seasons she portrayed the young Queen Elizabeth II and received a Golden Globe, two Emmys, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance. Foy also proved her versatility on the big screen: in Steven Soderbergh’s UNSANE (2018) she played the leading role, in THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB (2018) the hacker Lisbeth Salander, and in FIRST MAN (2018) she played as Janet Armstrong alongside Ryan Gosling. Her more recent work includes, Andrew Haigh’s acclaimed feature, ALL OF US STRANGERS, which earned her a BAFTA and BIFA nomination and the Oscar-nominated drama WOMEN TALKING directed by Sarah Polley (2022).
«Claire Foy stands out for her great versatility and gives her characters emotional depth – whether as young Queen Elizabeth II in THE CROWN or in film roles such as FIRST MAN. In her new film H IS FOR HAWK, she once again captivates with an intense performance, showcasing her impressive transformative ability,» explains Christian Jungen, Festival Director of the Zurich Film Festival. «She was already a guest at the ZFF in 2017, presenting the European Premiere of BREATHE. We are very pleased to welcome her back to Zurich.»
H IS FOR HAWK
When Helen (Claire Foy) unexpectedly loses her father Alistair (Brendan Gleeson), her world falls apart. To cope with his death, Helen takes in the hawk Mabel; falconry was a childhood passion of hers – one that her father always supported. The demanding training of this spirited bird of prey presents Helen with great challenges. However, it creates a special bond that not only helps her overcome her grief, but also allows her to rediscover the beauty of life. A touching story based on an autobiography, impressively brought to life by Claire Foy.
For her outstanding performance in this new film and her versatile career, the Zurich Film Festival honors the British actress Claire Foy with the Golden Eye. In an exclusive ZFF Masters she will also give insights into her work.
