‘Made in Dagenham’ Trailer (2010, dir. Nigel Cole)

There is little doubt that Sally Hawkins gave one of the best acting performances of this entire decade in Mike Leigh’s 2008 masterpiece Happy-Go-Lucky, yet Hawkins was scandalously snubbed when the Academy Award nominations for Best Actress were announced, despite a near clean-sweep of the critical precursors leading up to the Oscars.

After turning in solid supporting performances in An Education and Never Let Me Go, Hawkins’ name is back in contention as a candidate for the leading actress Oscar once again for Made in Dagenham, the true story of female employees walking out in protest against sexual discrimination and to gain equal pay. Aiding Ms. Hawkins in her feminist quest are Bob Hoskins, Rosemund Pike and the always-amazing Miranda Richardson, who looks to be angling for an Oscar nomination of her own—for Best Supporting Actress—for her portrayal of “fiery redhead” politician Barbara Castle. Richardson is a scene-stealer!