THE SHAPE OF WATER (2017) Cast & Crew

Director Guillermo del Toro, and cast stars Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon

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CAST & CREW

GUILERMO DEL TORO , p.g.a. (Directed By, Written By, Story By, Produced By) is among the most creative and visionary artists of his generation whose distinctive style is showcased through his work as a filmmaker, screenwriter, producer and author. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, del Toro first gained worldwide recognition for the 1993 Mexican-American co-production CRONOS, a supernatural horror film, which he directed from his own screenplay after beginning his career working as a special effects makeup artist. His subsequent films include, MIMIC, THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, HELLBOY, PAN'S LABYRINTH, HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY, PACIFIC RIM and CRIMSON PEAK. Del Toro earned international acclaim as the director, writer and producer of the 2006 fantasy drama PAN'S LABYRINTH. He was honored with an Oscar nomination for his original screenplay for the film, which won Academy Awards for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Makeup. In all, the film garnered more than 40 international awards and appeared on more than 35 critics' lists of the year's best films.

SALLY HAWKINS (Elisa Esposito) is one of the UK's most respected actresses. Her extensive and impressive body of work has been widely lauded by the Academy Awards, BAFTAs and Golden Globes. Hawkins most recently starred as the lead alongside Ethan Hawke in MAUDIE, directed by Aisling Walsh. Last year saw Hawkins star in the second series of the highly acclaimed "The Hollow Crown" playing the role of 'Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester' opposite Hugh Bonneville and amongst a cast which included Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Keeley Hawes and Michael Gambon in the mini-series based on Shakespeare's history plays.

In 2014 Hawkins was seen in the hugely successful adaptation of Michael Bond's much loved story PADDINGTON. She portrayed the role of 'Mrs Brown' alongside a cast including Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Nicole Kidman and Julie Walters. She will also star in the highly anticipated sequel.

Hawkins' performance in Woody Allen's BLUE JASMINE in 2013 gained huge praise and garnered her nominations as 'Best Supporting Actress' from the Academy Awards, BAFTA and Golden Globes. She went on to win an Empire Award for her critically acclaimed performance.

In 2014 Hawkins starred in Gareth Edward's GODZILLA where she played Vivienne Graham alongside a cast boasting Aaron Taylor Johnson and Bryan Cranston.

That year also saw Hawkins featured in X+Y which premiered at the London Film Festival to fantastic reviews. Morgan Matthews' drama contains a stellar cast including Rafe Spall, Eddie Marsan and Asa Butterfield. She also filmed the pilot of "How and Why," written and directed by Charlie Kaufman and produced by FX. Hawkins gained international success for Mike Leigh's HAPPY GO LUCKY, her portrayal of the playful 'Poppy' earned her a Golden Globe, as well as 12 other prestigious wins and nominations. In 2010, Hawkins' leading role of 'Rita O'Grady' in director Nigel Cole's (CALENDAR GIRLS) MADE IN DAGENHAM also earned her a nomination in the category of 'Best Actress' at the British Independent Film Awards with the film itself garnering four nominations for BAFTA awards, four nominations at the BIFA awards and a nomination at the London Critics' Circle Film Awards.

In 2011, Hawkins was involved in numerous critically acclaimed films; in NEVER LET ME GO she played the role of 'Miss Lucy' alongside Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley. She was also seen in Richard Ayoade's debut film SUBMARINE with Yasmin Paige, Craig Roberts and Paddy Considine as well as playing 'Marylin' in Sherry Horman's DESERT FLOWER.

Hawkins' repertoire of films additionally features even more impressive titles. She was featured in Gurinder Chadha's (Bend it like Beckham) comic-thriller IT'S A WONDERFUL AFTERLIFE. In the same year, she starred in HAPPY EVER AFTERS, a comedy opposite Tom Riley. In 2008 she also had a role in the BAFTA-winning and Oscar nominated AN EDUCATION alongside Carey Mulligan and starred in LOVE BIRDS directed by Paul Murphy. Her other past film credits include Woody Allen's CASSANDRA'S DREAM, Matthew Vaughan's LAYER CAKE, ALL OR NOTHING and the three-time Oscar nominated VERA DRAKE directed by Mike Leigh.

In the feature adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic GREAT EXPECTATIONS directed by Mike Newell, Hawkins starred as 'Mrs Joe' where she was cast opposite Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Holliday Grainger. She also starred in the comedy LUCKY DOG alongside Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd.

Hawkins has also worked in many notable TV dramas. In 2006, she appeared as Anne Elliot in ITV's adaptation of "Persuasion" which won her the Golden Nymph Award for Best Actress at the Monte Carlo Television Festival as well as winning her a Royal Television Society Award. That same year she starred in BBC 2's "Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart." She also had a recurring role in three series' of the BBC's hit comedy "Little Britain." In 2005 she was the lead in period crime piece "Fingersmith," which was nominated for three BAFTAs. Her other television credits include "Byron" (BBC), "Tipping the Velvet" (BBC), "20,000 Streets Under the Sky" (BBC) and "Man to Man" with Dean Learner (BBC).

Hawkins also has an extensive theatrical background. Most recently she was seen on stage in Constellations; Nick Payne's Olivier nominated production which transferred to the West End after premiering at The Royal Court. She has performed at the Theatre Royal York, in the role of Juliet, in Romeo and Juliet and has also performed in both Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream (playing leading roles; Hero and Hermia respectively) at the prestigious Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. She was also cast in The Wintering and Country Music at the Royal Court Theatre. Hawkins played Adelea in Howard Davies' production of House of Barnada Alba at the National Theatre. She completed her Broadway debut run in the Roundabout Theater's revival of Mrs. Warren's Profession starring alongside Cherry Jones.

*****

A veteran character actress and one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents, OCTAVIA SPENCER (Zelda Fuller) has become a familiar fixture on both television and the silver screen. Her critically acclaimed performance as Minny in DreamWork's feature film THE HELP won her the 2012 Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, SAG Award and Broadcast Film Critic's Choice Award among numerous other accolades.

Spencer most recently was seen in the Academy Award nominated drama HIDDEN FIGURES alongside Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae and Kevin Costner. Spencer's performance as Dorothy Vaughan has earned her Academy Award, SAG, Golden Globe and NAACP Image Award nominations to date. She can also currently be seen starring in THE SHACK, a film based off of the best-selling novel of the same title. She also co-stars in Marc Webb's drama GIFTED alongside Chris Evans and Jenny Slate.

Spencer recently recently finished filming SMALL TOWN CRIME, written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms, and also stars John Hawkes and Anthony Anderson.

Last year, Spencer reprised her role as Johanna in ALLEGIANT, the third installment of Lionsgate's THE DIVERGENT SERIES franchise. She also voiced the character of Mrs. Otterton in the Disney animated film ZOOTOPIA, one of fastest worldwide grossing films of the year. Last fall, she co-starred alongside Elisabeth Moss and Boyd Holbrook in THE FREE WORLD, a drama focusing on a recently released former convict who becomes involved with a married woman with an abusive husband that premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival; the drama FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS with Quvenzhane Wallis, Diane Kruger, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, and Aaron Paul and THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS, the adaptation of Katherine Peterson's young adult Newberry Award winning novel. Spencer also reprised her role as Opal in Mark Waters' BAD SANTA 2, along with Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates.

In 2014, Spencer co-starred alongside Kevin Costner in the drama BLACK OR WHITE, which premiered at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival to rave reviews. Previously, Spencer co-starred in Tate Taylor's GET ON UP, a chronicle of musician James Brown's rise to fame that also starred Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman and the scifi, action-adventure SNOWPIERCER opposite Tilda Swinton and Chris Evans. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, the film followed a train that holds all remaining inhabitants on earth after a climate-change experiment wipes out the rest of the population, and the class system that emerges. In 2013, Spencer was seen in the indie-drama FRUITVALE STATION which won several prestigious awards including both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award for US Dramatic films at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, the Un Certain Regard Award for Prix de l'avenir at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, was named one of AFI's Films of the Year and received nominations for the 2014 Spirit Awards and NAACP Image Awards. Spencer was awarded "Best Supporting Actress" from the National Board of Review for her performance in the film and received an individual nomination from the NAACP Image Awards. She also served as a producer on the film.

Additional film credits include Diablo Cody's directorial debut PARADISE alongside Russell Brand and Julianne Hough, SMASHED; an independent film which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Bryce Dallas Howard's directed segment of CALL ME CRAZY: A FIVE FILM; an anthology of five short films focused on various stories of mental illness, BLUES FOR WILLADEAN, FLY PAPER, PEEP WORLD, DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS, SMALL TOWN SATURDAY NIGHT, HERPES BOY, HALLOWEEN II, THE SOLOIST, DRAG ME TO HELL, SEVEN POUNDS, PRETTY UGLY PEOPLE, COACH CARTER, CHARM SCHOOL, WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON, BAD SANTA, SPIDERMAN, BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, NEVER BEEN KISSED and A TIME TO KILL. In 2009, Spencer directed and produced a short film entitled THE CAPTAIN, which was a finalist for the coveted Poetry Foundation Prize at the Chicago International Children's Film Festival.

Spencer was recently seen guest starring in the latest season of the CBS series "Mom," a comedy that centers on a newly sober mom attempting to pull her life together. Additionally, she made a memorable guest appearance in the final season of 30 Rock, starred in the Comedy Central series Halfway Home and appeared in a five-episode arc as the character Constance Grady on the hit series Ugly Betty. Spencer has been seen in guest-starring roles on shows including "The Big Bang Theory," "E.R.," "CSI," "CSI: NY," "Raising The Bar," "Medium," and "NYPD Blue".

Among her many other professional achievements, Spencer has co-authored an interactive mystery series for children called Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective. The first title in the series, Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit was published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing in Fall 2013 and the second book, Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: Sweetest Heist in History is currently in bookstores.

*****

Academy Award, Golden Globe and Tony Award nominated actor MICHAEL SHANNON (Richard Strickland) continues to make his mark in entertainment, working with the industry's most respected talent and treading the boards in notable theaters around the world.

Shannon most recently was seen in Bart Freundlich's WOLVES, opposite Carla Gugino. Shannon can also be seen in Werner Herzog's thriller, SALT AND FIRE, alongside Gael Garcia Bernal and Veronica Ferras. Later this year, Shannon will be seen in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's THE CURRENT WAR, opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. The Weinstein Company is slated to release this on December 22, 2017.

Additionally in 2017, Shannon will be seen in in Seth Henrikson's POTTERSVILLE opposite Thomas Lennon and Judy Greer. Shannon also lensed Meredith Danluck's STATE LIKE SLEEP, alongside Katherine Waterson.

Next year, Shannon can be seen in the Nicolai Fuglsig-directed HORSE SOLDIERS opposite Chris Hemsworth.

Shannon is currently in production in writer-director Elizabeth Chomko's drama, WHAT THEY HAD, opposite Hilary Swank. After that, Shannon will start lensing on "Waco" opposite Taylor Kitsch, a mini-series that will explore the true-life events leading up to and chronicling the two-month siege between the FBI, ATF and Koresh's sect in Waco, Texas. Written and directed by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, Shannon serves as a co-executive producer on the project.

In 2016, Shannon was seen in Tom Ford's NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, an adaptation of Austin Wright's 1993 novel Tony and Susan in which he stars opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams and Aaron Taylor Johnson. For his performance, Shannon received an Academy Award and Critics Choice nomination. Earlier that year, Shannon marked his fifth collaboration with director, Jeff Nichols, with a cameo in his drama LOVING, and starred in his sci-fi thriller MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. Shannon's previous collaborations with Nichols include TAKE SHELTER, for which he received a 2011 Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actor; as well as the films MUD and SHOTGUN STORIES.

Most notably, Shannon garnered critical acclaim for his Oscar nominated supporting role in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, playing 'John Givings,' the psychologically troubled neighbor's son. Directed by Sam Mendes and adapted by Justin Haythe, Shannon stars opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates. He went on to receive additional acclaim for Ramin Bahrani's timely drama 99 HOMES, co-starring opposite Andrew Garfield. He was nominated for a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, Critics Choice, Gotham Award and Film Independent Spirit Award on behalf of this performance.

With over forty roles in film, Shannon's credits include Matthew M. Ross' FRANK & LOLA, Joshua Marston's COMPLETE UNKNOWN; Liza Johnson's ELVIS & NIXON; Jonathan Levine's THE NIGHT BEFORE; Peter Sollett's FREEHELD; John McNaughton's THE HARVEST; Jake Paltrow's THE YOUNG ONES; Zack Snyder's MAN OF STEEL; Ariel Vromen's THE ICEMAN; David Koepp's PREMIUM RUSH; Liza Johnson's RETURN; Marc Forster's MACHINE GUN PREACHER; Floria Sigismondi's THE RUNAWAYS; Werner Herzog's MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YE DONE and BAD LIEUTENANT; Sydney Lumet's BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD; Oliver Stone's WORLD TRADE CENTER; William Friedkin's BUG; Curtis Hanson's LUCKY YOU; Michael Bay's BAD BOYS II; Curtis Hanson's 8 MILE; David McNally's KANGAROO JACK, Cameron Crowe's VANILLA SKY; Michael Bay's PEARL HARBOR; John Waters' CECIL B. DEMENTED; Noah Buschel's THE MISSING PERSON and Shana Feste's THE GREATEST. On television, Shannon's credits include Martin Scorsese's HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire," which recently completed its fifth and final season.

Outside of his roles on screen, Shannon maintains a strong connection to theater. In 2016, Shannon was seen on Broadway co-starring alongside Jessica Lange, Gabriel Byrne, and John Gallagher Jr. in Long Day's Journey into Night. Produced by the Roundabout Theater Company and directed by Jonathan Kent, the revival of Eugene O'Neill's landmark 1956 drama led Shannon to a Tony nomination for 'Supporting Actor' as well as 2016 Drama Desk Award for 'Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.'

Prior to that, Shannon appeared opposite Paul Rudd, Ed Asner, and Kate Arrington in Grace at the Cort Theatre which he was nominated for a 2013 Distinguished Performance Drama League Award. Shannon also led Craig Wright's off-Broadway play, Mistakes Were Made, at the Barrow Street Theater. Directed by Dexter Bullard, Shannon portrayed "Felix Artifex." The play received its world premiere at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago in 2009 with the same cast and director. The critically acclaimed production garnered numerous accolades for Shannon, including an Outstanding Lead Actor Lortel Award nomination, an Outstanding Actor in a Play Drama Desk Award nomination, an Outstanding Solo Performance Outer Critics Award nomination, and a Distinguished Performance Drama League Award nomination.

Additional theater credits include Pilgrim's Progress (A Red Orchid Theater) Uncle Vanya (Soho Rep Theatre), Our Town (Barrow Street Theatre), Lady (Rattlestick Theatre), The Metal Children (Vineyard Theatre), The Little Flower of East Orange (Public Theatre), The Pillowman (Steppenwolf Theatre), Bug (Barrow Street Theatre, Red Orchid Theatre and Gate Theatre), Man From Nebraska (Steppenwolf Theatre), Mr. Kolpert (Red Orchid Theatre), Killer Joe (SoHo Playhouse, Next Lab Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre), The Idiot (Lookingglass Theatre), The Killer (Red Orchid Theatre), and Woyzeck (Gate Theatre).

Shannon grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and began his professional stage career in Chicago, Illinois.

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