Sally Hawkins Stars in the True Story of the Woman Who Found a King
A remarkable tale of historical rediscovery, brought to life by Sally Hawkins in the film The Lost King, reveals the tenacity of an amateur historian who challenged established narratives and unearthed the remains of King Richard III. The film highlights a story of perseverance against skepticism, and a reevaluation of a controversial historical figure.
A Proven Talent
Sally Hawkins is no stranger to critical acclaim. Her 2009 Golden Globe win for Happy-Go-Lucky established her as a force in cinema, a reputation further solidified by her 2018 Oscar nomination for The Shape of Water. More recently, audiences have enjoyed her performances in family favorites like Paddington and Wonka, as well as her role in Godzilla. However, in 2022, Hawkins took on a different kind of role, embodying Philippa Langley in The Lost King, a dramatic comedy that received limited release in France.
The Search for a Lost Monarch
Langley’s story is one of quiet determination. A mother of two, separated from her husband and feeling professionally undervalued, she embarked on an extraordinary quest after attending a play about King Richard III. Suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, Langley was driven by a conviction that the historical portrayal of the king – often depicted as cruel and deformed, largely due to William Shakespeare’s depiction – was inaccurate. She set out to locate his long-lost tomb, believing it held the key to restoring his true legacy.
Challenging the Narrative
Langley’s interest in Richard III began in 1998 with a biography by Paul Murray Kendall. As she explained in the film’s press kit, “The author had used sources dating from the time of Richard to evoke [him]. This is what I found deeply fascinating because he brushed a portrait of the antipodes of that of Shakespeare. We have proof that he was loyal, courageous, pious and just.” She recognized that Shakespeare’s play, written over a century after Richard’s death, relied on the testimony of Thomas More, who was only five years old during the king’s reign.
Langley joined the Richard III Society in 1998 and later founded its Scottish branch. For years, she conducted meticulous research, facing resistance from family and skepticism from many historians and archaeologists. She believed the official record regarding the location of his burial was flawed. Her research led her to the site of the former Grayfriars church in Leicester, where she felt a powerful intuition in a social services parking lot. “This is where I had the feeling, intuitively, that I was walking on the tomb of Richard – and that I saw the letter R on the tar which, obviously, meant ‘reserved parking space’,” she recounted.
Discovery and Recognition
Langley secured funding and, with the help of archaeologist Richard Buckley, gained permission to excavate the site in 2012. The excavation yielded a skeleton, which was later confirmed through carbon dating and DNA analysis to be that of King Richard III. The University of Leicester’s announcement of the discovery notably omitted any significant mention of Langley’s pivotal role.
Despite this oversight, Richard III received an official funeral in Leicester Cathedral in 2015, “with Respect, honor, and dignity.” Langley’s dedication was ultimately recognized with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award from Queen Elizabeth II for her “Services for exhumation and identification of Richard III.”
A Story of the Overlooked
Jeff Pope, a writer on the film, aptly summarized the story’s core message: “This is the story of women ignored and forgotten by society – of modest people who do not allow themselves to be counted. And who do not always take what they are told for the word of gospel.” The Lost King is a testament to the power of individual conviction and the importance of challenging accepted truths.
The film, directed by Stephen Frears and featuring inspired compositions by Alexandre Desplat, takes creative liberties to condense Langley’s years-long journey. Yet, it remains a compelling and charming English film, brought to life by Sally Hawkins’ nuanced portrayal of a woman whose relentless pursuit of truth deserves recognition.
