Claire Foy Trains With Hawks for Emotional Role in H Is for Hawk Film
British actress Claire Foy had more than just emotional preparation to master for her leading role in H Is for Hawk, she also had to learn to work with real birds of prey.
The film, directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and adapted from Helen Macdonald’s acclaimed memoir, stars Foy as Helen, a woman struggling to cope after the sudden death of her father. In the story, Helen turns to falconry and forms a deep bond with a wild goshawk named Mabel.
To bring authenticity to the role, Foy spent two weeks training with expert bird handlers Lloyd and Rose Buck before cameras started rolling. According to the Los Angeles Times, the hawks used in filming required specialized care and coaxing, and several birds portrayed Mabel to capture different behaviors on camera.
“One of the key moments for the entire project was Claire learning alongside the hawks,” said one of the bird specialists. The training helped Foy react naturally in scenes with the birds rather than rely on stand-ins or special effects.
The production team went to great lengths to ensure the birds’ welfare during filming, with flights and hunting sequences staged carefully under controlled conditions.
H Is for Hawk is set for a limited theatrical run in December 2025 to qualify for awards consideration, with a wider release planned in early 2026. In addition to Foy, the cast includes Brendan Gleeson as Helen’s father, among other supporting performers.
The film has already drawn attention on the festival circuit and from critics, with early reviews highlighting Foy’s performance and the unique challenge of acting opposite a live bird — an uncommon feat in contemporary cinema.
H Is for Hawk combines a deeply personal journey through grief with a visual and emotional exploration of the bond between humans and nature, and the demanding reality of working with one of the wildest creatures in the animal kingdom.