Oscars 2014: Sally Hawkins is rendered speechless by Oscar nom

It had been less than 24 hours since Blue Jasmine actress Sally Hawkins returned from Los Angeles and the Golden Globes ceremony when she was throttled with the stunning news that she’d been nominated for an Oscar for her turn as Ginger, Jasmine’s working-class sister who reluctantly takes in the former socialite when she shows up on her doorstep penniless in Woody Allen’s latest film.

“I’m in a state of overwhelm, so thrilled and delighted,” said Hawkins, who had just returned from an unglamorous grocery-shopping outing to find herself bombarded with phone calls from family, friends, and her emotional agent.

“I had just stumbled through the door with bags in hand, tripping over suitcases that had yet to be unpacked,” said Hawkins, who had yet to eat the lunch she had bought for herself.

The 37-year-old actress, best known for her work with British writer-director Mike Leigh, said that though she knew her time on set with Jasmine star Cate Blanchett and Woody Allen was special, she never at the time imagined it could lead to an Oscar nomination.

“You can’t really think beyond the day, the minute and the scene you’re doing,” said Hawkins, who had people knocking at her door in the middle of the interview to congratulate her. “But when I read the script, I knew it was special. When you’ve fallen in love with the people you are working with and they are creatively thrilling and inspiring, you just really want the best for them and you want the film to do really well.”

The movie, which opened in July in the U.S., has grossed $33 million domestically. Overseas, likely due to the appeal of Blanchett and Hawkins, the movie has earned an additional $62 million. In addition to nominations for both Hawkins and Blanchett, Blue Jasmine also garnered an Oscar nomination for Allen’s original screenplay, though Hawkins is doubtful she’ll see the man in a tux come March 2.

“I know that Woody himself won’t be at the Oscars, but I’m so pleased that his screenplay has been nominated,” she said. “I have already struck gold by the fact that I got the job and by who I got to work with.”