Claire Danes

Had "Temple Grandin" been a more typical film about one person's perseverance in the face of difficulty, it still would have been inspiring and emotionally impactful. After all, this is, at its heart, an uplifting story about an autistic young woman who, with help and guidance, comes out of her shell to become a widely respected author, animal scientist and autism advocate.

This HBO Film, however, has two special ingredients that elevate it well beyond the ordinary: Claire Danes' performance in the title role and Mick Jackson's insistence as a director that viewers get a real sense of the way Temple Grandin's mind works. The film premieres at 8 p.m. EST/PST on Saturday.

Danes gives an Emmy-worthy portrayal, at once credible and incredible. Credible in the sense that she captures the essence of this complicated, awkward, emotionally stunted but brilliant person. Incredible in that, because of Danes' attention to small details, she finds the overarching humanity and passion in Grandin. In so doing, she makes Grandin a full-blooded character and not merely someone struggling with a difficult condition.

Grandin recoils from the touch of others. Based on her observation of cattle, she built a squeezing contraption that, when inside, calms her anxiety. But the film has wonderful moments, performed beautifully by Danes, when Grandin transcends these emotional barriers, like when she sings "When You Walk Through a Storm" at her graduation.

Jackson's genius is his decision to give viewers a second perspective on Grandin's life. He shows us how the world sees Grandin but also shows how Grandin sees the world. With black-and-white images, line drawings superimposed on video and sequences of pictures triggered by words and phrases, Jackson provides crucial insight into the character and, just as importantly, removes the shroud of mystery that surrounds autism.

Grandin, 62, is a full professor at Colorado State University. The film, based on actual events, focuses particularly on her life as a student at Hampshire Country School, a private boarding school where she was turned on to science, and Franklin Pierce College, also in New Hampshire, where she further developed her intellectual powers.

The film highlights the crucial support she got from her mother, Eustacia (Julia Ormond), who refused to consign her to an institution, from her Aunt Ann (Catherine O'Hara), who introduced her to the livestock industry, and from her science teacher, Dr. Carlock (David Strathairn), who recognized her great potential. The fine supporting cast further enhances the impact of this remarkable movie.

Claire Danes thinks she's lucky to have an actor husband.

The American actress - who met British spouse Hugh Dancy, 34, when filming the 2007 drama 'Evening' - said being in the same profession means the couple can pass on tips, especially when one of them is due to start work on a particularly challenging role.

She said: "He did play an autistic person six months prior to my doing 'Temple Grandin', which was a really odd coincidence.

"And it was very convenient for me, because our bookshelves were already stacked with all of the required reading. It was a great gift to have him understand what I was doing in such an intimate way."

The 30-year-old star - who plays the title role of autistic author and animal behaviour expert Temple Grandin in her new film - said she was so desperate to get the part just right because the writer is still alive and she didn't want to "disappoint" her.

She explained to the USA Today newspaper: "I read some of her books and started exploring who she was and became enraptured.

"It was totally daunting, because she's wired and organized in such a fundamentally different way from myself. She's alive and would ultimately see it, and I didn't want to disappoint her."

Claire spent an afternoon with the author as part of her research and was delighted to gain her approval.