Temple Grandin wins big at Emmys

[Guest guest]

2010 Emmy Awards

Aug 30 2010 09:41 AM ET

'Temple Grandin' wins big at Emmys. But who is she?

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Emmys-temple-GrandinImage Credit: Winter/Getty ImageWho is Temple Grandin?

Her name was called out seven times at last night’s Emmy Awards, where the

rancher-attired Grandin herself was “a palpable presence,” in the L.A. Times‘

words, “at one point, rising and excitedly swinging her hand lasso style from

the audience.” Grandin was there, of course, as part of the HBO movie named

after her, in which she was played by the Best Actress in a Miniseries or

Movie-winning Danes.

Born in 1947, Grandin was diagnosed as autistic at a young age due to her

inability to speak or function socially like other children. As an adult,

Grandin became a renowned public advocate for those born on the autistic

spectrum. Her high-functioning autism ultimately allowed her to earn a doctorate

in animal science, become a university professor, and pen an autobiography about

her experiences. She has also made notable contributions to the ethical

treatment of livestock. Grandin, who believes that her autism helps gives her

insight into the feelings of farm creatures, famously designed more humane

corrals for cows headed for slaughter.

Grandin has been the subject of several film treatments before HBO’s

award-winning movie, including a BBC documentary (“The Woman Who Thinks Like A

Cow”) and an episode of director Errol ’ First Person. (Click through to

the jump to see clips from both of those shows.)

In our review this February, EW’s Armstrong said HBO’s Temple Grandin

“put us right inside the mind of its subject” and praised Danes for

“transcend[ing] a standard awards-bait performance.” According to Deadline

Hollywood, Danes said after the Emmys last night that she “never worked harder

on a performance.”

Watch video http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/08/30/temple-grandin-emmys/