(New York Times) Even at this point in awards season, things can begin to seem a fait accompli, with the same names — Mo’Nique and Christoph and George and Kathryn — getting, and giving, the full-court press. But the Bagger is mindful that there are always wrenches in the final nominee lists (remember Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” and Melissa Leo in “Frozen River”?). Also, it’s a slow week, and there’s time to luxuriate in interviews that don’t involve dodging trays of canapés and fans with outstretched camera phones.

So the Bagger had afternoon tea recently with Hugh Dancy, the fine-featured British actor best known for parts as the romantic lead in movies like “Ella Enchanted” and “The Jane Austen Book Club” (and for being married to Claire Danes). His performance as a young engineer with Asperger’s syndrome in “Adam,” a tiny film made and released on a shoestring, drew critical praise. (As Jeannette Catsoulis wrote in The Times: “Playing a character who is mentally disabled can be a fast track to Oscar or to oblivion, and rare is the actor who can resist the statuette-winning, Hanks-Hoffman strategy of mannered tics and mechanical talk. And when you consider that not even Sean Penn could pull it off without making our eyeballs cringe, the performance of Hugh Dancy in the charming romantic comedy ‘Adam’ is all the more impressive.”)

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Before the screening of “Men Who Stare at Goats” on Nov. 3, Hugh Dancy was given the Spotlight Award for his performance in “Adam.”

In “Adam,” the British actor plays a man with Asperger’s Syndrome. He meets his neighbor, Beth (played by Rose Byrne) and they begin a quirky relationship in emotional territory unknown to either of them.

SCAD President Paula Wallace presented the award to “hot Hugh” after a montage of films Dancy has played in: “Black Hawk Down,” “The Jane Austen Book Club,” “King Arthur” and “Confessions of a Shopaholic” are just a few. He is a man of many roles.

When Dancy came on stage to accept his award he said that watching the montage backstage without sound was like watching “a trailer for the weirdest movie ever made.”

He thanked SCAD and Savannah and embraced the rich welcome the South has given him. He hesitated, then ended his acceptance speech with, “Enjoy the goat film.”

The crowd erupted in laughter as Dancy covered his face. He saved it with, “We were in Greece last year and there is a film being made about goats that stare at men.”

This up-and-coming actor can still laugh at himself.

Source: SCAD District

@JenniferBeale1 interviewed Hugh for The Coastal Source. You can check it out by clicking either “Read more” below (the player autoplays) or clicking that link.

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Tonight in Savannah, Georgia, Hugh was honored with the “Spotlight Award” for his work in Adam. Check out our pictures in the gallery, and if you took any, yourself, be sure to submit them to our website!

• 12 x November 3rd: 12th Annual Savannah Film Festival – Receiving Award