Sophie Okonedo Stunned By Film Success

OKONEDO STUNNED BY HOTEL RESPONSEEnglish actress SOPHIE OKONEDO was stunned by the acclaim and awards garnered by African drama HOTEL RWANDA, because she thought the movie would be a "small art-house film".The London-born star, 36, was nominated for an OSCAR and a SCREEN ACTOR'S GUILD (SAG) award for her performance as TATIANA RUSESABAGINA opposite DON CHEADLE in the harrowing true-life story of a hotel manager who housed over 1,000 refugees during the Rwandan civil war.Okonedo says, "This time last year (04) I'd just finished filming Hotel Rwanda and I thought it would be a small art-house film."But when we got a ten-minute standing ovation at the TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL, I knew it was something special. Suddenly, everywhere I went everyone had seen the film. It was overwhelming but very flattering."