Sally Hawkins cast in 'We Want Sex'

Happy Go Lucky star Sally Hawkins will portray a women's rights campaigner in We Want Sex, reports Variety.

Based on a true story, the Simon Curtis-directed movie will revolve around a 1968 strike at Ford's Dagenham car plant when hundreds of female workers walked out over sexual discrimination in their job performance evaluations.

The title refers to a protester's banner that was meant to read "We Want Sex Equality" but lost the last word.

Hawkins will play a woman on the strike committee, who are invited to meet then-Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson's employment secretary Barbara Castle. Imelda Staunton is in talks to play Castle.

"It's very funny and easy to relate to," said producer Stephen Wooley. "It's very much in the vein of Billy Elliot and Calendar Girls."