PHOTO CAPTION: In the HBO Original film Temple Grandin, Claire Danes delivers a superb performance as a woman with autism. Claire won acting awards for her portrayal of an American doctor  who created a more humane livestock slaughter process.

Biographical works—books, movies, and television programs—are always interesting. Whether it is about the life-story of a musician, a writer, an actor, or even a cold-blooded murderer, the authenticity of a tale being told greatly outweighs even a well-written piece of fiction.

Most of us are perhaps unfamiliar with a young woman named Temple Grandin, much more her heartbreaking yet inspiring journey to overcome enormous odds. But through HBO, viewers will soon get to know her story as depicted by Claire Danes.

Born on August 29, 1947 in Boston, Massachusetts, Grandin was diagnosed with autism at an early age.

By definition, autism is a "disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior."

When Grandin was diagnosed with the said disorder, and given the fact that it was in the 1950s, the doctor suggested admitting her in an "institution"—the term connotes a place or establishment dealing with insane patients.

Grandin's mother, however, tirelessly encouraged her daughter to live a normal life by enrolling her in schools attended by normal students.

It wasn't of course easy, and Grandin's fragile condition made her an easy target for ridicule and distrust when it came to her intellectual abilities.

But in the end, Grandin rose above these adversities to become a respected name in the field of animal science, aside from being a best-selling author, a professor at the Colorado State University, and one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People for 2010.

MASTERFUL PERFORMANCE. Grandin's inspiring life story is the inspiration behind HBO's original production titled simply as Temple Grandin.

Playing the lead role is actress Claire Danes, whose phenomenal portrayal of the celebrated poster girl of autism earned for her acting awards in the primetime Emmys, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards.

Danes completely embraced her character to the hilt, prompting Grandin to remark that seeing the film and her image on screen felt "like going back in a weird time machine."

To a viewer, watching the biopic is like seeing the real Grandin and actually sharing her pain in the beginning and triumphs in the end.