Emily Watson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emily Watson OBE
Watson in 2024
Born	Emily Margaret Watson (1967-01-14) 14 January 1967 (age 58) Islington, London, England
Alma mater	University of Bristol Drama Studio London
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Jack Waters ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	2

Emily Margaret Watson (born 14 January 1967) is a talented English actress. She started her acting journey on stage in 1992, joining the famous Royal Shakespeare Company. She became well-known for her first movie role in Breaking the Waves (1996), which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination. She received another Oscar nomination for playing cellist Jacqueline du Pré in Hilary and Jackie (1998).

Emily Watson has starred in many different films and TV shows. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her role in the miniseries Chernobyl. She also won a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for playing Janet Leach in the TV show Appropriate Adult (2011). In 2024, she played a main character, Valya Harkonnen, in the science fiction series Dune: Prophecy.

Early Life and Education

Emily Watson was born on 14 January 1967 in London, England. Her father, Richard Watson, was an architect, and her mother, Katharine, was an English teacher. Emily has an older sister named Harriet.

She grew up in an Anglican family. Emily has described herself as a "nice middle-class English girl" during her childhood. She is also a childhood friend of actress and writer Clara Salaman. Emily later starred in the TV show Too Close, which was based on Clara Salaman's novel.

Emily Watson went to University of Bristol and earned a degree in English in 1988. After that, she trained to be an actress at Drama Studio London. In 2003, she received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Bristol University.

Acting Career Highlights

Emily Watson's career began in theatre. She performed in many plays, including The Children's Hour at the Royal National Theatre. She also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company in plays like The Taming of the Shrew and All's Well That Ends Well.

She became widely known when director Lars von Trier chose her for the lead role in Breaking the Waves (1996). Her powerful performance as Bess McNeill won her several awards from film critics. She was also nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe Award.

Watson at the British Academy Film Awards in the Royal Opera House, February 2007

Emily Watson gained more attention for her role as cellist Jacqueline du Pré in Hilary and Jackie. For this movie, she learned to play the cello in just three months, earning her another Oscar nomination. She also appeared in Cradle Will Rock, a film about a theatre show in the 1930s. In 1999, she played Frank McCourt's mother in Angela's Ashes. In 2001, she starred with John Turturro in The Luzhin Defence and in Robert Altman's movie Gosford Park.

Interestingly, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet first wrote the character Amélie for Emily Watson. However, she turned down the role because of difficulties with speaking French and wanting to stay closer to home. The role then went to Audrey Tautou, who became a star. Emily was also the first choice to play Elizabeth I in the film Elizabeth, a role that earned Cate Blanchett an Oscar nomination.

In 2002, she took a break from movies to perform in two plays, Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night, directed by Sam Mendes. Her performances were highly praised, and she was nominated for an Olivier Award for Uncle Vanya.

In 2004, Emily Watson received a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Anne Howe in the HBO film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. The year 2005 was busy for her, as she starred in four films: Wah-Wah, Separate Lies, the animated film Corpse Bride, and the Australian Western The Proposition.

Later, she appeared in Miss Potter (2006), a movie about children's author Beatrix Potter, and The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007), a children's novel adaptation about the Loch Ness Monster. In 2008, she starred with Julia Roberts in Fireflies in the Garden and in Synecdoche, New York.

In 2010, she starred in Oranges and Sunshine, a film about children sent to Australia. The next year, 2011, she appeared in War Horse, directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Michael Morpurgo's famous novel.

In 2014, Emily Watson had supporting roles in The Book Thief and the Oscar-nominated film The Theory of Everything. In 2015, she played Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in A Royal Night Out. She also received great reviews for her role as Julie Nicholson in the BBC Drama A Song for Jenny.

In 2019, she played a nuclear scientist in the miniseries Chernobyl. For her contributions to drama, Emily Watson was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2015.

Personal Life

Watson in 2014

Emily Watson married Jack Waters in 1995. They met at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Jack Waters used to be an actor but now works as a potter. They have two children, a daughter born in 2005 and a son born in 2009. The family lives in Greenwich, London.

Emily Watson supports the children's charity the NSPCC. In 2004, she was recognized for her work in helping to create the role of a Children's Commissioner for England. She also supports the London children's charity Scene & Heard.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre Performances

Emily Watson has performed in many plays throughout her career:

• School for Mothers and The Mistake (1991)
• All's Well That Ends Well (1992-1993) as Marianna
• The Taming of the Shrew (1993) as Mrs. Ruth Banks-Ellis
• The Changeling (1993)
• A Jovial Crew (1993) as Amie
• The Lady from the Sea (1994) as Hilde Wangel
• The Children's Hour (1994) as Mary Tilford
• Three Sisters (1995)
• Othello (1996)
• Twelfth Night / Uncle Vanya (2002-2003)

Radio Work

Emily Watson has also lent her voice to radio dramas:

• The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1994)
• Wuthering Heights (1995, radio series)
• The Glass Piano (2010, about Princess Alexandra of Bavaria)

Awards and Recognitions

Emily Watson has won and been nominated for many awards for her acting. Here are some of her notable achievements:

See also

In Spanish: Emily Watson para niños