Naomi Watts facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Naomi Watts
Watts in 2024
Born	Naomi Ellen Watts (1968-09-28) 28 September 1968 (age 56) Shoreham, Kent, England
Citizenship	British
Occupation	Actress film producer
Years active	1986–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Billy Crudup (m. 2023)
Partner(s)	Liev Schreiber (2005–2016)
Children	2, including Kai Schreiber
Parent(s)	Peter Watts (father)
Relatives	Ben Watts (brother)
Awards	Full list

Naomi Ellen Watts (born 28 September 1968) is a British actress. She started her acting journey in Australia. Her first film was the drama For Love Alone (1986). She also appeared in TV shows like Hey Dad..! (1990) and Home and Away (1991). She also starred in the film Flirting (1991).

Later, Watts moved to the United States. She worked hard to find acting roles. Her big break came in 2001. She starred in David Lynch's thriller Mulholland Drive. After that, she played a journalist in the horror film The Ring (2002). She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 21 Grams (2003).

Watts also had lead roles in popular movies. These include King Kong (2005) and Eastern Promises (2007). She received another Academy Award nomination for The Impossible (2012). This was a disaster film based on a true story. In recent years, she has appeared in films like Birdman (2014) and The Glass Castle (2017). She also joined the Divergent movie series (2015–2016).

Watts has also worked in television. She was in the mystery series Twin Peaks (2017). She also starred in the miniseries The Loudest Voice (2019). In 2022, she began starring in the Netflix thriller series The Watcher. In 2024, she played Babe Paley in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. For this role, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Early Life and Education
Career Journey
Giving Back to the Community
Personal Life
Filmography and Awards
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Naomi Ellen Watts was born in England on 28 September 1968. Her mother, Myfanwy Edwards, was a designer. Her father, Peter Watts, worked with the band Pink Floyd. Naomi's parents divorced when she was four years old. She and her older brother, Ben Watts, moved often with their mother.

After her father passed away, Naomi's family moved to Wales. They lived with her grandparents for three years. Naomi went to a Welsh-speaking school there. She later said she always adapted to new places. She also mentioned that she wanted to be an actress. This dream started after seeing her mother perform. It also grew after watching the 1980 film Fame.

In 1982, when Naomi was 14, she moved to Sydney, Australia. She moved with her mother, brother, and stepfather. Her mother worked in the growing film industry. Naomi's mother enrolled her in acting lessons. There, she met and became friends with actress Nicole Kidman. Naomi got her first acting role in 1986. It was in the drama film For Love Alone.

Naomi attended Mosman High School and North Sydney Girls High School in Australia. She did not finish school. She then worked different jobs. These included being a papergirl and managing a store. At 18, she tried modeling in Japan. When that didn't work out, she returned to Sydney. She worked in advertising. A drama workshop inspired her to quit and focus on acting.

Naomi feels connected to both Britain and Australia. She spent her first 14 years in England and Wales. She has said she considers herself British. However, she also feels very connected to Australia. She calls Australia "home" because of her strong memories there.

Career Journey

Starting Out and Facing Challenges (1986–2000)

Naomi Watts began her career in television commercials. Her first film role was in 1986. It was in For Love Alone, a drama set in the 1930s. In 1990, she appeared in the Australian sitcom Hey Dad..!. After a break from films, she met director John Duigan. He offered her a role in his 1991 film Flirting. This film was praised by critics.

In 1991, she also starred in the mini-series Brides of Christ. She played a girl trying to make friends at a Catholic school. She also had a role in the soap opera Home and Away. Watts was offered another TV role but turned it down. She didn't want to be stuck on a soap opera for too long. She later called this decision "naïve".

Watts then took a year off to travel. She visited Los Angeles and met with agents. This encouraged her to move to America. She wanted to pursue her acting career there. However, it was harder than she expected. She found that people who were interested before were no longer. She said it was "humiliating" to start over.

In 1995, she got a supporting role in the film Tank Girl. The film received mixed reviews. It did not do well at the box office. However, it later became a cult classic. For the rest of the 1990s, she mostly took smaller roles. She sometimes thought about quitting acting. But small opportunities always came up. She believed "work begets work". In 1996, she appeared in several films. These included Persons Unknown and Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering.

In 1997, she starred in the Australian drama Under the Lighthouse Dancing. She also had the lead role in the TV series Sleepwalkers. In 1998, she was in the TV film The Christmas Wish. She also had a supporting role in Dangerous Beauty. She even did some voice work for Babe: Pig in the City.

In 1999, she played Alice in Strange Planet. She also played Holly Maddux in The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer. In 2000, she starred in the BBC TV film The Wyvern Mystery. During her early career, she almost got many big roles. But they often went to other actresses. Watts studied a special acting method called the Meisner Technique.

Becoming a Star (2001–2002)

Watts with filmmaker David Lynch at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival

In 1999, director David Lynch was looking for actors for his thriller Mulholland Drive. He chose Naomi Watts for the main role. Lynch said he saw great talent in her. He also saw a "beautiful soul" and intelligence. The film was first planned as a TV show. But the pilot was not picked up. Watts thought it would never be seen.

Instead, Lynch turned it into a feature film. Mulholland Drive premiered in 2001. It was highly praised by critics. This film became Watts's big breakthrough. She won the Best Actress Award from the National Society of Film Critics. She also received a nomination from the American Film Institute.

In 2001, she also appeared in two short films. These were Never Date an Actress and Ellie Parker. She also starred in the horror film The Shaft. In 2002, she was in a major box office hit. This was The Ring. It was an English remake of a Japanese horror film. The movie was well-received. It earned about US$129 million in the US. Watts played Rachel Keller, a journalist. Her character investigates strange deaths linked to a mysterious videotape. Critics praised her performance. They said she was excellent and showed great talent. That year, she also appeared in Rabbits. This was a series of short films by David Lynch. She also starred in the black comedy Plots with a View. And she was in the western The Outsider.

Building a Strong Career (2003–2007)

In 2003, Watts played Julia Cook in the Australian film Ned Kelly. She starred alongside Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom. She also appeared in the film Le Divorce. In this movie, she played Roxeanne de Persand, a poet. Her character is pregnant and left by her husband. Critics had mixed feelings about her performance in Le Divorce.

However, her role in 21 Grams (2003) was highly acclaimed. She starred with Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro. For this role, Watts received many awards nominations. This included an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Watts in Sydney in 2012

In 2004, Watts starred in We Don't Live Here Anymore. This independent film showed the struggles of two married couples. She reunited with Sean Penn in The Assassination of Richard Nixon. She played the wife of a man who wanted to assassinate the president. She also joined Jude Law and Dustin Hoffman in I Heart Huckabees. She also produced and starred in Ellie Parker (2005). This film was about an Australian actress's struggles in Hollywood. Film critic Roger Ebert praised Watts's performance. He called it courageous and full of timing.

Watts starred in the sequel to The Ring, called The Ring Two (2005). Despite negative reviews, it earned over US$161 million worldwide. In 2005, Watts also played Ann Darrow in the remake of King Kong. She was the first choice for the role. The original actress, Fay Wray, was supposed to have a cameo. But she passed away before filming. King Kong became Watts's most successful film at the time. Directed by Peter Jackson, it earned US$550 million worldwide.

In the romantic drama The Painted Veil (2006), Watts played a lawyer's daughter. She marries a doctor for his reputation. Critics praised her portrayal. They said she made the role her own. Watts also voiced a small role in David Lynch's Inland Empire. In 2006, she became the new face of David Yurman jewelers. She also appeared in the 2007 Pirelli Calendar.

Watts played a Russian-British midwife in Eastern Promises (2007). She starred with Viggo Mortensen. The film earned US$56 million worldwide. She also produced and starred in Funny Games (2007). In this film, her character and family are held hostage. It was a remake of a 1997 film.

Biographical and Independent Films (2009–2014)

After taking a short break to have her two children, Watts returned to acting in 2009. She starred with Clive Owen in The International. She played a district attorney working to take down a bank. This film was a moderate success. It earned over US$60 million worldwide. She then appeared in the drama Mother and Child. She played a lawyer who never knew her birth mother. Critics found her performance powerful. She was nominated for several awards for this role.

Watts at the Deauville American Film Festival in 2011

Her next film was the Woody Allen comedy-drama You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. It premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. She played Sally, a woman with a difficult marriage. The film made over US$26 million. She then played Valerie Plame in the biographical thriller Fair Game. This was her third film with Sean Penn. She earned a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actress. In 2011, she appeared in Dream House with Daniel Craig. She also starred with Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar. She played secretary Helen Gandy. While Dream House was not successful, J. Edgar was better received.

Watts starred in The Impossible (2012). This disaster drama was based on a true story. It was about a family's experience during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Watts played the lead role, Maria Bennett. The film was highly praised. It earned US$180.2 million globally. Critics praised Watts's emotional performance. She was nominated for an Academy Award. She also received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Actress.

In Adore (2013), Watts starred with Robin Wright. They played two friends who fall in love with each other's sons. She won an FCCA Award for Best Actress for her role. The comedy Movie 43 (2013) featured Watts as a devoted mother. The film was widely criticized.

In Sunlight Jr. (2013), Watts played a struggling working-class woman. Watts also played the main role in Diana (2013). This biographical drama was about the last two years of Diana, Princess of Wales's life. The film received negative reviews.

Alejandro González Iñárritu's dark comedy Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) featured Watts. She played an actress in a play. The film received widespread acclaim. It won four awards at the 87th Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Watts and the other cast members won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture.

Her other two films in 2014 were St. Vincent and While We're Young. In St. Vincent, Watts played a Russian woman. She learned the accent by spending time with Russian women. Watts earned a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. In While We're Young, Watts starred with Ben Stiller. They played a married couple who befriend a younger couple. This film was an art-house success. Watts received praise for her chemistry with Stiller.

Recent Film and Television Work (2015–Present)

Watts at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival

Watts played Evelyn Johnson-Eaton in Insurgent (2015). This was the second film in The Divergent Series. The film was a commercial success. It earned US$274.5 million worldwide. Watts returned for the third film, Allegiant (2016). This film received negative reviews and did not do well at the box office.

Watts starred in The Sea of Trees (2015) with Matthew McConaughey. The film premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. However, it was heavily criticized by critics and audiences. The Sea of Trees did not find an audience in theaters.

In 2015, Watts also starred in Demolition and Three Generations. In Demolition, she played a customer service representative. She was the love interest of an investment banker. Critics felt she captured her role well. In Three Generations, she appeared with Susan Sarandon and Elle Fanning. She played the mother of a young transgender man. This film was released in May 2017.

Watts played Linda in The Bleeder (2016). This biographical sports drama was about boxer Chuck Wepner. Watts played Wepner's second wife. Critics noted her spirited performance. She also starred in the thriller Shut In (2016). She played a psychologist isolated in a rural house. The film received mostly negative reviews. It made US$8 million worldwide.

Watts appeared in Twin Peaks (2017). This was a limited TV series. It continued the 1990 show of the same name. It was broadcast on Showtime and received critical acclaim. Watts also starred in the Netflix drama series Gypsy (2017). She played a therapist. She was also an executive producer for the show. Gypsy was canceled after one season. In The Book of Henry (2017), Watts played the mother of a young genius. The film divided critics. However, Rolling Stone praised her performance. In her other 2017 film, The Glass Castle, she played the nonconformist mother.

In 2019, Watts played Gretchen Carlson in the Showtime miniseries The Loudest Voice. She also starred in the films Penguin Bloom, Boss Level, and This Is The Night.

In 2022, Watts played a lead role in Netflix's The Watcher. She starred as Nora Brannock alongside Bobby Cannavale.

In 2024, she starred in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans as Babe Paley. For this role, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie nomination.

Other Work and Endorsements

Naomi Watts has had endorsement deals with several brands. She worked with David Yurman jewelry. She was also an ambassador for Thierry Mugler's Angel fragrance. Later, she and Eva Mendes both fronted a campaign for Pantene hair care products. Watts also appeared in a campaign for Ann Taylor in 2010. She was announced as a new 'face' of L'Oréal in 2014. Watts also started her own skincare company, Onda Beauty, in 2016. She appeared in a campaign for Fendi in 2020.

In 2021, it was announced that Watts was an early investor in Thirteen Lune. This is an e-commerce site for beauty products. It focuses on brands owned by people of color. In October 2024, Watts became an ambassador and designer for Coyuchi linen.

Giving Back to the Community

In 2006, Watts became a goodwill ambassador for Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. This program helps raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. She uses her fame to highlight the needs of people living with this disease. Watts has taken part in fundraising events. On 1 December 2009, she met United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. This was for World AIDS Day.

In 2011, Watts attended a charity polo match in New York City. She was with Australian actors Hugh Jackman and Isla Fisher. The event raised money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In 2012, she became an ambassador for Pantene Beautiful Lengths. This program donates real-hair wigs to women with cancer. She has visited hospitals to meet women helped by the program.

In 2016, Watts worked with Sportscraft and Barnardos. This was a children's charity. They created a line of coats. A part of the sales went to the charity. She was also photographed for Bulgari's "Raise Your Hand" campaign. In November 2018, she hosted a gala for Worldwide Orphans. She also teamed up with McDonald's as a McHappy Day ambassador. She made a special appearance in Sydney.

Personal Life

Watts with her then-partner Liev Schreiber in 2012

Naomi Watts became interested in Buddhism. This happened while filming The Painted Veil (2006). She is now a strong supporter of Transcendental Meditation.

Watts had a relationship with Australian actor Heath Ledger from 2002 to 2004. In 2005, Watts began a relationship with American actor Liev Schreiber. They had two sons together. Their first son, Alexander 'Sasha' Pete, was born in 2007. Their second son, Samuel Kai, was born in 2008. Watts and Schreiber announced their split in September 2016. They had been together for 11 years.

Watts started dating American actor Billy Crudup in 2017. They met while working on the Netflix series Gypsy. The couple got married on June 9, 2023. In June 2024, Watts and Crudup celebrated their marriage again. This time, they had a ceremony with their family in Mexico.

In 2016, Watts became the honorary president of Glantraeth F.C.. This is a small football club in Wales. The club is near her grandparents' farm. She spent time there as a child.