Newcomer film starlet Naomi Watts may be the newest Aussie to hit US soil, but she’s definitely got the resume to make you think different. With only four solid years of mainstream acknowledgment from American audiences, Naomi has already released one box-office smash hit and received critical appraise for four other projects, an while she still may be a blooming star on the red carpet, Naomi’s undeniable screen presence has triggered a tug-of-war between some of the industry’s biggest directors. Born in Shoreham, England in 1968, Naomi and her family were forced to move to Australia after the untimely death of her father, though her move “Down Under” wasn’t such a bad career move. After enrolling in acting classes and attending a handful of auditions as a wannabe actress, Naomi met future best friend Nicole Kidman. With the help of her actress mother, Kidman’s influence and years of hard work, Naomi won over a small role in the 1986 film, “For Love Alone.” Following her quick work on the film, Naomi gave modeling a shot and was promptly hired by an agency in Japan, though after realizing that she wasn’t cut out for the world of fashion in front of the camera, she returned home to Australia and began work as an editor on the fashion magazine, “Follow Me.”
Naomi apparently wasn’t cut out for any sort of fashion work though, because she shortly quit the magazine gig and skipped back to acting in the film “Flirting” with Kidman and a TV miniseries alongside actor/folk crooner Russell Crowe. After starring in a few more Australian productions, Naomi bit her lip and made the jump to Los Angeles where she was welcomed with open arms and an overabundance of low-budget flops like “Tank Girl” and direct-to-video horror films like “Children of the Corn IV.” It wouldn’t be for another five years until Naomi finally got her big break, but in 2001, director David Lynch picked the young actress’ head shot out of a pile of photos with a simple hunch and scored big on the Oscar-nominated, “Mulholland Dr.” Since her much-talked about duel role performance in the most confusing film of the decade, Naomi has skyrocketed into a bonafide superstar. Her incredible talent never goes overlooked and neither does her flawless beauty. Along with being named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People of 2002, Naomi has also topped a number of other Best Lists around the globe. With plenty of star-studded momentum and a much-anticipated upcoming schedule of future blockbusters, Naomi Watts is at the finest place to be in Hollywood: the top.
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Naomi Watts on the Screen
Naomi’s career runs further back into the past century than most moviegoers actually know. Before crossing water on her way to the US and a vault full of low-budget B-movies, Naomi also starred in a handful of British and Australian productions among the likes of Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. It wasn’t until her critically acclaimed performance in David Lynch’s nonsense noir, “Mulholland Dr.,” that she was finally pushed into the Hollywood limelight. More productions quickly followed and Naomi became another Aussie must-have, appearing in the American remake of the Japanese horror hit, “The Ring,” the following year. Naomi has tried to balance her career between mainstream and independent films, but her past performances in art-house sleeper hits like “21 Grams” and “I Heart Huckabees” have displayed her amazing talent for diving no-holds-barred into any character.
“Mulholland Drive” (2001)
Naomi has described this film as a life-changing moment. David Lynch basically saved her career by casting her in this film. It also has some pretty incredible scene of Naomi kissing the lovely Laura Harring.
Naomi Says
On her past:
“There’s a lot of skeletons in my closet, but I know what they’re wearing. I’m not gonna act all ashamed of it.”
On becoming a star:
“It was total naivety that got me to Hollywood. I thought it was going to happen straight away. I told myself ‘give it 5 years, there’s no way I’ll be here after that if it doesn’t happen’. Cut to ten years later!”
Naomi Watts in “Eastern Promises”
