Naomi Watts opened up about her difficult rise to fame, her father’s death, and her marriage to Billy Crudup during a masterclass at the Zurich Film Festival. The British actress spoke with host Max Loong about her career, her family, and her menopause activism.
Early Struggles in Hollywood
Watts spent about a decade auditioning in Los Angeles before meeting David Lynch. She described the experience as grueling. “You’d line up and see 10 or 15 girls, running their lines, looking much better for the part than you do, and it was really a grind,” she said.
She said she became locked up and felt worthless. Her agent pulled her aside after putting together a reel of her Australian work. “We need to have a heart-to-heart. Come in and talk to me because I don’t understand why you’re not getting these jobs,” the agent said.
Watts was told she was too intense. “Honey, you’re too intense. You’re freaking people out,” the agent said. Watts responded with frustration. “Yeah, no shit. I’m desperate. I’m three months behind on my rent. I’m getting evicted! They told me I wasn’t funny last week. I’m trying to be funny now. They told me I wasn’t sexy. I’m trying to be sexy!”
The Breakthrough Role
Watts landed the role in Mulholland Drive at age 31. She played an aspiring actress who arrives in L.A. and befriends a car crash victim. The film is widely considered one of the greatest of all time, and it made Watts an international superstar.
The premiere at Cannes was emotional. Watts sat in the car with co-star Justin Theroux before hitting the red carpet. A sentimental song came on the radio: Cat Stevens’ “Morning Has Broken.” It was the song that had played at her father’s funeral.
Watts’ father, Peter Watts, a road manager and audio engineer who went on the road with Pink Floyd, died of an apparent heroin overdose when she was seven years old. She became teary, earning a raucous round of applause from the crowd.
Menopause and Stripes Beauty
Watts discussed her menopause activism toward the end of the masterclass. She founded Stripes Beauty, a menopause and wellness company, four years ago. “Menopause has become a huge topic of conversations [and a] passion because I went into it early on in my life and had no clues about what was going on with my body and there was no open conversation,” she said.
She credited her husband, Billy Crudup, for supporting her. “I was hiding in the bathroom trying to scratch off my estrogen patch, and he was like, ‘Is everything okay?'” she recalled. “He was like, ‘Hold on a second. We’re the same age, and that’s great that you’re taking care of yourself. Love science, love medicine. And why are you ashamed? That’s fantastic. Thanks for telling me.'”
Watts called Crudup’s reaction “so sweet and generous and sexy.” She said it made her feel safer than ever. “And I felt safer than I’d ever felt,” she continued. “And I told him that I wanted to create a company for women who are not clued in, and the company would be about hydration from scalp to vag.”
Promoting The Housewife
Watts is promoting The Housewife at Zurich. The film, directed by Ben Shirinian, stars Tye Sheridan, Michael Imperioli and Luke Evans. It is based on a true story and set in 1964 New York.
The plot follows a young journalist who tracks down a potential Nazi officer living secretly in Queens. He befriends the lead suspect’s charming wife, but the investigation takes a disturbing turn.
Watts accepted the festival’s prestigious Golden Eye award for the film the day after the masterclass.
A Career of Contrast
Watts covered a lot of ground in one session. She moved from her childhood in the U.K. and Australia to her struggles in Hollywood to her breakthrough with Lynch to her current work on menopause.
The conversation was frank throughout. Watts did an impeccable impression of the late Lynch, complete with a pretend cigarette.
| Career Stage | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Early days | Auditioned in L.A. for a decade, felt worthless |
| Breakthrough | Met Lynch at age 31, starred in Mulholland Drive |
| Personal loss | Father died of an apparent heroin overdose at age seven |
| Recent work | Founded Stripes Beauty, promoted The Housewife at Zurich |
The session showed Watts at ease, willing to share both the highs and the lows. Her honesty drew a warm response from the crowd.
Source material: “Naomi Watts Praises Husband Billy Crudup for Backing Her Menopause Activism: “So Sweet — and Sexy”,” The Hollywood Reporter.
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