Biography
Naomi Watts was born in Shoreham, England, on September 28, 1968.
Naomi and her family moved to Australia when she was 14 years old,
four years after the unfortunate death of her father.
The aspiring actress enrolled in acting school and began attending
numerous auditions, where she met future friend and major influence
Nicole Kidman. With a lot diligence, Watts received a small role
in For Love Alone in 1986. It may not have been a significant part,
but it was a big step forward as Watts tried to follow in her mother's
footsteps, an accomplished actress who also served as inspiration
for Watts.
At 18, Naomi decided to try her hand at modeling and was hired
by an agency in Japan. After a year of struggles, she realized this
sort of exposure was not what for her and returned home. Now working
in the fashion industry -- behind the camera -- Watts was hired
as an editor at Follow Me, a fashion magazine. The acting bug was
too strong, however, and Watts landed roles in 1991's Flirting,
with Nicole Kidman and Thandie Newton, and in an Australian miniseries
alongside Russell Crowe.
With the ultimate desire of being a star in Hollywood, Watts took
a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles. Bit roles in 1993's Matinee
and 1995's Tank Girl gave her experience but not quite the boost
she needed to become a recognizable face or name. Even after a few
consecutive TV productions with CBS and parts in 1996's Children
of the Corn IV, 1998's Dangerous Beauty and 1999's Strange Planet,
a breakthrough performance had not yet been achieved.
Only after a callback from Twin Peaks director David Lynch did
Naomi finally see true success. Her strange double character in
2001's Mulholland Drive (which was originally intended to be a TV
pilot, before becoming a feature film) was her first starring role
in a popular movie (albeit not mainstream) and, according to critics,
complemented the rest of the movie beautifully. Acclaim went through
the roof and with attention being turned toward the film with a
Best Director Oscar nomination for director David Lynch, Watts began
receiving long-deserved attention.
Naomi Watts' career post-Mulholland Drive has skyrocketed, with
starring roles in the film short Ellie Parker and the blockbuster
thriller The Ring. She can soon add Ned Kelly, 21 Grams (with Benicio
Del Toro and Sean Penn) and Le Divorce (with Kate Hudson) to her
resume. With her upcoming roles and fellow Aussie Heath Ledger by
her side, it's clear that Naomi Watts has a bright Hollywood future
ahead of her. |
