Naomi Watts Recalls Being Too Intense Early On, Said She Was Desperate And Facing Eviction
Naomi Watts has opened up about the brutal grind of her early career, revealing she was once told she was "freaking people out." Per Variety, she shared these stories while accepting the Golden Eye Award at the Zurich Film Festival.
Watts recalled her agent pulling her aside for a heart-to-heart. "Honey, you are too intense. You are freaking people out," the agent told her, according to Watts. Her response? "Yeah, no shit." Watts said she was desperate at the time, behind on rent and facing eviction.
She described reshaping herself to fit industry expectations, trying to be funny or sexy when told she wasn't. "I couldn't be myself anymore," she said. Watts credited director David Lynch with seeing past "all that weirdness" when he cast her in her late 20s, a move she says changed her career.
"Mulholland Drive" became her breakout role, something she says she's "very, very proud" of. The night of its Cannes premiere was emotional; a Cat Stevens song played in the car triggered memories of her father's funeral.
She also fought against starring in "The Ring" after her critical acclaim, worrying it was too blockbuster. She admitted she didn't know it would be a massive hit and called it a "lucky break" that helped wake up the horror genre.
Watts said a theme in her work is grief, and she's always trying to figure out the meaning of her life through her roles.
