Naomi Watts is a British actress and producer known for her work in Australian and American film, television and video games. Watts emigrated with her family to Australia from the UK at the age of 14, and made her debut in the 1986 Australian film For Love Alone. She then pursued a brief career in the fashion industry, first as a model and later as a fashion editor. After attending a drama workshop, Watts quit her editing job and pursued acting as a career. She appeared in the sitcom Hey Dad..! (1990), and the soap opera Home and Away (1991). Her first lead role was in the 1993 thriller Gross Misconduct, where Watts played a student who seduces her teacher, and then accuses him of rape.
She transitioned to Hollywood productions in the mid to late 1990s starring in the science fiction film Tank Girl (1995), horror film Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (1996), and biographical drama Dangerous Beauty (1998). Watts played an aspiring actress in David Lynch's neo-noir film Mulholland Drive (2001), which was her breakthrough role and garnered her international recognition. She then starred as journalist Rachel Keller in the horror remake The Ring (2002), and reprised the role in its sequel The Ring Two (2005). Watts portrayed a grief-stricken mother with a history of substance abuse in the Alejandro González Iñárritu-directed 21 Grams (2003), for which she garnered nominations for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, British Academy Film Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Watts played Ann Darrow in Peter Jackson's monster film remake King Kong (2005), for which she won the Saturn Award for Best Actress. She also reprised her role voicing Darrow in the video game adaptation, for which she was nominated for a Spike Video Game Award for Best Performance by a Female. Five years later, she portrayed CIA officer Valerie Plame in the biographical drama Fair Game (2010) with Sean Penn. In 2011, Watts played FBI director J. Edgar Hoover's secretary Helen Gandy in the biographical drama J. Edgar with Leonardo DiCaprio. The following year, she starred as a doctor who is caught up by the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami with her family in The Impossible (2012). For her performance, Watts received nominations for Best Actress at the Oscars and Golden Globe Awards.
She reteamed with Iñárritu on the 2014 black comedy Birdman. In 2017, Watts starred in the third season of Lynch's television series Twin Peaks and as a psychologist in the psychological thriller series Gypsy which she also executive produced. She played Queen Gertrude and Mechthild in the romantic drama Ophelia (2018). Two years later Watts portrayed Fox News journalist Gretchen Carlson in the miniseries The Loudest Voice (2019).
+Key Denotes works that have not yet been released Film YearTitleRole(s) Notes 1986 For Love Alone Leo's girlfriend1991 Flirting1993 Matinee Shopping Cart StarletWide Sargasso SeaGross MisconductLouise1995Tank GirlJet Girl1996Children of the Corn IV: The GatheringPersons Unknown1997Under the Lighthouse DancingLouise1998AmandaShort filmDangerous BeautyBabe: Pig in the CityAdditional voice1999Strange PlanetAlice2001Never Date an ActressShallow GirlfriendShort filmEllie ParkerShort film; also producerDown Mulholland Drive / Diane Selwyn2002RabbitsSusieShort film seriesPlots with a View2003Ned Kelly2004We Don't Live Here AnymoreAlso producerI Heart Huckabees2005Ellie ParkerAlso producerStay King Kong2006Inland EmpireSusieAlso producer2007Eastern PromisesFunny GamesAlso executive producer2009Mother and ChildElizabeth2010You Will Meet a Tall Dark StrangerSallyFair Game2011Dream HouseJ. Edgar20122013Movie 43SamanthaSegment: "Homeschooled"AdorationLil WestonAlso executive producerSunlight Jr.MelissaDianaDiana, Princess of WalesHerselfDocumentary; also associate producer2014Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)St. VincentDakaWhile We're Young2015 DemolitionMaggieAlso executive producer2016ChuckShut In2017I Am Heath LedgerHerselfDocumentary2018Ophelia and MechthildViceFox News AnchorUncredited cameo2019LuceAlso executive producer2020Penguin Bloom 2021Boss LevelAlso producerThis Is the NightAlso executive producer2022Infinite Storm Also producerGoodnight Mommy Also executive producer2024The FriendAlso executive producerEmmanuelle 2026 Spider-Man: Brand New Day E.V. (voice) Hermine Braunsteiner Post-production April Post-production
Television Year(s)TitleRoleNotes1990Hey Dad..!2 episodes1991Brides of Christ5 episodesHome and Away19 episodes1996Secrets of the Bermuda TriangleAmandaTelevision filmTimepieceTelevision film1997–1998Sleepwalkers9 episodes1998ReneeTelevision film1999Television film2000Television film2002Television film2011Sesame StreetHerselfEpisode: "Goodbye Pacifier"2014BoJack HorsemanHerself (voice)Episode: "One Trick Pony"2017Twin Peaks10 episodesGypsy10 episodes; also executive producer20197 episodesBloodmoonUnknownUnaired pilot2020Secrets of the Zoo: Down UnderNarrator (voice)10 episodes20227 episodes; also executive producer 2024Feud: Capote vs. The Swans Season 2; also executive producer 2025Too MuchAnn Ratigan4 episodes 2025–presentAll's FairLiberty RonsonMain role; also executive producer 2026Love StoryJacqueline Kennedy OnassisMain role; 3 episodes
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes2005King KongAnn Darrow (voice)Based on the film
See also List of awards and nominations received by Naomi Watts
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