Naomi Watts’ Best Roles

Naomi Watts has built a remarkable career by taking on fearless and emotionally demanding roles that many actors might shy away from. She rose to international prominence after years of hard work, delivering a stunning breakout performance that showcased her immense talent and range. She is widely known for her ability to portray characters in states of extreme psychological distress, grief, or physical peril, bringing a raw and captivating authenticity to every part she plays.

Her filmography is incredibly diverse, spanning from surrealist thrillers and terrifying horror films to sweeping dramas and quirky comedies. Despite this versatility, a common thread in her work is a deep commitment to exploring the complexities of the human experience. Watts consistently chooses roles that challenge both herself and the audience, making her one of the most compelling and respected performers working today.

‘I ♥ Huckabees’ (2004)

In this quirky philosophical comedy, Naomi Watts plays Dawn Campbell, the cheerful and beautiful spokesmodel for a chain of retail stores. Her character’s perfect life begins to unravel when she has an existential crisis, leading her to question her identity and the meaning of her work. Watts masterfully portrays Dawn’s hilarious and bizarre transformation.

As she delves deeper into her crisis with the help of two “existential detectives,” her character abandons her glamorous image, trading it for a plain, Amish-style bonnet and a more profound outlook on life. Watts’s performance is a comedic highlight in an ensemble cast, as she sheds her character’s superficial layers to explore deeper, more complicated truths.

‘Stay’ (2005)

Naomi Watts plays Lila Culpepper in this surreal psychological thriller. Her character is the girlfriend of a psychiatrist and is a former art teacher who survived a suicide attempt. She finds herself drawn into the increasingly strange case of one of her boyfriend’s patients, a young art student who has threatened to kill himself in three days.

The film is known for its dreamlike, non-linear narrative and visually inventive style. Watts’s character acts as an emotional anchor in a world that is constantly shifting and bending reality. Her performance is filled with empathy and concern, grounding the story’s complex and disorienting journey through the human psyche.

‘Penguin Bloom’ (2020)

Naomi Watts portrays Sam Bloom, an active and adventurous mother of three whose life is changed in an instant after a fall from a balcony leaves her paralyzed from the chest down. Her character struggles with a deep depression and a loss of identity, feeling like a stranger in her own home and family. Watts delivers a powerful performance depicting her character’s immense physical and emotional pain.

The family’s dynamic begins to change when her children bring home an injured baby magpie, which they name Penguin. As her character cares for the bird, she slowly begins to find a new sense of purpose and hope. The film is a moving story of resilience and recovery, with Watts providing a raw and honest portrayal of a woman learning to live again.

‘Luce’ (2019)

In this tense psychological drama, Naomi Watts plays Amy Edgar, the loving adoptive mother of a star high school student. Her son was a former child soldier from a war-torn country, and he now appears to be a model of success and adaptation. Her world is turned upside down when one of his teachers makes a disturbing discovery in his locker, raising questions about his true nature.

Watts’s character is thrust into a difficult position, torn between the fierce desire to protect her son and the growing fear that he may be capable of terrible things. Her performance is a masterful depiction of a parent’s anxiety and the complex dynamics of trust, race, and identity. She navigates the film’s moral ambiguity with incredible subtlety and emotional depth.

‘Fair Game’ (2010)

Naomi Watts stars as Valerie Plame, a covert CIA operative whose career and life are thrown into chaos. When her husband writes a newspaper column criticizing the government, her identity is leaked by White House officials in an act of political retaliation. The film chronicles the professional and personal fallout as her character and her husband fight to clear their names.

Watts delivers a controlled and intelligent performance, portraying a woman who must navigate a high-stakes political battle while trying to hold her family together. She captures the immense pressure and personal cost of the situation, showing the strain it puts on her marriage and her own sense of self. It is a compelling portrait of a woman’s fight for the truth.

‘The Ring’ (2002)

In one of her most iconic roles, Naomi Watts plays Rachel Keller, an investigative journalist who begins to look into a mysterious videotape that seems to be linked to a series of teenage deaths. The urban legend surrounding the tape is that anyone who watches it will receive a cryptic phone call and then die exactly seven days later. After watching the tape herself, her character must race against time to unravel the mystery and save herself and her young son.

The film became a massive box office success and is credited with revitalizing the horror genre. Watts’s performance is the anchor of the movie, portraying her character’s mounting terror and fierce maternal instinct with complete conviction. She creates a smart and resourceful protagonist who makes the supernatural threat feel terrifyingly real.

‘St. Vincent’ (2014)

Naomi Watts showcases her comedic talents as Daka, a pregnant Russian exotic dancer who lives next door to a cantankerous and hard-drinking retiree. Her character develops an unlikely friendship with the old man, who is hired by a single mother to look after her son. Watts’s performance is full of humor and heart, delivered with a thick and convincing accent.

In this charming comedy-drama, her character is a key part of the unconventional group of people who form a makeshift family. While initially portrayed for laughs, her character reveals a surprising depth and warmth as the story unfolds. Watts proves she is just as skilled in comedy as she is in intense drama, stealing many scenes with her witty and vibrant portrayal.

‘King Kong’ (2005)

In this epic adventure film, Naomi Watts plays Ann Darrow, a kind-hearted vaudeville performer struggling to find work during the Great Depression. She is hired by an ambitious filmmaker to be the leading lady in his next picture, which requires them to travel to the mysterious and dangerous Skull Island. There, her character is captured by the island’s inhabitants and offered as a sacrifice to a giant ape named Kong.

Watts brings a remarkable level of emotional depth to the role, transforming the classic “damsel in distress” into a compassionate and brave heroine. She creates a believable and moving bond with the giant creature, communicating through empathy and courage rather than just screams. Her performance is a key reason the film succeeds as both a thrilling spectacle and a tragic love story.

‘The Painted Veil’ (2006)

Naomi Watts portrays Kitty Fane, the frivolous and self-absorbed wife of a reserved British doctor in the 1920s. Living in Shanghai, she enters into a passionate affair, and when her husband discovers her infidelity, he exacts a cruel form of revenge. He forces her to accompany him to a remote Chinese village ravaged by a deadly cholera epidemic.

In this hostile and dangerous environment, her character is forced to confront her own shallowness and begins a slow and profound journey of self-discovery. Watts delivers a powerful and nuanced performance, showing Kitty’s transformation from a selfish young woman into a compassionate and resilient individual. The film is a beautiful and moving story of forgiveness and redemption.

‘The Impossible’ (2012)

In a physically and emotionally grueling role, Naomi Watts plays Maria Bennett, a mother of three who is on vacation with her family in Thailand. Their holiday turns into a nightmare when the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami strikes, separating her and her eldest son from the rest of their family. The film is a harrowing and realistic depiction of their fight for survival in the aftermath of the disaster.

Watts earned an Academy Award nomination for her raw and powerful performance. She portrays her character’s immense physical pain and her unwavering determination to protect her son with breathtaking authenticity. It is a compelling and deeply moving portrait of a mother’s strength and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

’21 Grams’ (2003)

Naomi Watts gives a devastating performance as Cristina Peck, a former party girl who has found stability and happiness as a suburban wife and mother. Her world is completely destroyed when her husband and two young daughters are killed in a hit-and-run accident. The story is told in a non-linear fashion, weaving her character’s journey with that of two other people whose lives are connected by the tragedy.

The role earned Watts her first Academy Award nomination and is considered one of her finest performances. She fearlessly explores the darkest depths of grief, rage, and addiction as her character seeks revenge on the man responsible for her family’s death. It is a raw, unflinching, and emotionally shattering portrayal of loss.

‘Eastern Promises’ (2007)

In this gritty crime thriller, Naomi Watts plays Anna Khitrova, a midwife at a London hospital. When a teenage Russian prostitute dies during childbirth, her character discovers the girl’s diary and tries to find her family to ensure the newborn baby has a home. Her search for the truth leads her directly into the dangerous and secretive world of the Russian mafia.

Watts portrays her character as a compassionate and determined woman who naively underestimates the danger she is in. She serves as the audience’s guide into the brutal and clandestine criminal underworld. Her performance provides the film’s moral center, a beacon of humanity in a story filled with violence and darkness.

‘Birdman’ (2014)

Naomi Watts plays Lesley, a talented stage actor who is about to make her Broadway debut. The play is a passion project for a washed-up Hollywood star famous for playing a superhero, and her character is his co-star and girlfriend. As the production hurtles toward opening night, she must navigate her own insecurities and her turbulent relationship with the play’s unstable leading man.

The film is celebrated for its technical style, which makes it appear as if it was shot in one continuous take. As part of a brilliant ensemble cast, Watts’s performance captures the anxiety and ambition of a theater actor who has sacrificed everything for a chance to prove herself. She brings humor and vulnerability to a story about art, ego, and the pursuit of relevance.

‘Mulholland Drive’ (2001)

In her career-defining breakout role, Naomi Watts delivers a tour-de-force performance playing two distinct characters. She first appears as Betty Elms, a bright-eyed and incredibly naive aspiring actress who arrives in Hollywood full of hopes and dreams. She then later appears as Diane Selwyn, a bitter and depressed woman whose acting ambitions have been crushed.

The film is a surreal and mysterious exploration of the dark side of Hollywood, and Watts’s stunning ability to shift between the two personas is the heart of the movie. Her portrayal of Betty’s wide-eyed optimism is as convincing as her depiction of Diane’s devastating despair. The performance announced her as a major talent and remains one of the most acclaimed of the century.

‘Twin Peaks’ (2017)

In the long-awaited revival of the iconic television series, Naomi Watts plays Janey-E Jones. Her character is the tough, no-nonsense wife of an insurance salesman named Dougie Jones, whose body has been taken over by the nearly catatonic spirit of FBI Agent Dale Cooper. She finds her mundane suburban life turned upside down by mobsters, loan sharks, and the FBI.

Watts’s performance is a revelation, filled with fiery energy and unexpected comedic timing. Her character is fiercely protective of her family and completely unfazed by the bizarre and dangerous events unfolding around her. In a series full of strange and memorable characters, she creates a grounded and unforgettable figure who is both hilarious and heroic.

What is your favorite Naomi Watts performance? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.