Naomi Watts Honors David Lynch With Emotional Tribute: ‘He Changed My Life’

Naomi Watts dedicates her Donostia Award to David Lynch, recalls Hollywood rejection and shares a Tom Holland memory. The Naomi Watts Honors David Lynch With Emotional Tribute: ‘He Changed My Life’ first appeared on The Blast

Naomi Watts received the Donostia Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival on Saturday night and dedicated it to her “Mulholland Drive” director, David Lynch.

At the event, she reflected on a decade of Hollywood rejection before meeting Lynch. She credited the late director with healing those wounds by giving her a role she “couldn’t even dream of.”

The 57-year-old actress also gave a rare shout-out to her “The Impossible” co-star, Tom Holland, before adding that she still has plenty to offer as her new film, “The Housewife,” premiered.

Naomi Watts’ Donostia Honor Brings A Full-Circle Reunion

Naomi Watts attended the San Sebastian Film Festival over the weekend, where she received the event’s most prestigious honor, the Donostia Award.

The ceremony marked a full-circle moment for her. Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona presented the award, having directed her in the 2012 film “The Impossible,” for which she earned her second Oscar nomination.

Bayona gushed about how far she had come and thanked her for trusting him when he was young and “scared to death,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

He also praised her for teaching him invaluable life lessons he still holds onto, adding that he was “fulfilling a dream” by presenting her with the award.

Watts Recalls Tom Holland’s ‘Water Park’ Joke And Her Hollywood Struggles

An emotional Watts thanked Bayona before recalling the beautiful memories they made while filming in Spain alongside co-star Tom Holland, who made his live-action debut in the film at 15.

“Even doing 30 takes in the water tank, submerged,” she laughed. “Tom Holland called it the best water park he ever went to. I called it pure pain!”

While on stage, she revealed that her rise in Hollywood “wasn’t an easy trajectory,” describing roughly a decade of rejection.

“There was so much rejection. A lot of people telling me I wasn’t going to make it,” she said.

• The actress got candid about her struggles with early menopause at 36.
• Watts flaunted her curves in racy red lingerie photos.
• She once posted a throwback tampon ad about “dry va jay-jay’s.”
• Watts said she wants to act with Nicole Kidman again.
• She remembered Heath Ledger on the 10th anniversary of his death.
• Watts opened up about a hilarious intimate moment from her relationship with Billy Crudup.

The Oscar-Nominated Performer Credits David Lynch With Changing Her Life

Things changed when Watts met Lynch, who cast her in her breakout role in “Mulholland Drive” when she was already in her 30s.

“[He] saw me, and all those wounds from all that rejection now appeared as growth. He gave me the role that you couldn’t even dream of. He really just changed my life,” she said, per The Hollywood Reporter.

“He gave me a different understanding of what it meant to act, to trust instinct, to embrace uncertainty, and to not be afraid of the strange or the unexplained,” Watts continued. “But more than that, he believed in something in me before I fully believed in myself, and that is a gift that you never forget. So tonight, I do really feel like this award is very much about David.”

Naomi Watts Defies Career Expiry Date And Tells David Lynch: ‘I Miss You!’

The British actress also revealed that those early years brought disparaging remarks from people who doubted her future, particularly because of her age.

Now 57, she recalled being told it would be all “dried and finished up” for her at 40. She added that she was “grateful” to be among those shifting that narrative.

“We need to see ourselves. Women are consumers of films and storytelling too. We want to see ourselves reflected on screen,” Watts noted.

Visibly moved, she teased that she wasn’t hitting the brakes anytime soon. She still had plenty to give and was setting her sights high.

“So thank you for giving me the privilege of doing what I love to do. And David Lynch,” she added, holding up her Donostia Award, “I miss you!”

Naomi Watts Urges Hollywood To ‘Get Comfortable’ With Women Aging

Watts previously recalled being told her career would end at 40 in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

In that interview, however, she explained that the prediction wasn’t based on a supposed lack of roles or talent, but on her sexual appeal.

“I was told, ‘You better get a lot done because it’s all over at 40 when you become unf-ckable,’ And I’m like, ‘What? What does that mean exactly?'” she told the outlet.

At the time, she also insisted that Hollywood needed to “get comfortable” with women aging, a natural part of life.

“We don’t talk about a man aging hardly ever. We don’t talk about his gray hair. In fact, if we do, it’s like, ‘Oh, he gets more handsome, more desirable, more powerful.’ And why is he powerful? Because he’s accumulated experiences,” Watts said.

“Well, it should be the same for women,” she added. “We’ve got important and powerful experiences as well at this age that we should feel proud of.”

The Naomi Watts Honors David Lynch With Emotional Tribute: ‘He Changed My Life’ first appeared on The Blast