[Article] Hey, mum! Watts in her element

Hey, mum! Watts in her element 

by Andrew Hornery, Jan 1, 2011

AT 42, Naomi Watts is one of those rare Hollywood actors who has managed to stay in the game at an age when the film factory usually spits out its leading ladies.

Not that Sydney-raised Watts, who now calls New York home, was giving it much thought this week.

On Wednesday PS got a rare glimpse into the private world of Watts, an actor who first appeared in Hey Dad! in 1990 and has slogged away in Hollywood for nearly 20 years with mixed success.

Taking on bridesmaid duties for her pal the film publicist Emma Cooper in North Sydney, Watts made it pretty clear the role she cherishes most is the one she performs off camera and in real life, that of mother of two boys with fellow actor Liev Schrieber - Sasha, 3, and Samuel, 2.

Watts and her family have been enjoying the summer in Sydney for the past fortnight, a welcome break from a hectic filming schedule. She appeared in three films last year and another three are scheduled for release this year.

Recently she started working on one of the riskiest projects of her career, taking on the iconic role of Marilyn Monroe in the movie Blonde, scheduled for release next year.

Watts has been deep in research for the film, which focuses on the troubled private world of Monroe, far away from the glamour of the silver screen.

It is a challenge Watts is relishing: portraying a life far removed from her own domestic bliss. Indeed she told USA Today: ''I'm at the point where unless I'm out of my comfort zone, it's not worth leaving home for. I've got two gorgeous kids in my home and my life, and I'm not going to spend a minute away from them, unless it's something I really want to play.''