[Article] Our Chat With Naomi Watts — The Actress Talks Hair, Products & Playing Princess Di

Nov 16, 2012 by Alison Larsen

In town to spread the good word about Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program, Naomi Watts was literally glowing when I walked into the room to interview her. Some might say it was the lighting, but up close, she's very beautiful. Her skin is luminous and smooth (more on that later), and her hair is the perfect shade of blonde. Celeb hair guru Renya Xydis was there too — having just touched-up Naomi's gentle finger-wave hairstyle — and with her minders, the cameraman and the lighting guys watching on, Naomi and I proceeded to have a very lovely chat. See that's the exciting part about interviewing mega stars — there's always a buzz in the room! How would I describe her? Gentle and down-to-earth.

Can you tell me about Pantene Beautiful Lengths and how you got involved?

"It started with Pantene asking me to get involved with them and we did a commercial and a photo campaign. Then they introduced me to the Beautiful Lengths campaign, and I thought, ‘What a great idea, what a great concept to encourage women to cut their hair for those in dire need.’

"We place so much importance on hair and it becomes such a part of our identity at such a young age. It’s hard for a woman to be told she’s got cancer and that she’s going to be unwell and lose her hair. So it’s great that someone is saying, ‘We can help you, we will build these wigs’ and donate them to women in need.

"I saw it today in the hospital – I went to see a group of women at St. Vincent’s – and you can see how much it lifts their spirits. But also a reminder of how they’re used to feeling . . . It was just so great to see this group of women sticking together and voicing all their difficulties but also having a good time trying to look and feel better . . . You really have to have those mammograms as often as possible."

Speaking of hair — you have the perfect shade of blonde! What do you use?

"I use Pantene’s Aqua Light because I have very fine hair and it can’t handle anything too heavy. So that’s a great line that works for me as it’s a light shampoo but allows for volume. But yeah, just taking care of it and eating as healthily a diet as I can – I’m not super strict – but lots of fish and vegetables . . ."

What’s your quick out-the-door hair styling tip?

"Like what you have!"

Oh, a really dirty in a bun?!

"No, it looks nice! I do a ponytail with pieces down [at the front]. I attempt the blow dry but I’m not very good at it. Some women can do it well but I’ve never been one of those women. I don’t have the patience or time. I tend to just put it in a ponytail. I love going to the salon and having a blow dry because you can walk in there feeling miserable and half an hour later you walk out feeling great."

What are your favourite beauty products?

"I use Astalift and it is all marine products. There’s a great product in their line called Jelly Aquarysta, and it just smooths out [skin] and gives you an even tone. And a great day and night moisturiser – I need them quite heavy now as I’m quite dry at this point in my life – and it’s really nourishing."

Any beauty secrets for travelling?

"Tonnes of water and try and sleep as much as possible. Any what’s your best kept beauty secret? You know they’re not secrets, it’s what everyone knows, but they’re just really hard to come by in my life: sleep and water. Simple as that.

"If I drink four glasses of water in the morning before I leave the house, I know my skin looks better. It has an instant effect. Especially if I’m on camera because there’s so much makeup and the lights make [me] look shiny and stuff and so they keep applying makeup and there’s a build-up so [my skin] isn’t breathing. I find those four glasses of water makes all the difference."

And finally, what was it like being made-up as Princess Diana?

"Well truthfully I don’t look that much like her at all, apart from the fact I have blue eyes like she did… but it was an hour and a half or two hours in the makeup chair, and you can see that they’ve done some clever transformations. Obviously the wig, lots and lots of mascara – remember she had lots of eyeliner and mascara? And I also had a prosthetic nose."