[Article] Naomi Watts talks "Diana" in Australian Vogue Feb 2013

'Diana was properly isolated.... and paranoid': Naomi Watts opens up about playing the late Princess as she slips into a dramatic emerald dress for Vogue

7 Jan 2013



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Naomi Watts is a fearless actress, but there's one role that she's afraid might get the better of her.

The 44-year-old is set to play Diana Spencer in a biopic about the late Royal's life - and while Watts has previously spoken about the pressure to convincingly portray the tragic princess, she's now at a point where she understands her better, she says.

Watts initially turning down the role, but is now determined to do Diana justice in the film - not least because of her fascination with 'complicated women' like the princess.

And despite the 'huge pressure' and the inevitable 'monumental comparisons', the British / Australian star also says she can relate somewhat to Diana's fruitless struggle to maintain a private life.(...more after the jump)

Speaking to Australian Vogue, the Academy Award nominated actress said: 'In the case of Diana, of course, there is a huge pressure to look right, to have good hair, to walk and speak like her.

'And I instantly thought "Oh no, I’m going to fail at that because the comparisons are going to be monumental".

'I’m always interested in complicated women, in women who are full of contradictions: strength, vulnerability, success, loneliness and all those things.

'Diana exemplified that in major ways.

'She was a great mother, did a lot of things with AIDS charities and the landmines, and had an extraordinary life, but her life was filled with tragedy and, of course, ended in the most tragic way.'

The mother-of-two continued: 'Most of the time I go completely under the radar but I do understand a little the pressure and how awful it must have been for her.

'She was properly isolated because of the media attention and, as a result, paranoid.

'She didn’t know who to trust and that is horrible. Such a lonely idea...a horrible way to live.'

For the interview's photo shoot Watts looks far younger than her years in a stunning emerald green dress with a dramatically ruffled back that revealed her slender torso.

She is also seen in a full length chiffon pleated skirt and top combo seemingly lying on a bed of flowers.