[Article] Naomi Watts makes a sudden switch to her comedic side....

Naomi Watts makes a sudden switch from dramas like Diana to comedies with some of Hollywood’s biggest funnymen and woman.

Making a flying visit to the Barossa Valley she talks about her new career direction and represent the Jacobs Creek Cool Harvest range of wines.

NAOMI Watts has kept her comedic side hidden. Publicly anyway. But that’s about to change as the Aussie actress is set to star in a string of Hollywood comedies after forging an impressive career in dramatic roles.

Most recently she played British tourist Maria Bennett in The Impossible, the harrowing true story of the family’s separation in Thailand during the 2004 tsunami....

I sort of staved it (comedy) off in the beginning because I had these good dramatic roles that were coming to me,” Watts says. “And then I think people got that message.

“People thought that I was not interested or not good at comedy or didn'’t want to do it. So it just didn'’t come to me. After things like doing The Impossible, which was such a heavy, gut-wrenching piece, it was hard to switch off at the end of the day.

“I really felt like I needed to actively pursue some lighter material and I needed to let people know. One thing led to the next and I ended up doing three things of that kind of nature.”

In coming months Watts will be seen alongside some of comedy’s biggest names, including Ben Stiller, in While We’re Young, Zach Galifianakis and Emma Stone in Birdman, and Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy in St Vincent de Van Nuys.

“The jury’s still out,” she laughs when asked how she fared. “It’s not like slapstick. I’m not good at it, I'’d fail dismally at a sitcom.

“I think I’'m the sort of person who’'d panic before the joke’s told. But it was fascinating being on set with people like Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Stiller.”

It’s an exciting time for Watts, who spent years trying to crack Hollywood before her breakthrough role in David Lynch’s 2001 film Mulholland Drive.

Since then, she’s starred in some big films including The Painted Veil, J. Edgar, The Assassination of Richard Nixon and Diana. She was nominated for Academy Awards for 21 Grams and The Impossible.

While she may be known as a serious dramatic actress, Watts considers herself to be funny in real life. And she'’s not afraid to let people see her in those moments.

“I love humour,” she says. “I’'m totally drawn to funny people and I like to think I can make people laugh, and I have done in the past.

“I can be physically funny as well, like goofy. I’m not afraid to make fun of myself. So we'’ll see.”

Watts, 45, sat down in South Australia’s Barossa Valley only hours after walking the red carpet at the Oscars last Monday.

She flew home for a quick visit and was still buzzing for fellow patriot Cate Blanchett, who picked up the best actress award for Blue Jasmine.

“I felt pretty confident and excited for Cate that it was going to happen and then, of course, it did,” Watts says.

“I was so happy to hear her speech and her recognition for Australia and so many great talents over here. It was a moment of pride for the whole country.

“Cate is someone who exemplifies the fact that women can do it all, she really is magnificent.”

Blanchett was photographed the day after the Oscars in a tattoo studio in LA with actor friend Amy Adams, where they are both believed to have been inked.

“I'’ve actually thought about it (getting a tattoo) for a long, long time but I haven't yet,” says Watts — shocked that Blanchett would even consider it.

Like Blanchett, Watts'’ Oscars outfit— - a white Calvin Klein dress -— was widely regarded as one of the best of the night.



“That is far better than being on the worst-dressed list,” she shares.

She recently said her sons Sasha, 6, and Sammy, 5, help to choose her outfits.

Motherhood is the “best thing in my life. I almost can’'t remember what it was like before kids,” says Watts, who has been with actor partner Liev Schreiber since 2005.

“There is a lot of fun and games in our house. Liev is the same, he’'s got a great sense of adventure and a great imagination — and that’'s what you want to teach your children, to show the kids that life is fun.

“Also, as they get older, you want to teach them more serious things like compassion and kindness, things like that.”

Watts and Schreiber take turns to ensure their children are always with a loved one. He is currently shooting hit show Ray Donovan in LA, and she will take the next few months off work.

“It’'s nice to have a break but there are always things to do,— like looking for the next thing.”

Now that she’s given comedy a go, perhaps we will see her on Broadway next?

“I'’d love to do some stage, some theatre,” she says.

“I'’d like to try a new play so there aren'’t those kinds of comparisons.”