Naomi Watts on women over 50 in Hollywood: 'Things have changed'

British actor Naomi Watts who is in Spain for the San Sebastian Film Festival to receive this years prestigious Donostia Award has said that opportunities for women over 50 in the entertainment industry have improved pointing to the recent Emmy nominations as an encouraging sign according to VarietyWatts speaking about the changing standards for older women in Hollywood recalled being warned early in her career that opportunities for actresses would largely disappear after the age of 40I was told at the beginning that I better get my skates on because it all finishes at the age of 40 And here we are today Im in my late 50s Look at the Emmys last week and the number of women in strong categories over 50 Thats heartening to see Watts saidAmong the nominees over the age of 50 were Rhea Seehorn for Pluribus Jean Smart for Hacks and Allison Janney for The Diplomat according to VarietyI do think things have changed Watts said Women are consumers of film and TV and their stories should be reflected That narrative had to be shifted And I am grateful to be a small part of that shiftWatts is attending the Basque festival alongside director Ben Shirinian for his feature debut The Housewife which stars Watts Tye Sheridan Luke Evans Michael Imperioli and Lena OlinSet in 1964 and based on a true story The Housewife follows a young journalist who tracks down a potential Nazi officer secretly living in New York and befriends the suspects charismatic wife HermineAsked about the parallels between the films World War II and Holocaust backdrop and ongoing conflicts around the world including the war in Palestine Watts described the present moment as deeply troublingIts a very very scary time what is going on in the world globally she said according to VarietyWe must be vigilant we must pay attention and not let that happen again Hopefully this film sparks a dialogue We dont give answers we hopefully send you away with questions of how did this happen and who do you relate with in this story and how we can avoid this happening ever again she addedWatts also stressed the importance of representation and storytelling at a time when she said minorities are facing attacksWe have to tell these stories storytelling is important particularly now she said adding that she would continue supporting minorities and representation on screenIm proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community Minorities are being attacked right now and its frightful and unacceptable My heart is with these communities particularly my family Ill do whatever I can to stick up for minorities Watts saidReflecting on her own experience as an immigrant in the United States Watts said she had moved to the country with hopes and dreams which she felt she had already surpassedDiscussing Hermine she said the character was living in postWorld War II America when things were much more sunny and bright and was attempting to establish a new life while leaving her past behindIn terms of me I have American children I do love America and whats going on today is complicated and certainly nervewracking but I have faith that things will work out in time Watts said when asked about the current political climate in the USWatts described playing Hermine as a particularly challenging experience saying she felt a huge amount of fear when taking on the roleIt was like nothing I ever played before this duality of this woman who had done horrific things heinous crimes and yet blending into society as a normal person very much a good citizen a good wife baking cookies showing up to church That duality and living with that secret was interesting to me as an actor she said according to VarietyI am always looking to do new things even though I might have a repetitive theme in my work grief and identity things that are meaningful to me Watts added This character is like nothing Ive ever played Im at an age now when some might joke Im in my villain era but this is an extreme one and not a joke I felt compelled to play this storyWatts also reflected on her acclaimed role in David Lynchs Mulholland Drive drawing a distinction between her experience on that film and her work on The HousewifeBoth roles she said were deeply psychological and confronting but she described her experience on Mulholland Drive as particularly joyfulMulholland Drive was nothing but fun Watts said It was coming at a time in my life when I didnt have any breaks after years of struggle so every day on set was just a wonder Getting to learn how Lynch works and directs was truly wonderful Ill never forget those daysWatts said working with Lynch represented a major turning point after years of rejectionI had been working to get a film role for a good 10 years before that lucky break came I was very much a journeyman actor working wherever I could but I had a lot of rejection Really was quite shut down not bringing good energy into rooms I was asked to audition in she saidIt took someone like David Lynch to see through the veneers I had created We had a beautiful conversation and he gave me the role of a lifetimeIm forever indebted to David Lynch he is in my heart forever she added This is a film that has remained in peoples consciousness for decades and I think it really launched me because every great filmmaker saw this filmWatts has since worked with major filmmakers including Peter Jackson David Cronenberg Clint Eastwood Michael Haneke and Noah Baumbach Asked about a director still on her bucket list she named Paul Thomas Anderson according to VarietyThe San Sebastian Film Festival is being held from September 18 to 26This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever