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RETURNINGTOOURSCREENS
‘I’MNEVERGOING
TOGROWUP!’
ACTRESS NAOMIWATTS OPENSUPABOUTCO-PARENTINGRAISING
HERCHILDRENTOBE‘DECENTHUMANBEINGS’ANDWHYSHEWILL
ALWAYSSTICKUPFORYOUNGERWOMENINTHEINDUSTRYA
fter being announced as a leading
star of the hotly-anticipated Game
Of Thrones prequel, Naomi Watts’
star power is set to rise even more.
While filming for the prequel has only just
kicked off, we don’t have to wait too long
to see her on the small screen, with her new
mini-series The Loudest Voice set to air in
the UK this summer.
The show is based on a book about
Roger Ailes, the former CEO of Fox News,
and includes commentary on the sexual
harassment allegations made by some of his
female employees. Naomi, 50, credits the
#MeToo movement, and Gretchen Carlson,
the presenter and journalist who spoke up
about her ordeal, who Naomi plays in the
series, for changing the landscape. Opening
up about her own experiences, Naomi says:
‘There were times where I was directed
by someone who was making me feel
uncomfortable. Luckily, I’ve learned a lot
from them over time, so it’s not happening
to me now.’
Away from her acting commitments,
Naomi is a mum to children Sasha, 11,
and Samuel, ten, who she shares with her
former partner, actor Liev Schreiber. The
pair have created a positive co-parenting
relationship, which she discusses here,
along with her opinion on the current state
of the industry...You split from
Liev in 2016, but
you seem to have
a very amicable
relationship. How
tough is it to
remain friends?
Liev and I have
found a way tonavigate this and co-parent with
complete mindfulness every
step of the way. We always put
the children first, we both have
the same wants and desires for
them, and we’re talking about
it openly. It means so much to
the kids to have their parents
relating in a healthy and special
way. The studies say that if it’s an
acrimonious break-up, they pick
up on all of that stuff. And so it
was absolutely our intention to
do this in a careful way.How do you teach your kids to
be respectful?
All we can do is have empathy.
We try to teach our children to be kind to
everybody around you. That’s my main focus,
which is shared with Liev. We want to make
sure that we’re raising decent human beings.How do you and Liev manage to juggle
both your schedules around the children?
We make it work whatever happens.
I’m reluctant to go into too much detail,
because I want to protect the Game Of
Thrones prequel, but I will say that I did
research and we’re going to make it work
so that no one is struggling from not seeing
their mum enough.What can you tell us
about the Game Of
Thrones prequel?
I can literally say nothing
if I want to keep my job!
I’m super excited and
proud to be part of such an
incredible brand. The show
is a phenomenon. I watched
the whole of the first seven
series in about three months.In your new series The
Loudest Voice, out this summer, we see
sexual harassment in the workplace. Is it
something you’ve experienced?
Yes. It happens in every industry. You don’t
know how to manage that situation as a
young girl. You don’t have that agency
to say: ‘No, I don’t feel comfortable.’ It’s
really confusing and hard. There were times
where I was directed by someone who was
making me feel uncomfortable. Luckily,
I’ve learned a lot from them over time, so
it’s not happening to me now. I’m so glad
that the #MeToo movement took place
and that voices are being heard now. Myheart breaks for those women that have
gone through things like that – and what
Gretchen went through. It feels like we’ve
set things up in a much safer way for the
next generation, and that’s encouraging.Have you ever had to speak up for
younger women in the industry?
I’ve had my eye on certain people that I’ve
worked with. I’ve seen how they’ve been
pushed around a little bit and I’ve given my
two-cents worth. Yeah, I’ll definitely be there
to stick up for anyone who needs my help.The last time you worked with Russell
Crowe, who plays Roger Ailes in The
Loudest Voice, was in 1990. How would
you describe your friendship now
compared to then?
Well, we’ve definitely grown up since then,
and maybe we still have some growing up
to do. I’m never going to grow up [laughs]!
Even though we didn’t have many scenes
together in 1990, I can remember being on
set with him. He had a commanding sense
of power.Do you see him often?
There’s been big gaps because he lives
over in Australia most of the time, where
he’s busy raising kids. When I see Russell,
it all comes flooding back to me. He’s such
a great human being. When they came to
me and asked me about playing this part,
I instantly said yes; especially knowing that
Russell was involved. You just long for scene
partners like that to elevate and inspire you
and arrive with surprises. I live for that.
‘THE LOUDEST VOICE’ WILL AIR THIS SUMMER ON SKY ATLANTIC.
INTERVIEW BY ALAN TANNER PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY
IMAGES, INSTAGRAM, SHOWTIMEAbove: Liev and OK!
Naomi share children
Samuel and Sasha
(above right)Naomi with her The
Loudest Voice co-stars,
including Russell Crowe