Emily Margaret Watson OBE (born 14 January 1967)[1] is a British actress. She began her career on stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1992. In 2002, she starred in productions of Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya at the Donmar Warehouse, and was nominated for the 2003 Olivier Award for Best Actress for the latter. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her debut film role as a newlywed in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves (1996) and for her role as Jacqueline du Pré in Hilary and Jackie (1998).
Emily Watson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Watson in 2024 | |
| Born | Emily Margaret Watson 14 January 1967 |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol Drama Studio London |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse |
Jack Waters (m. 1995) |
| Children | 2 |
Watson's other films include The Boxer (1997), Gosford Park (2001), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Red Dragon (2002), The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004), Corpse Bride (2005), Miss Potter (2006), Synecdoche, New York (2008), Oranges and Sunshine (2010), War Horse (2011), The Theory of Everything (2014), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), God's Creatures (2022), and Small Things like These (2024).
For her role in the HBO miniseries Chernobyl, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. She won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for playing Janet Leach in the 2011 ITV television biopic Appropriate Adult and was nominated for the International Emmy Award for Best Actress for the 2017 BBC miniseries Apple Tree Yard. In 2024, she portrayed the lead role of Valya Harkonnen the HBO science fiction series Dune: Prophecy.
Early life
editWatson was born 14 January 1967 in London.[2] Her father, Richard Watson, was an architect, and her mother, Katharine (née Venables), was an English teacher at St David's Girls' School, West London.[3][4] She has an older sister, Harriet.[5] Watson was brought up as an Anglican.[6] She has described her childhood-self as 'a nice middle-class English girl ... I'd love to say I was a rebellious teenager, but I wasn't.'[7] She is a childhood friend of actress and writer Clara Salaman, and starred in the screen adaptation of Salaman's novel Too Close.[8]
Watson was educated at St James Independent Schools in west London which were founded by the School of Economic Science.[9] Whilst there, she witnessed "incidents of extreme cruelty" that were "very scarring for people going forward in their lives".[10] She attended the University of Bristol, where she obtained a BA (1988, English).[3] Watson subsequently trained at Drama Studio London.[5] In 2003 she received an honorary MA from Bristol University.[11] Watson was a member of the School of Economic Science until 1996, when aged 29 she was expelled following her part in Breaking the Waves. She describes the organisation as a "very repressive regime"[10] and a "system where you were supposed to think a certain way and you weren't really allowed to think any other way". Breaking out of it, she says, was a "very powerful release" in her life.[12]
Career
editWatson's career began on the stage. Her theatre credits include The Children's Hour (at the Royal National Theatre), Three Sisters, Much Ado About Nothing and The Lady from the Sea. Watson has also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company in A Jovial Crew, The Taming of the Shrew, All's Well That Ends Well and The Changeling.[13]
Watson was virtually unknown until director Lars von Trier chose her to star in Breaking the Waves (1996) after Helena Bonham Carter dropped out.[14] Watson's performance as Bess McNeill won her the Los Angeles, London and New York Critics' Circle Awards for Best Actress, as well as the US National Society of Film Critics' Award for Best Actress and nominations at the Academy Awards, the British Academy Film Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards.[15]
Watson came to public notice again in another controversial[clarification needed] role, that of cellist Jacqueline du Pré in Hilary and Jackie, for which she learned to play the cello in three months,[3] and received another Oscar nomination. She also played a leading role in Cradle Will Rock, a story of a theatre show in the 1930s, directed by Tim Robbins. Though she won the title role of Frank McCourt's mother in the adaptation of his acclaimed memoir, Angela's Ashes, the film underperformed.[16] In 2001, she appeared with John Turturro in The Luzhin Defence and in Robert Altman's ensemble piece Gosford Park.[17]
Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet wrote the character Amélie for Watson to play (Amélie was originally named Emily) but she eventually turned the role down due to difficulties speaking French and a desire not to be away from home.[18] The role made a star of Audrey Tautou. She was also the first choice to play Elizabeth I in Shekhar Kapur's film Elizabeth, the role that won Cate Blanchett an Academy Award nomination.[19]
The following year, she starred as Reba McClane in the adaptation of Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs prequel, Red Dragon, as the romantic interest of Adam Sandler in Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch-Drunk Love and in the sci-fi action thriller Equilibrium with Christian Bale. In 2002, she took time off from cinema to play two roles in Sam Mendes' repertory productions of Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night, first at Mendes' Donmar Warehouse in London and later at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her performance was widely acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic and she was nominated for an Olivier Award for Uncle Vanya.[20]
In 2004, Watson received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Peter Sellers's first wife, Anne Howe, in the HBO film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. 2005 saw Watson star in four films: Wah-Wah, Richard E. Grant's autobiographical directorial debut; Separate Lies, directed by Gosford Park writer Julian Fellowes; Tim Burton's animated film Corpse Bride, with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter; and John Hillcoat's Australian Western, The Proposition.
In 2006, Watson took a supporting role in Miss Potter, a biographical drama about children's author Beatrix Potter, from Babe director Chris Noonan, with Ewan McGregor and Renée Zellweger; and also in an adaptation of Thea Beckman's children's novel Crusade in Jeans. In 2007, she appeared in The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, an adaptation of the Dick King-Smith children's novel about the origin of the Loch Ness Monster.[21][22] In 2007, Mood Indigo, a script written by Watson and her husband, was optioned by Capitol Films. The film is a love story set during the Second World War and concerns a young woman who falls in love with a pilot.[23]
In 2008, Watson starred with Julia Roberts and Carrie-Anne Moss in Fireflies in the Garden,[24] the Lifetime Television movie The Memory Keeper's Daughter (based on the novel with the same name), and in screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York.[25] In 2009 she appeared in the film Cold Souls, from first-time director Sophie Barthes,[26] and Within the Whirlwind, a biographical film of Russian poet and Gulag survivor Evgenia Ginzburg from The Luzhin Defence director Marleen Gorris.[27] Watson considers Ginzburg her best recent role; however, the film was not picked up for distribution.[28]
In 2010, she starred in Oranges and Sunshine, a film recounting the true story of children sent into abusive care homes in Australia, directed by Jim Loach, and also the following year (2011) in War Horse, an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's prizewinning novel, directed by Steven Spielberg. In 2011, she played Janet Leach in the ITV two-part film Appropriate Adult, about serial killer Fred West, for which she won a BAFTA.[3]
In 2014, Watson had supporting roles in The Book Thief, alongside Geoffrey Rush and Sophie Nélisse, and the Oscar-nominated film The Theory of Everything, portraying Jane Wilde, Hawking's mother in law, alongside Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. In 2015, she had supporting roles in Testament of Youth, alongside Alicia Vikander and Kit Harington, Eduardo Verástegui's Little Boy and A Royal Night Out, in which she portrayed Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She also received rave reviews[29] for her portrayal of Julie Nicholson in the BBC Drama A Song for Jenny, with experts tipping her to win the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress.
In 2019 she appeared as a nuclear scientist — a composite of several real scientists — in the miniseries Chernobyl.
Watson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to drama.[30][31][32] In 2017, she starred in the BBC mini-series Apple Tree Yard.[33]
Personal life
edit
Watson married Jack Waters, whom she had met at the Royal Shakespeare Company, in 1995. Waters is a former actor who now works as a potter.[5] They have a daughter born in 2005,[34] and a son in 2009.[28] They live in Greenwich, London.[35][36]
Her mother fell ill with encephalitis shortly before filming commenced on Oranges and Sunshine. Watson returned to London but arrived just after her death.[3]
Watson is a supporter of the children's charity the NSPCC. In 2004, she was inducted into the society's hall of fame for spearheading the successful campaign to appoint a Children's Commissioner for England.[37] Receiving her award in the crowded House of Commons, she spoke out against the possibility that the Children's Commissioner become a figurehead with little real power.[38] She is also one of the patrons of the London children's charity Scene & Heard.[39] In April 2018, Watson presented Maternity Worldwide as her chosen charity on the BBC Radio 4 Appeal.[40]
Acting credits
editFilm
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | A Summer Day's Dream | Rosalie | Television film |
| 1997 | The Mill on the Floss | Maggie Tulliver | Television film |
| 2008 | The Memory Keeper's Daughter | Caroline Gil | Television film |
| 2011 | Appropriate Adult | Janet Leach | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | The Politician's Husband | Freya | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe | Grace McKee | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | A Song for Jenny | Julie Nicholson | Television film |
| 2015 | The Dresser | Her Ladyship | Television film |
| 2017 | Apple Tree Yard | Yvonne Carmichael | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Genius | Elsa Einstein | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Little Women | Marmee | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | King Lear | Regan | Television film |
| 2019 | Chernobyl | Ulyana Khomyuk | 4 episodes |
| 2020 | The Third Day | Mrs. Martin | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Too Close | Dr. Emma Robertson | 3 episodes |
| 2024 | Dune: Prophecy | Valya Harkonnen | Main role |
Theatre
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (May 2012) |
- School for Mothers and The Mistake (double-bill of one-act plays), White Bear Theatre, London, 1991
- All's Well That Ends Well (Royal Shakespeare Company, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 1992, later Pit Theatre, London, 1993) as Marianna
- The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company, Barbican Theatre, London, 1993) as Mrs. Ruth Banks-Ellis
- The Changeling (Royal Shakespeare Company, Pit Theatre, 1993)
- A Jovial Crew (Royal Shakespeare Company, Pit Theatre, 1993) as Amie
- The Lady from the Sea (Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London, 1994) as Hilde Wangel
- The Children's Hour (Lyttelton Theatre, London, 1994) as Mary Tilford
- Three Sisters (Out of Joint, 1995)
- Othello (1996, theatre)
- Twelfth Night / Uncle Vanya (Donmar Warehouse, 2002 / BAM, 2003)
Radio
edit- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1994, radio)
- Wuthering Heights (1995, radio series)
- The Glass Piano (2010, radio drama about Princess Alexandra of Bavaria)[42]
Awards and nominations
editReferences
edit- ^ Piscini, Beatrice. "Emily Watson. Biografia e filmografia - Trovacinema". La Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ Rose, Mike (14 January 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 14, 2023 includes celebrities Dave Grohl, Carl Weathers". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Kate Kellaway (20 March 2011). "Emily Watson: 'I had to put a lid on my grief… bury it deep down'". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ Elaine Lipworth (21 February 2014). "Emily Watson - My family values". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ a b c Ann Lee (20 March 2023). "'There was cruelty and unpleasantness': Emily Watson on school, stardom and sex scenes in her 50s". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "Metroactive Movies | Emily Watson". Metroactive.com. 4 December 1996. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ James Mottram (25 March 2011). "Emily Watson – A woman of substance who's still making waves". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ Mark Kennedy (20 May 2021). "Too Close' bonds close friends Emily Watson, Clara Salaman". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Not a total jumping loony" Catherine Shoard, The Telegraph, 19 January 2003 Archived 4 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine From The Telegraph Newspaper.
- ^ a b Potton, Ed. "Emily Watson: 'I saw incidents of cruelty that have been very scarring'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Tyzack, Anna (18 February 2012). "My perfect weekend: Emily Watson". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Emily Watson on her new TV drama, Chernobyl". www.scotsman.com. 4 May 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Emily Watson at Film Bug". Filmbug.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ Transcribed from Sight & Sound Magazine, October 1996 issue. – Translated by Alexander Keiller. "Lars Von Trier (Breaking The Waves)". Industrycentral.net. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "IMDB: Awards for Emily Watson". IMDb. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "Angela's Ashes". boxofficemojo.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ "Emily Watson – IVTR". Findarticles.com. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "Amelie Director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet – Je Voudrais Une Oscar". Efilmcritic.com. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ Archerd, Army (18 February 1999). "'Jackie' thesp sez she's no 'Elizabeth'". Variety. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ London Theatre Guide: Paltrow and Watson nominated for Best Actress Olivier Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Emily Watson joins Miss Potter and Shantaram". Comingsoon.net. Archived from the original on 9 August 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ Black Magic: The Waterhorse Archived 16 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Dawtrey, Adam (24 October 2007). "'Enemies,' 'Ranch' lead Capitol slate". Variety. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "Julia Roberts and Carrie-Anne Moss Plant Fireflies in the Garden". Movieweb.com. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ "First Synecdoche Pic". joblo.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
- ^ "Watson, Giamatti join ARTE Cinema's 'Souls'". Hollywoodreporter.com. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Emily Watson to Star as Russian Dissident Eugenia Ginsburg in Gorris' Within the Whirlwind". Emmanuel Levy. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
- ^ a b Rees, Jasper (26 March 2011). "Emily Watson: 'I'm a character actor – who gets laid'". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ Sam Wollaston (6 July 2015). "A Song for Jenny review – Utterly believable exploration of grief after 7/7". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "No. 61092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2014. p. N15.
- ^ 2015 New Year Honours List Archived 2 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "NY Honours for poppy duo, Joan Collins, and John Hurt". BBC News. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "Five things to know about Apple Tree Yard". Evening Standard. 22 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ peoplestaff225 (20 March 2006). "Emily Watson welcomes a daughter". people.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Kellaway, Kate (20 March 2011). "I had to put a lid on my grief… bury it deep down". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Emily Watson on acting and family life". scotsman. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "NSPCC Hall of Fame 2004: Emily Watson". Nspcc.org.uk. Archived from the original on 23 August 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "Celebrating five years of FULL STOP campaign". nspcc.org.uk. 13 October 2004. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "Scene & Heard – Who We Are". sceneandheard.org. 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ^ "Maternity Worldwide". BBC Radio Four Appeal. 29 April 2018. BBC. Radio 4.
- ^ "Toronto Jewish Film Festival - Midas Man, Opening Night Film, Canadian Premier". Toronto Jewish Film Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ Writer: Deborah Levy, Contributors: Susie Orbach, Erin Sullivan, Fiona Lecky, Composer & arranger: Chris O'Shaughnessy (24 April 2010). "The Glass Piano". Between the Ears. BBC. Radio 3.
External links
edit
Media related to Emily Watson at Wikimedia Commons- Emily Watson at IMDb
- Premiere Magazine: Emily Watson Q&A and podcast
- Emily Watson at the Edinburgh Festival
- Emily Watson at Film Bug
