Naomi Watts opens up on the tragic loss of her father
Renowned British-Australian actress Naomi Watts, now 54, recently opened up about the profound loss she experienced at the tender age of seven when her father, Peter Watts, passed away, apparently due to a heroin overdose.
In a heartfelt and candid interview with Tatler magazine for the upcoming November issue, Watts delved into her childhood and family, revealing the deep sadness that enveloped her after her father's untimely death.
Peter Watts, who was a sound engineer for the iconic band Pink Floyd, tragically passed away at the young age of 31. Naomi Watts confessed that her recollections of her father are meagre, as there are scarcely any photographs or tangible memories to cling to.
She revealed, "Even sadder, there's no real photos or anything."
Occasionally, when stumbling upon a new photograph, she experiences moments of recognition, allowing her to glimpse into the past, triggering faint recollections of the times they shared.
At the age of 14, Naomi, along with her brother Ben, embarked on a life-changing journey when her mother, Myfanwy, affectionately known as Miv, made the decision to relocate from the United Kingdom to Australia. This move followed the divorce of her parents when Naomi was just four years old, marking another significant chapter in her tumultuous upbringing.
Watts disclosed that her acting career often explores themes of identity and grief, struggles she has grappled with throughout her own life. She reflected, "Those are two big things in my life that I've struggled with – identity, I think, because of moving around all the time. And then the grief thing, obviously, my father."
In addition to sharing her personal journey, Watts also shed light on her enduring friendship with Nicole Kidman, with whom she attended high school in Sydney. She fondly recalled Kidman's early accomplishments as a source of inspiration, saying, "She was always an inspiration. The fact that she had done the amount of work she'd done was like, 'Oh yeah, another North Shore girl has achieved this, so maybe there's a chance [for me].'"
Naomi Watts previously discussed the loss of her father in a 2021 interview with Vogue magazine, revealing that she still grapples with the tragedy decades later. She conveyed, "Having grown up losing my dad at a very early age, I think that's a story I know well; it's still sorting itself out at the ripe age of 52."
Despite the hardships she has faced, Watts remains one of Australia's most successful Hollywood stars. Her resilience and ability to navigate profound personal challenges have only added depth to her remarkable journey in the world of entertainment.
Image: Instagram