Emily Watson, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in Breaking the Waves and the upcoming film Shakespeare's Mother, reflects on her career, family, and personal struggles in a recent interview. Watson describes herself as a 'pretentious child' who grew up without a television, reading books and developing a love for Shakespeare that persists to this day.
Watson credits her early career resilience to a 'goldfish' mentality, where rejection did not affect her. Her breakthrough came with Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves in 1996, which she describes as 'life changing' and a transition from theatre to film that felt like 'going from messing about to actual acting'.
On a personal level, Watson discusses her struggle with belief in God, describing it as an 'intense inner struggle' without a clear answer. She also opens up about her marriage to Jack Waters, a writer who often puts his career on hold to support hers, calling it 'very tough on him' but essential for keeping her grounded.
Watson identifies as a feminist but believes 'men get a rough deal these days'. She admits to minding getting older, feeling young inside despite being in her mid-40s. The actress also reveals she cries easily, most recently while thinking about her grandmother's brother who died in the First World War and the 'utterly pointless' slaughter of young people.
