For Emily Watson, describing her role as William Shakespeare's mother in the new film Hamnet as a 'full-circle moment' is a profound understatement. The movie, adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling novel about the Bard's family during the bubonic plague, has already secured six Golden Globe nominations. This makes it the most talked-about Shakespearean film since Shakespeare in Love swept the Oscars in 1999.
A Deeply Personal Connection to the Bard
Watson's link to Britain's national writer is uniquely personal. 'I first went to the RSC when I was seven – we did that a lot growing up,' the 58-year-old actress reveals. 'My mum was a real Shakespearean. She read Shakespeare pretty much every day of her life.' This was more than just cultural enrichment. Watson's parents were members of the School of Economic Science (SES), a conservative, Hindu-based sect where Shakespeare was one of the few permitted writers. 'There was Shakespeare, the Bible and various spiritual texts,' she explains.
Consequently, Watson clung to Shakespeare. Her first professional acting job was at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she also met her husband of 30 years, actor Jack Waters, who hails from Stratford-upon-Avon. They even named one of their two children Juliet. It's clear why starring in Hamnet, a domestic tragedy centred on Shakespeare's son, felt like 'a pretty amazing thing to be a part of'. She adds, 'It felt like there were spells and magic happening.'
From Sect Upbringing to Cinematic Breakthrough
Watson's unconventional childhood was marked by her attendance at St James, an independent SES school in West London, where she witnessed 'incidents of extreme cruelty'. 'The aim of it was a spiritual life – but it was strict and harsh,' she recalls. The sect's rigid values, including no sex before marriage, clashed violently with normal teenage feelings. 'The idea was that you tried to attain a state of spiritual detachment from the world. When you're 13, you're like, "F**k off!"'
Her escape was acting. Her film debut in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves (1996) earned her an Oscar nomination and global fame, but also led to her expulsion from the SES. She says she had already deemed the sect 'bulls**t' and was ready to leave. 'I had somewhere to go where I felt alive. I wasn't just running away. I was going towards something.' She later reconciled with her parents before their deaths.
Magic on Set and Enduring Friendships
Initially unsure if O'Farrell's rich prose could be translated to screen, Watson was convinced by director Chloé Zhao, an Oscar-winner for Nomadland. 'She's a witch! She has magic in her!' Watson exclaims. Unusually, each day's shoot began with games and rituals, often ending with ceremonial dancing to ensure the cast felt 'connected'.
Her co-stars left a deep impression. She speaks with affection of Jessie Buckley, whom she mentored after meeting on the HBO series Chernobyl. 'This is a part Jessie was born to play,' Watson says. She also praises Paul Mescal's portrayal of William Shakespeare: 'To be able to come in and just play William Shakespeare, with all the baggage that comes with that, is so impressive.'
Despite early Oscar nominations for Breaking the Waves and Hilary and Jackie (1998), Watson chose a path of artistic integrity over Hollywood riches. 'I just kind of knew that my currency would be work that had creative integrity somehow.' While she missed out on roles like Elizabeth I and Amélie, she has no regrets, likening casting to a taxi rank: 'When you get to the front, you take the taxi that's there.'
Now, she finds more rewarding roles available for actresses in their fifties and feels less pressure about her appearance. She focuses on staying 'in good nick' for her children, Juliet, 20, and Dylan, 16. Reflecting on her complex upbringing, she concludes with wisdom: 'The older I get, the more I realise it's OK to be confused about lots of things.'
Hamnet is in cinemas now.
