Biography of Emily Watson
Emily Watson is one of the most outstanding British actresses, whose star rose with the release of the provocative film "Breaking the Waves." In 2019, Emily appeared in the HBO miniseries "Chernobyl," playing the role of a courageous female scientist, symbolizing the collective image of all scientists who worked to eliminate the consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident.
Childhood
Emily Watson was born on January 14, 1967, in one of the most popular and fashionable areas of London, Islington. Emily grew up with her sister, and their parents, an architect and an English teacher, did everything possible to ensure the girls received a good education and upbringing.
At 18, Emily entered the University of Bristol, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree.Emily Watson on female upbringing at the School of Economic Science...No sex outside marriage, young women were encouraged to marry older men, live at home until you get married or start a family. We were told that 'women can join hands to change the world,' and I absolutely believe in that. But then we were urged to become mothers, nurses, and teachers. Independence was not encouraged.
First Roles
Despite her interest in theater from a young age, Emily was shy, and her dreams of becoming an actress seemed unrealistic to her. However, after joining a student theater troupe, she believed in herself and attempted (though unsuccessfully) to enter the London Academy of Dramatic Art.Her parents reacted negatively to their daughter's decision and tried to persuade her to return to Bristol. For three years, Emily did not give up hope of getting into school, performed in amateur theater in the evenings, and worked as a waitress during the day. Emily's third attempt was successful.
In 1994, Emily acted in the television film "Rosalie," but the whole world learned about the young Englishwoman two years later when she agreed to star in Lars von Trier's film, later part of the "Golden Heart" trilogy.
Career Bloom
The provocative film "Breaking the Waves" marked the start of Emily's extraordinary success as she approached her thirties. In an unexpected retelling of the tale of a girl with a kind, magical heart, Watson played Bess, a devoted and innocent woman who communicates directly with God and is willing to do anything to save her beloved.The following year, Emily appeared as the love interest of Daniel Day-Lewis in the political drama "The Boxer," and in 1997, she portrayed the cellist prodigy Jacqueline du Pré in the biographical drama "Hilary and Jackie." The film was negatively received by the conservative British society due to a script that critics felt distorted the life events of one of England's beloved classical musicians. The role earned Emily another Oscar nomination.
In 1999, Emily starred alongside Robert Carlyle, playing his character's wife in the drama "Angela's Ashes." In 2001, she co-starred with John Turturro in the adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's "The Luzhin Defence."
From 2001 to 2009, the British actress, often described as "brilliant," appeared in nearly twenty films, with each performance consistently impressing audiences with her skill. Her standout roles from this period include the blind Reba in the thriller "Red Dragon," Mary in the dystopian thriller "Equilibrium," also starring Christian Bale, and a housewife in the dramatic thriller "Separate Lies," where she starred alongside Tom Wilkinson.
In the same year, she portrayed Einstein's wife in the biographical film "Genius," and the next year joined the cast of "The Happy Prince," depicting the last years of Oscar Wilde's life. Rupert Everett unexpectedly portrayed the great writer.
In the HBO miniseries "Chernobyl," hailed as the best TV project of spring 2019, Emily played Ulana Khomyuk, a brave scientist from Minsk willing to defy orders to save lives. Her co-stars included Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård, who played Soviet politician Boris Shcherbina.
After "Chernobyl," Watson starred in another HBO miniseries, the experimental drama about a cult "The Third Day," where she played Miss Martin, the cult leader.
That same year, the miniseries "Too Close" premiered, about two psychologists on opposite sides of a prison barrier. Emily Watson and Denise Gough played the main roles. Watson's character investigates whether her colleague committed a crime in sound mind or not.Mrs. Martin is unlike any character I've played before. She's an amazing, encouraging, and liberating personality. She's a very harsh, bold, foul-mouthed character, but she also has a natural, sensitive, instinctive emotional understanding of people. Although this doesn't align with the moral standards you or I would share.
Emily Watson's Personal Life
Since 1995, Emily has been married to Royal Shakespeare Company actor and screenwriter Jack Waters. In 2005, Watson gave birth to a daughter, Juliet, and four years later, to a son, Dylan.
Emily Watson Now
In the fall of 2022, it was announced that Emily Watson and Shirley Henderson would play the lead roles in the series "Dune: Prophecy," which serves as a prequel to "Dune." The plot centers around the creation of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, which has spent millennia trying to produce the Kwisatz Haderach, a man capable of inheriting all ancestral memories, both male and female. Both actresses will portray members of the noble Harkonnen family.
The actress also appeared in the musical biopic "Midas Man" as Queenie Epstein, the mother of Brian Epstein, the famous manager of The Beatles, and shone in the Irish independent drama "Small Things Like These," which won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.It's a very interesting story, not for children… not like 'Star Wars'. It has moral complexity. It was great to enter this world with the confidence that I have the skill set to make everything truly genuine.