Occupation: Actress
Date of Birth: January 14, 1967
Place of Birth: London, England, UK
Sign: Sun in Capricorn, Moon in Pisces
"I just think it would be a real gas to stand there in a spandex tunic and go "warp speed." "

- Emily Watson, explaining the appeal of science fiction or comedy

 

Over the last several years, Emily Watson has become one of the entertainment world’s most acclaimed actresses.

The U.K. native came to international prominence at the 1996 Cannes International Film Festival, where Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves had its world premiere. The film marked Watson’s screen debut, and her performance as Bess earned her Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and BAFTA Award nominations for Best Actress. In addition, she was named Best Actress by the New York Film Critics Circle, the National Society of Film Critics, and the European Film (Felix) Awards; was given the New Generation Award by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association; and earned the (London) Evening Standard Award as Most Promising Newcomer.

Watson received her second Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and BAFTA Award nominations for Best Actress for portraying real-life cellist Jacqueline du Pré (opposite Rachel Griffiths as Hilary du Pré), in Anand Tucker’s Hilary and Jackie. Her performance also brought Watson Screen Actors Guild Award and BAFTA Award nominations for Best Actress; and the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress.

Among her other film credits are Philip Saville’s Metroland (starring opposite Christian Bale); Graham Theakston’s BBC/PBS “Masterpiece Theatre” telefilm adaptation of The Mill on the Floss (from the George Eliot novel); Jim Sheridan’s The Boxer (starring opposite Daniel Day-Lewis); Tim Robbins’ Cradle Will Rock (starring with an ensemble cast that included John Turturro); Alan Parker’s Angela's Ashes (in which she starred as the title character, author Frank McCourt’s mother; for which she received her third BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actress); Alan Rudolph’s Trixie (her first collaboration with Gosford Park director/producer Robert Altman, who produced the film); and Marleen Gorris’ Luzhin Defence, The (again starring with John Turturro; for which she was nominated for a British Independent Film Award). She has completed filming two movies: Paul Thomas Anderson’s untitled film, in which she stars opposite Adam Sandler; and Kurt Wimmer’s Equilibrium, which reteams her with Christian Bale.

She has just appeared with Dame Maggie Smith in Gosford Park and later in 2002 in Red Dragon.

Watson’s extensive U.K. stage experience includes productions of Chekhov’s Three Sisters, Lillian Hellman’s The Children’s Hour (at the Royal National Theatre), and Royal Shakespeare Company stagings of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and All’s Well That Ends Well.