Naomi Watts (left) and David Lynch in November 2001.Photo:M. Caulfield/WireImage
M. Caulfield/WireImage
Naomi Wattsis mourning the loss of herMulholland DrivedirectorDavid Lynch.
The legendary filmmakerdiedat the age of 78, his familyannouncedon Thursday, Jan. 16.
Ina tributeon herInstagram, Watts, 56, reflected on her relationship with Lynch on and off screen.
“My heart is broken. My Buddy Dave… The world will not be the same without him. His creative mentorship was truly powerful,” wrote the British-Australian actress in a caption. The post consisted of two photos of her and Lynch — one featuring her kissing his lipstick-stained cheek — and a behind-the-scenes clip of the director inviting Watts to slap him.
“He put me on the map,” her caption continued. “The world I’d been trying to break into for ten plus years, flunking auditions left and right. Finally, I sat in front of a curious man, beaming with light, speaking words from another era, making me laugh and feel at ease.”
Naomi Watts (left) and David Lynch filming ‘Mulholland Drive’.Universal/Everett
Universal/Everett
Lynch’s “wisdom, humor, and love gave me a special sense of belief in myself I’d never accessed before,” she added. “David invited all to glimpse into that world through his exquisite storytelling, which elevated cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers across the globe. I just cannot believe that he’s gone. I’m in pieces but forever grateful for our friendship.”
Watts has repeatedly credited her success as a screen star to Lynch in the past.Celebrating the 20th anniversaryof her breakout movieMulholland Drivein 2021, she wrote, “This film changed my career. David Lynch changed my life. I’m forever grateful.”
The director and star reunited for 2006 experimental filmInland Empire, which used footage of Watts from Lynch’s 2002 online projectRabbits. The two-time Oscar nominee also featured in the revival of Lynch’s hit seriesTwin Peaks, playing Janey-E Jones in a 10-episode arc in 2017.
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Many of the four-time Oscar nominee’s collaborators spoke out about his loss on social media on Thursday, includingTwin PeaksandDunestarKyle MacLachlan.
“While the world has lost a remarkable artist, I’ve lost a dear friend who imagined a future for me and allowed me to travel in worlds I could never have conceived on my own," MacLachlan wrote of his longtime collaborator in an Instagrampost.
Watts' recent projects include Netflix’sThe WatcherandThe Friendcostarring Bill Murray. Her work in FX’sFeud: Capote vs. The Swansearned Watts nominations at the Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and upcoming Critics Choice Awards.
source: people.com
