Before starring in the 2001 film directed by Lynch, Watts had starred in 1995’s Tank Girl and 1996’s Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering. Watts noted that due to the lack of big opportunities, she had “planned on going home multiple times” and then got a call from Lynch.

Naomi Watts said on Tuesday that she almost quit acting before David Lynch cast her in Mulholland Drive.

Watts said "the chips were down" and she was "desperate" for work after "10 years into flunking auditions" in Hollywood before Lynch agreed to work with her.

Naomi Watts, 56, is a British actress best known for her roles in the films “Mulholland Drive,” “21 Grams” and “Birdman” and TV’s “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.” She is the author of “Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause” (Crown).

Naomi Watts recently recalled her days working with David Lynch and how the late director helped her movie career. The King Kong actress appeared on Live with Kelly and Mark, discussing her past experiences and how the director of Eraserhead played a significant role in her life.

Naomi Watts 'afraid and confused' over memory loss issues as she shares Alzheimer's risk - Watts recalled feeling like a ‘shell of herself’ due to her struggles with memory loss

"My heart is broken. My Buddy Dave..." wrote 'Mulholland Drive' star Naomi Watts on Instagram about the demise of filmmaker David Lynch, reported Deadline. Lynch revealed in 2024 that he was diagnosed with emphysema after a lifetime of smoking and would likely not be able to leave his house to direct any longer.

Naomi Watts revealed on “Live With Kelly and Mark” (via Entertainment Weekly) that she nearly quit acting before she met the late David Lynch, who cast her as the lead in 2001’s “Mulholland Drive.” The film’s critical acclaim and global success turned Watts into a star after “10 years” of “flunking auditions.

Naomi Watts said she tried to freeze her eggs when she was in her early 30s.She wanted to prioritize her career because she was told her work would "be dried up at 40," she said.She joins actors such as Anne Hathaway and Kirsten Dunst in speaking up against ageism in Hollywood.

Director David Lynch's twisty mystery movie from 2001 has become a streaming hit following the filmmaker's death at 78 earlier this month.

David Lynch — cinematic legend, sculptor of oddities, and avant-garde painter — passed away two weeks ago at the age of 78.