Naomi Watts is about to undertake what is arguably one of the most challenging roles of her career.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, the 50-year-old spoke about her upcoming movie, Penguin Bloom.
The actress will play Sam Bloom, a real-life Australian woman who suffered an accident which left her paralysed while holidaying in Thailand with her family in 2013.
Starring role: Naomi Watts (pictured) is about to undertake what is arguably one of the most challenging roles of her career, she revealed on Saturday
The story, however, takes a much brighter turn when the family begin raising a baby magpie bird which had fallen from its nest.
‘What a story of hope and beauty, how they dealt with such a tragic situation,’ Naomi told The Daily Telegraph.
Sam suffered a fractured skull, bruising on the brain, punctured lungs and a shattered spine when a railing on an observation deck collapsed, sending her plummeting six metres to the ground below.
The actress will play Sam Bloom, a real-life Australian woman who suffered an accident which left her paralysed while holidaying in Thailand with her family in 2013. ‘What a story of hope and beauty, how they dealt with such a tragic situation,’ Naomi told The Daily Telegraph
After being told she’d never walk again, Sam was plunged into a deep depression, which is when the family discovered a baby magpie, which had fallen from a nest.
Deciding to hand-rear the bird, the family adopted her as a pet, naming her Penguin, with Sam’s husband, Cameron Bloom, a photographer, capturing candid moments with their newest addition.
Penguin’s Instagram page soon turned viral, inspiring a book, and now a movie with Naomi, with filming due to start in July next year on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Momentous: The New York-based star only met the Blooms during her recent visit to Sydney ahead of the GQ Man of the Year Awards two weeks ago
The New York-based star only met the Blooms during her recent visit to Sydney ahead of the GQ Man of the Year Awards two weeks ago.
‘[Naomi] is so nice and super lovely and down-to-earth,’ Sam told The Daily Telegraph after their meeting.
‘It was just normal, it was awesome. To be honest, I never thought anybody would want to make a movie about us.’
‘[Naomi] is so nice and super lovely and down-to-earth,’ Sam Bloom told The Daily Telegraph after their meeting. Pictured: Naomi Watts
In an interview with The Guardian in July 2017, Naomi said she has to feel a ‘connection’ with a role before she agrees to it.
‘I don’t think I’m any good if I don’t feel an honest connection with the material,’ she admitted.
Acting up: Naomi has said she has to feel a ‘connection’ with a role before she agrees to it. ‘I don’t think I’m any good if I don’t feel an honest connection with the material,’ she admitted