Naomi Watts talks about her upcoming role as a recently paralysed woman

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.

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