Emily Watson (b. 1967), pictured here at last October’s Film Fest Gent with Tim Mielants who directed her in “Small Things Like These” (2024), is a very accomplished British actress, known for her remarkable talent and emotionally powerful performances. She initially pursued a degree in English literature at the University of Bristol before deciding to attend the Drama Studio London to train as an actor; she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1992. Since her breakout film role in Lars von Trier’s debut film “Breaking the Waves” (1996), she has built an impressive career in both film and television, and is often drawn to complex, emotionally charged roles.

Her career trajectory shifted when she was cast for “Breaking the Waves,” which also became her feature film acting debut—and her breakthrough role—after she had replaced Helena Bonham Carter, who dropped out. Watson, an unknown at the time, was cast as Bess McNeill, a deeply religious woman who engages in increasingly dangerous behavior as an act of love for her paralyzed husband (played by Stellan Skarsgård). Her portrayal of Bess, a character torn between her devout faith and her deep, almost tragic desire to please her husband, earned her international acclaim. She was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actress in a Leading Role (Oscar went to Frances McDermond for “Fargo”), and a BAFTA for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (BAFTA for Brenda Blethyn, “Secrets & Lies”).

“The Boxer” (1997, trailer)

This role set the tone for the rest of her career: choosing roles that push emotional boundaries and explore the depths of human vulnerability, as she demonstrated in her second feature, Jim Sheridan’s “The Boxer” (1997), a drama set in Northern Ireland, with Daniel Day-Lewis as a former boxer who is released after serving fourteen years in prison for his involvement with the IRA. Upon his release, he tries to rebuild his life and reconnects with his former girlfriend Maggie (played by Emily Watson) who is now married to one of his imprisoned friends.

At the time, the film was the latest of Jim Sheridan’s six rich stories about Ireland; he was also a leading figure in the renaissance of Irish films. Emily Watson, by then with two films and two powerhouse performances, was solid as a rock.

The following year, she gave another Academy Award-nominated performance in “Hilary and Jackie” (1998), playing the celebrated British cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987). Based on the memoir of Jacqueline’s sister, Hilary du Pré, Watson and Rachel Griffiths starred as the classical musician sisters. The film explores the complex relationship between the two siblings as they navigate fame, jealousy, and Jacqueline’s tragic illness (multiple sclerosis). Watson’s ability to portray du Pré’s vitality, passion for music, and eventual physical and emotional deterioration earned her widespread critical praise.

Another landmark film of hers is Alan Parker’s “Angela’s Ashes” (1999), an adaptation of Frank McCourt’s memoir of the same name, with Watson portraying Angela McCourt, the long-suffering mother of the author, struggling to raise her children in poverty-stricken Ireland. Watson’s quiet but intense performance captured the harsh realities of Angela’s life and her endurance in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Robert Altman then cast her for “Gosford Park” (2001), a British mystery drama set in a 1930s English manor. Watson played Elsie, a maid with a romantic connection to one of the guests. Her role in this ensemble cast displayed her ability to stand out in a large group of notable actors, including Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, and Michael Gambon. Roger Ebert wrote in his January 1, 2002, film review, ‘Robert Altman’s “Gosford Park” is above all a celebration of styles—the distinct behavior produced by the British class system, the personal styles of a rich gallery of actors, and his own style of introducing a lot of characters and letting them weave their way through a labyrinthine plot. At a time when too many movies focus every scene on a $20 million star, an Altman film is like a party with no boring guests.’

With “Punch-Drunk Love” (2002), Emily Watson got to collaborate with director Paul Thomas Anderson for this unconventional romantic comedy alongside Adam Sandler. Her character, Lena Leonard, brings warmth and stability to Sandler’s socially awkward, emotionally volatile character. Watson’s ability to balance vulnerability with strength helped ground the film’s eccentricities. She was a class act, showcasing her range in a different genre.

She brought the same emotional depth to the chraracter of Rose Narracott, the mother in Steven Spielberg’s “War Horse” (2011), an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 novel about a young boy Albert (played by Jeremy Irvine), and his beloved horse, Joey, during World War I. The film focuses on the bond between Albert and Joey, but Rose’s role is pivotal as she supports her son and deals with the challenges of her husband’s poor decisions and the toll of the War. The film received critical acclaim for its visual grandeur and strong performances. Emily Watson’s character, facing the hardships of rural life and war, provides a strong maternal presence. Her portrayal adds a heartfelt layer to the film’s exploration of loss, love, and survival during wartime.

Steven Spielberg had asked her to appear in “War Horse” because he had seen her in “Hilary and Jackie” and they had met early 1997 in Hollywood at the Academy Awards nominees’ luncheon in Hollywood. He came over to her and said, ‘Well done.’ Many years later, he contacted her and asked her if she would be interested to do “War Horse.” She was, but she had one condition. As she said in an interview with Mirror, ‘It’s always amazing when you get that call and it’s from Steven Spielberg. My agent rang and said he is doing “War Horse” and he wanted me to be in it. It was great to get the part. I had to negotitate on this, though. I said, ‘Steven, I will do this, but you have got me down for my first day of shooting on the day my daughter has her first ever day at school. I am going to be there and I might not be able to do the film if you don’t let me do that.’ He said I could turn up later.’ That is the other side of Emily Watson—the mother of two who holds on to her own standards, without any compromise, and if necessary, she will tell Steven Spielberg what to do.

The film actress—not the film star, in this case—also has her own private life and cherishes her life out of the limelight much more than the outside world could possibly imagine.

Another highlight of Watson’s career—as we move on from one highlight to another—is “The Book Thief” (2013), based on Markus Zusak’s novel from 1975, with Watson portraying Rosa Hubermann, the foster mother of Liesel, the titular book thief in Nazi Germany. In a role that combined tenderness with toughness, Watson showed her versatility, playing a woman who is stern on the outside but deeply loving underneath, navigating the dangers of hiding a Jewish refugee during World War II.

“The Book Thief” (2013, trailer)

Even though she did not play a leading role in HBO’s highly acclaimed miniseries “Chernobyl” (2019), Watson still managed to deliver a standout performance as Ulana Khomyuk, a fictional composite character representing the many scientists who tried to uncover the truth behind the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that happened in April 1986. Watson’s role was integral in grounding the show’s harrowing narrative in scientific fact and moral responsibility. Her performance earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award (category ‘Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie’; the Emmy went to Patricia Arquette for “The Act”), and solidified her reputation as an actor capable of elevating historical dramas with depth and nuance.

Watson’s acting style is often described as immersive, and she is known for completely disappearing into her roles. Her performances are frequently raw and emotionally intense, revealing the psychological complexity of her characters. Rather than relying on flashy or melodramatic techniques, Watson is celebrated for her subtlety and the naturalism she brings to her portrayals.

She has often been drawn to tragic or emotionally fraught characters, whether it’s a woman grappling with grief and loss, or someone facing significant personal challenges. Despite the heaviness of many of her roles, Watson’s characters always possess a sense of inner strength, making them deeply compelling and relatable to audiences.

Over the years, Emily Watson was nominated for numerous awards; the Academy Award nominations are only the tip of the iceberg. She also totals, among many others, five BAFTA nominations, and won a BAFTA TV Award for her performance in “Appropriate Adult” (2011), in which she portrayed Janet Leach, a social worker who served as the ‘appropriate adult’ in the questioning of serial killer Fred West.

As pointed out already, Watson has managed to keep much of her personal life private, preferring to focus on her craft rather than the celebrity aspect of her career; you’ll hardly see her face on magazine covers. She is married to Jack Waters, whom she met while working at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and they have two children. Watson continues to live in London and remains one of the most respected actresses of her generation.

She continues to work steadily in both film and television, with recent projects including “God’s Creatures” (2022), and the miniseries “Too Close” (2021), where she received praise for her role as a forensic psychiatrist dealing with a dangerous patient, or Tim Mielants’ feature film “Small Things Like These” (2024) which reveals truths about Ireland’s Magdalene laundries—horrible asylums run by Roman Catholic orders from the 1820s until 1996, ostensibly to reform ‘fallen young women.’ The film takes place over Christmas in 1985, when devoted father and coal merchant Bill Furlong (played by Cillian Murphy) discovers startling secrets kept by the convent in his town, along with some shocking truths of his own. Emily Watson plays the role of Sister Mary.

“Small Things Like These” (2024, trailer)

Some iconic roles she reportedly did not play was Elizabeth I of England in the British biographical historical drama “Elizabeth” (1998)—Cate Blanchett played the character—and Amélie in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain” (2001, a.k.a. “Amélie”), a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre, which made Audrey Tautou a star. Watson turned down the role because she had difficulties speaking French, and preferred not to be away from home too long.

Watson’s career is also marked by her fearless approach to roles that demand emotional honesty and vulnerability, which makes her a role model for any actor. Her former co-star Daniel Day-Lewis may have retired from acting, but fortunately, there is still Emily Watson. Her ability to delve into difficult, multi-layered characters has made her one of the most respected and admired actresses in the industry. With a film career spanning nearly three decades, she has proven herself a formidable talent, continually pushing the boundaries of her craft while maintaining a grounded, humble public persona.

During a conversation for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation in October 2022, she was asked what process she goes through when she gets into character. She said, ‘I guess I have to find a place where I feel authentic. If I begin to feel authentic as a character, it’s because I found all that I need to know about their life, their world, their relationships, their education.’

However brief and incomplete this career overview of Emily Watson is, it demonstrates the versatility of her talent and her unique approach to acting. Every project of hers makes a difference, every role she plays makes a difference, every performance of hers makes a difference. She has the integrity and desire to be a great actress, and it shows in every breath she takes and every move she makes when she’s up there on the screen.

Emily Watson’s latest film, “Steve” (2025, trailer), directed by Tim Mielants, will be released theatrically on September 19, and is available on Netflix from October 3

FILMS

BREAKING THE WAVES (1996) DIR Lars von Trier PROD Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Vibeke Windeløv SCR Lars von Trier, Peter Asmussen CAM Robby Müller ED Anders Refn CAST Emily Watson (Bess McNeill), Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr, Udo Kier, Adrian Rawlins, Jonathan Hackett, Sandra Voe

THE BOXER (1997) DIR Jim Sheridan PROD Jim Sheridan, Arthur Lappin SCR Jim Sheridan, Terry George CAM Chris Menges ED Gerry Hambling, Clive Barrett MUS Marice Seezer, Gavin Friday CAST Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson (Maggie), Brian Cox, Ken Scott, Gerard McSorley, Kenneth Cranham, David McBlain, Eleanor Methven, Kirsten Sheridan

METROLAND (1997) DIR Philip Saville PROD Andrew Bendel SCR Adrian Hodges (novel “Metroland” [1980] by Julian Barnes) CAM Jean-François Robin ED Greg Miller CAST Christian Bale, Emily Watson (Marion), Lee Ross, Elsa Zylberstein, John Wood, Rufus, Amanda Ryan, Jonathan Aris, Ifan Meredith, Boris Terral, Lucy Speed

HILARY AND JACKIE (1998) DIR Anand Tucker PROD Andy Paterson, Nicolas Kent SCR Frank Cottrell Boyce (book “A Genius in the Family” [1997], later republished as “Hilary and Jackie” by Hilary du Pré, Piers du Pré) CAM David Johnson ED Martin Walsh MUS Barrington Pheloung CAST Emily Watson (Jackie du Pré), Rachel Griffiths, James Frain, David Morrissey, Charles Dance, Cella Imrie, Rupert Penry-Jones, Bill Patterson, Nyree Dawn Porter

CRADLE WILL ROCK (1999) DIR – SCR Tim Robbins PROD Tim Robbins, Jon Kilik, Lydia Dean Pilcher CAM Jean-Yves Escoffier ED Geraldine Peroni MUS David Robbins CAST Hank Azaria, Rubén Blades, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Angus MacFadyen, Bill Murray, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, John Turturro, Emily Watson (Olive Stanton), Cary Elwes, Philip Baker Hall, Cherry Jones, Bob Balaban, Paul Giamatti, Barbara Sukowa

ANGELA’S ASHES (1999) DIR Alan Parker PROD Alan Parker, David Brown, Scott Rubin SCR Alan Parker, Laura Jones (memoir ‘Angela’s Ashes’ [1996] by Frank McCourt) CAM Michael Seresin, Chris Connier MUS John Williams CAST Emily Watson (Angela McCourt), Robert Carlyle, Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, Michael Legge, Ronnie Masterson, Pauline McLynn, Alan Parker

TRIXIE (2000) DIR Alan Rudolph PROD Robert Altman SCR Alan Rudolph (story by Alan Rudolph, John Binder) CAM Jan Klesser ED John Helde, Michael Ruscio MUS Mark Isham, Roger Neill CAST Emily Watson (Trixie Zurbo), Dermot Mulroney, Nick Nolte, Nathan Lane, Brittany Murphy, Lesley Ann Warren, Will Patton, Stephen Lang

THE LUZHIN DEFENCE (2000) DIR Marleen Gorris PROD Caroline Wood, Louis Becker, Philippe Guez, Stephen Evans SCR Peter Berry (novel “The Defense” [1930] by Vladimir Nabokov) CAM Bernard Lutic ED Michiel Reichwein MUS Alexandre Desplat CAST John Turturro, Emily Watson (Natalia), Geraldine James, Stuart Wilson, Christopher Thompson, Fabio Sartor, Peter Blythe, Ola Brady

GOSFORD PARK (2001) DIR Robert Altman PROD Robert Altman, Bob Balaban, David Levy SCR Julian Fellowes (idea by Robert Altman, Bob Balaban) CAM Andrew Dunn ED Tim Squyres MUS Patrick Doyle CAST Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, Helen Mirren, Emily Watson (Elsie), Alan Bates, Derek Jacobi, Richard E. Grant, Camilla Rutherford, Charles Dance, Bob Balaban, Ryan Philippe, Stephen Fry, Clive Owen

PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2002) DIR – SCR Paul Thomas Anderson PROD Paul Thomas Anderson, Daniel Lupi, JoAnne Sellar CAM Robert Elswit ED Leslie Jones MUS Jon Brion CAST Adan Sandler, Emily Watson (Lena Leonard), Philip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzman, Rico Bueno, Hazel Mailloux, Julie Hermelin, Salvador Curiel

RED DRAGON (2002) DIR Brett Ratner PROD Dino De Laurentiis, Martha De Laurentiis SCR Ted Tally (book “Red Dragon” [1981] by Thomas Harris) CAM Dante Spinotti ED Mark Helfrich MUS Danny Elfman CAST Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson (Reba McClane), Mary-Louise Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Anthony Heald, Ken Leung, Lalo Schifron, Mary Beth Hurt

EQUILIBRIUM (2002) DIR – SCR Kurt Wimmer PROD Jan de Bont, Lucas Foster CAM Dion Deebe ED Tom Rolf, William Yeh MUS Klaus Babelt CAST Christian Bale, Taye Diggs, Sean Bean, John Keogh, Sean Pertwee, William Fichtner, Angus MacFayden, Emily Watson (Mary O’Brien), Kurt Wimmer

BACK TO GAYA (2004, animated) DIR – PROD Holger Tappe, Lenard Fritz Krawinkel SCR Jan Berger, Don McEnery, Bob Shaw ED Fabian Mueller, Alexander Soskin MUS Michael Kamen CAST (voice only) Patrick Stewart, Emily Watson (Alanta), Glenn Wrage, Alan Marriott, Bob Saker, Lorelei King, Kate Robbins, John Guerrasio, Redd Pepper

WAH-WAH (2005) DIR – SCR Richard E. Grant PROD Jeff Abberley, Pierre Kubel, Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar CAM Pierre Aim ED Isabelle Dedieu MUS Patrick Doyle CAST Gabriel Byrne, Emily Watson (Ruby Compton), Julie Walters, Nicholas Hoult, Miranda Richardson, Zac Fox, Celia Imrie, Julian Wadham, Fenella Woolgar

CORPSE BRIDE (2005, animated) DIR Tim Burton, Mike Johnson PROD Tim Burton, Allison Abbate SCR John August, Caroline Thompson, Pamela Pettler (characters created by Tim Burton, Carlos Grangel) CAM Pete Kozachik ED Chris Lebenzon, Jonathan Lucas MUS Danny Elfman CAST (voice only) Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson (Victoria Everglot), Tracy Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley, Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Christopher Lee, Danny Elfman

THE PROPOSITION (2005) DIR John Hillcoat PROD Chris Brown, Cat Villiers, Chiara Menage SCR Nick Cave CAM Benoît Delhomme ED Jon Gregory MUS Nick Cave, Warren Ellis CAST Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, John Hurt, David Wenham, Emily Watson (Martha Stanley), Bogdan Koca, David Vallon, Richard Wilson

SEPARATE LIES (2005) DIR Julian Fellowes PROD Steve Clark-Hall, Christian Colson SCR Julian Fellowes (book “A Way Through the Wood” [1951] by Nigel Balchin) CAM Tony Pierce-Roberts ED Martin Walsh, Alex Mackie MUS Stanislas Syrewicz CAST Emily Watson (Anne Manning), Tom Wilkinson, Rupert Everett, Hermione Norris, John Warnaby, Richenda Carey, Linda Bassett, Terence Stamp

CRUSADE, a.k.a. CRUSADE IN JEANS (2006) DIR Ben Sombogaart PROD Bill Haney, William Haney, Tim Disney, Kees Kasander, Christopher Seitz SCR Bill Haney (screenplay KRUISTOCHT IN SPIJKERBROEK [2006] by Jean-Claude Van Rijckegem, Chris Craps; novel “Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek” [1973] by Thea Beckman) CAM Reinier van Brummelen ED Herman P. Koerts MUS Jurre Haanstra CAST Stephanie Leonidas, Joe Flynn, Emily Watson (Mary Vega), Michael Culkin, Benno Fürmann, Ryan Winsley, Jake Kedge, Robert Timmens, Josse De Pauw, Udo Kier, Bert André, Jan Decleir

MISS POTTER (2006) DIR Chris Noonan PROD David Kirshner, David Thwaites, Mike Medavoy, Corey Sienega, Arnold W. Messer SCR Richard Maltby Jr. CAM Andrew Dunn ED Robin Sales MUS Nigel Westlake CAST Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson (Millie Warne), Barbara Flynn, Bill Paterson, Matyelok Gibbs, Lloyd Owen, Anton Lesser, David Bamber, Phyllida Law

THE WATER HORSE (2007) DIR Jay Russell PROD Robert Bernstein, Douglas Rae, Barrle M. Osborne, Charlie Lyons SCR Robert Nelson-Jacobs (children’s novel “The Water Horse” [1990] by Dick King-Smith) CAM Oliver Stapleton ED Mark Warner MUS James Newton Howard CAST Emily Watson (Anne MacMorrow), Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey, Brian Cox, Geraldine Brophy, Craig Hall, Ian Harcourt

FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN (2008) DIR – SCR Dennis Lee PROD Vanessa Coifman, Sukee Chew, Philip Rose, Marco Weber CAM Daniel Moder ED Dede Allen, Robert Brakey MUS Javier Navarrete CAST Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson (Jane Lawrence), Carrie-Anne Moss, Hayden Panettiere, Julia Roberts, Ioan Gruffudd, Shannon Lucio, Cayden Boyd, George Newburn

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK (2008) DIR – SCR Charlie Kaufman PROD Charlie Kaufmann, Sidney Kimmel, Spike Jonze, Anthony Bergman CAM Frederick Elmes ED Robert Frazen MUS Jon Brion CAST Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson (Tammy), Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hope Davis, Tom Noonan, Stephen Adly Guirgis

COLD SOULS (2008) DIR – SCR Sophie Barthes PROD Elizabeth Giamatti, Andrij Parekh, Jeremy Kipp Walker, Paul Mezey CAM Andrij Parekh ED Andrew Mondsheim MUS Dickon Hinchliffe CAST Paul Giamatti, David Strathairn, Dina Korzun, Emily Watson (Claire), Lauren Ambrose, Rebecca Booksher, Sergey Kolesnikov

WITHIN THE WHIRLWIND (2009) DIR Marleen Gorris PROD Christine Ruppert SCR Nancy Larson (autobiography “Journey into the Whirlwind” [1967] by Evgenia Ginzburg) CAM Arkadiusz Tomiak ED Gail Stevens, Sabine Schwedheim, Weronika Migon MUS Wlodzimierz Pawlik CAST Ulrich Tukur, Emily Watson (Evgenia Ginzburg), Ian Hart, Benjamin Sadler, Ben Miller, Jimmy Yuill, Pearce Quigley, Monica Dolan

CEMETERY JUNCTION (2010) DIR – SCR Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant PROD Charlie Hanson, Sue Baden-Powell CAM Remi Adefarasin ED Valerio Bonelli MUS Tim Atack CAST Ricky Gervais, Christian Cooke, Felicity Jones, Tom Hughes, Emily Watson (Mrs. Kendrick), Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode

ORANGES AND SUNSHINE (2010) DIR Jim Loach PROD Emile Sherman, Camilla Bray, Iain Canning SCR Rona Munro (book “Empty Cradles” [1994] by Margaret Humphreys) CAM Denson Baker ED Dany Cooper MUS Lisa Gerrard CAST Emily Watson (Margaret), David Wenham, Hugo Weaving, Aisling Loftus, Stuart Wolfenden, Lorraine Ashbourne, Molly Windsor

WAR HORSE (2011) DIR Steven Spielberg PROD Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy SCR Richard Curtis, Lee Hall (novel “War Horse” [1982] by Michael Morpurgo; stage play “War Horse” [2007] by Nick Stafford) CAM Janusz Kaminski ED Michael Kahn MUS John Williams CAST Emily Watson (Rose Narracot), David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Jeremy Irvine, Tom Hiddleston

ANNA KARENINA (2012) DIR Joe Wright PROD Paul Webster, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan SCR Tom Stoppard (novel “Anna Karenina” [1878] by Leo Tolstoy) CAM Seamus McGarvey ED Melanie Oliver MUS Dario Marianelli CAST Keira Knightkey, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Domhnall Gleeson, Matthew Macfadyen, Ruth Wilson, Alicia Vikander, Olivia Williams, Emily Watson (Countess Lydia Ivanova)

SOME GIRL(S) (2013) DIR Daisy von Scherler Mayer PROD Andrew Carlberg, Patty West, Chris Schwartz SCR Neil LaBute (also stage play “Some Girl(s)” [2005]) CAM Rachel Morrison ED Michael Darrow MUS David Carbonara CAST Adam Brody, Kristen Dell, Zoe Kazan, Míaz Maestro, Jennifer Morrison, Emily Watson (Lindsay), Laura Mann, Kathleen Christy

BELLE (2013) DIR Amma Asante PROD Damian Jones SCR Misan Sagay CAM Ben Smithard ED Pia Di Ciaula, Victoria Boydell MUS Rachel Portman CAST Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Penelope Wilton, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson (Lady Mansfield), James Norton, Tom Felton

THE BOOK THIEF (2013) DIR Brian Percival PROD Karen Rosenfelt, Ken Blancato SCR Michael Petroni (novel “The Book Thief” [2005] by Markus Zusak) CAM Florian Ballhaus ED John Wilson MUS John Williams CAST Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson (Rosa Hubermann), Sophie Nélisse, Heike Makatsch, Julian Lehmann, Kristen Block, Hildegard Schroedter

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (2014) DIR James Marsh PROD Anthony McCarten, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce SCR Anthony McCarten (memoir “Travelling to Infinity: My Life With Stephen” [2007] by Jane Hawkin) CAM Benoît Delhomme ED Jinx Godfrey MUS Jóhann Jóhannsson CAST Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox, Emily Watson (Beryl Wilde), Simon McBurney, David Thewlis

TESTAMENT OF YOUTH (2014) DIR James Kent PROD Rosie Alison, David Heyman SCR Juliette Towhidi (memoir “Testament of Youth” [1933] by Vera Brittain) CAM Rob Hardy ED Lucia Zucchetti MUS Max Richter CAST Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Taron Egerton, Emily Watson (Mrs. Brittain), Hayley Atwell, Colin Morgan, Dominic West, Miranda Richardson

MOLLY MOON AND THE INCREDIBLE BOOK OF HYPNOTISM (2015) DIR Christopher N. Rowley PROD Georgia Byng, Lawrence Elman, Simon Bosanquet, Ileen Maisel SCR Christopher N. Rowley, Georgia Byng, Chris Hurford, Tom Butterworth (novel “Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of Hypnotism” [2002] by Georgia Byng) CAM Remi Adefarasin ED Lesley Walker, Dan Farrell MUS Peter Raeburn CAST Dominic Monaghan, Lesley Manville, Emily Watson (Mrs. Trinklebury), Joan Collins, Raffey Cassidy, Celia Imrie

LITTLE BOY (2015) DIR Alejandro Monteverde PROD Alejandro Monteverde, Leo Severino SCR Alejandro Monteverde, Pepe Portillo CAM Andrew Cadelago ED Meg Ramsay, Joan Sobel, Fernando Villena MUS Mark Foster, Stephan Altman CAST Emily Watson (Emma Busbee), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Michael Rapaport, David Henrie, Eduardo Verástegui, Tom Wilkinson, Ben Chaplin, Ted Levene, Jakob Salvati

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT (2015) DIR Julian Jarrold PROD Robert Bernstein, Douglas Rae SCR Trevor De Silva, Kevin Hood CAM Christophe Beaucarne ED Luke Dunkley MUS Paul Englishby CAST Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Jack Reynor, Rupert Everett, Emily Watson (Queen), Mark Hadfield, Jack Laskey, Jack Gordon, Tim Potter

EVEREST (2015) DIR Baltasar Kormákur PROD Baltasar Kormákur, Nicky Kentish Barnes, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson SCR William Nicholson, Simon Beaufoy CAM Salvatore Totino ED Mick Audsley MUS Dario Marianelli CAST Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Emily Watson (Helen Wilton), Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Jake Gyllenhaal

HAPPY FAMILY, a.k.a. MONSTER FAMILY (2017, animated) DIR – PROD Holger Tappe SCR David Safler, Catharina Junk (novel “Happy Family” [2011] by David Safler) ED Björn Teubner, Alexander Dittner MUS Hendrik Schwarzer CAST (voice only) Emily Watson (Emma Wishbone), Nick Frost, Jessica Brown Findlay, Celia Imrie, Catherine Tate, Jason Isaacs

ON CHESIL BEACH (2018) DIR Dominic Cooke PROD Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley SCR Ian McEwan (also novella “On Chesil Beach” [2007]) CAM Sean Bobbitt ED Nick Fenton MUS Dan Jones CAST Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, Emily Watson (Violet Ponting), Anne-Marie Duff, Anna Burgess, Bebe Cave, Samuel West, Barney Iley

KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (2017) DIR Matthew Vaughn PROD Matthew Vaughn, Adam Bohling, David Reid SCR Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman (Milanworld comic book “The Secret Service” [2012] by Dave Gibbons, Mark Millar) CAM George Richmond ED Eddie Hamilton MUS Henry Jackman, Matthew Margeson CAST Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Halle Berry, Elton John, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Emily Watson (Chief of Staff Fox), Bruce Greenwood

THE HAPPY PRINCE (2018) DIR – SCR Rupert Everett PROD Sébastian Delloye, Philipp Kreuzer, Jörg Schulze CAM John Conroy ED Nicolas Gaster MUS Gabriel Yared, Riopy CAST Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, Edwin Thomas, Emily Watson (Constance Wilde), Franca Abategiovanni, Alister Cameron, Tom Wilkinson

MONSTER FAMILY 2 (2021, animated) DIR – PROD Holger Tappe SCR Abraham Katz, David Safier, Kristie Falkous MUS Apollon de Moura, Adrian Gucze, Jascha Heidicke, Sascha Knorr, Eric Krause, Andreas Kübler, Sebastian Kübler, Florian Wunsch CAST (voice only) Emily Watson (Emma Wishbone), Nick Frost, Jessica Brown Findlay, Catherine Tate, Jason Isaacs, Emily Carey, Nick Frost

GOD’S CREATURES (2022) DIR Saela Davis, Anna Rose Holmer PROD Fodhia Cronin O’Reilly SCR Shane Crownley (story by Shane Crowley, Fodhia Cronin O’Reilly) CAM Chayse Irvin ED Julia Bloch, Jeanne Applegate MUS Danny Bensi, Saunder Jurriaans CAST Emily Watson (Alleen O’Hara), Paul Mescal, Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Declan Conion, Steve Gunn, Marion O’Dwyer, Aisling Franciosi

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (2024) DIR Tim Mielants PROD Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Jeff Robinov, Drew Vinton, Catherine Magee, Alan Moloney SCR Enda Walsh (novel “Small Things Like These” [2021] by Claire Keegan) CAM Frank van den Eeden ED Alain Dessauvage MUS Senjan Jansen CAST Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, Claire Dunne, Helen Behan, Emily Watson (Sister Mary), Mark McKenna, Amy De Bhrún

MIDAS MAN (2024) DIR – ED Joe Stephenson PROD Jeremy Chatterton, Billy Dietrich, Richard Holmes, Tom Reeves, Perry Trevers SCR Jonathan Wakeham CAM Birgit Dierken MUS Alex Baranowski CAST Eddie Marsan, Emily Watson (Malka Epstein), Ed Speleers, Eddie Izzard, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Milo Parker, Darci Shaw, Jay Leno, Bill Milner

THE LEGEND OF OCHI (2025) DIR – SCR Isaiah Saxon PROD Isaiah Saxon, Traci Carlson, Jonathan Wang CAM Evan Prosofsky ED Paul Rogers MUS David Longstreth CAST Helena Zengel, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson (Dasha), Finn Wolfhard, Rasvan Stoica, Carol Bors, Andrei Antoniu Anghel, David Andrei Baltatu, Eduard Mihail Oancea

HAMNET (2025) DIR Chloé Zhao PROD Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes, Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris SCR Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell (novel by Maggie O’Farrell) CAM Lukasz Zal ED Chloé Zhao, Affonso Gonçalves MUS Max Richter CAST Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Emily Watson (Mary), David Wilmot, Jaobi Jupe, Olivia Lynes, Freya Hannan-Mills, Bodhi Rae Breathnach

STEVE (2025) DIR Tim Mielants PROD Cillian Murphy, Alan Moloney SCR (novel adapted by Max Porter) CAM Robrecht Heyvaert ED Danielle Palmer MUS Ben Salisbury, Geoff Barrow CAST Cilliam Murphy, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Roger Allam, Douggie McMeekin, Jay Lycurgo, Youssef Kerkour, Little Simz, Marcus Garvey, Charles Beaven

TV MOVIES

THE MILL ON THE FLOSS (1997) DIR Graham Theakston PROD Brian Eastman TELEPLAY Hugh Stoddart (novel “The Mill on the Floss” [1870] by George Eliot) CAM David Johnson ED Alan Jones MUS John Scott CAST Emily Watson (Maggie Tulliver), Cheryl Campbell, James Frain, Bernard Hill, Joanna David, Nicholas Gecks

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS (2004) DIR Stephen Hopkins PROD Simon Bosanquet TELEPLAY Stephen McFeely, Christopher Markus (book “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers” [1994] by Roger Lewis) CAM Peter Levy ED John Smith MUS Richard Hartley CAST Geoffrey Rush, Charlize Theron, John Lithgow, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, Stanley Tucci, Emily Watson (Anne Sellers), Peter Vaughan, Sonia Aquino, Henry Goodman, Alison Steadman, Peter Gevisser

THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER (2008) DIR Mick Jackson PROD Michael Mahoney TELEPLAY John Pielmeier (novel “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” [2005] by Kim Edwards) CAM Theo van de Sande ED Lori Jane Coleman MUS Daniel Licht CAST Emily Watson (Caroline Gil), Dermot Mulroney, Gretchen Mol, Hugh Thompson, Krystal Hope Nausbaum, Jeremy Akerman, Tyler Stentiford, Jamie Spilchuk, Owen Pattison

A SONG FOR JENNY (2015) DIR Brian Percival PROD Liz Trubridge SCR Frank McGuinness (book “A Song for Jenny: A Mother’s Story of Love and Loss”” [2010] by Julie Nicholson) CAM David Katznelson ED John Wilson CAST Emily Watson (Julie Nicholson), Ryan Coath, Nicola Wren, Steven Mackintosh, Martha Mackintosch, Laurence Belcher, Alan Rothwell

THE DRESSER (2015) DIR Richard Eyre PROD Suzan Harrison SCR Richard Eyre (play “The Dresser” [1980] by Ronald Harwood) CAM Ben Smithard ED Lesley Walker MUS Stephen Warbeck CAST Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, Emily Watson (Her Ladyship), Sarah Lancashire, Edward Fox, Vanessa Kirby, Tom Brooke

KING LEAR (2018) DIR Richard Eyre PROD Noëlette Buckley SCR Richard Eyre (play “King Lear” by William Shakespreare) CAM Ben Smithard ED Dan Farrell MUS Stephen Warbeck CAST Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Emily Watson (Regan), Jim Broadbent, Jim Carter, Tobias Menzies, John Macmillan, Florence Pugh, Anthony Calf

TV SERIES

PERFORMANCE (1994), 1 episode
GENIUS (2017), 4 episodes
THE THIRD DAY (2020), 6 episodes
FIRED ON MARS (2023), 2 episodes
DUNE (2024), 6 episodes

TV MINISERIES

APPROPRIATE ADULT (2011), 2 episodes
THE POLITICIAN’S HUSBAND (2013), 3 episodes
THE SECRET LIFE OF MARILYN MONROE (2015), 2 episodes
APPLE TREE YARD (2017), 4 episodes
LITTLE WOMEN (2017), 3 episodes
CHERNOBYL (2019), 4 episodes
TOO CLOSE (2021), 3 episodes