Naomi Watts reveals the ‘extreme challenge’ of acting behind a face covered in bandages in new horror film ‘Goodnight Mommy’
She is arguably one of Hollywood’s most celebrated and successful actresses.
But Naomi Watts faced a serious acting challenge in her new horror film, Goodnight Mommy, as the role required her to bandage her entire face for most of the film.
Speaking to Vulture, the 53-year-old admitted performing with her face covered was “extremely challenging”.
Naomi Watts faced a serious acting challenge in her new horror film, Goodnight Mommy, as the role required her to bandage her entire face for most of the film. Pictured above
“You learn ways to use what you have,” she explained.
“Of course the eyes become the most powerful tool. Especially with close-ups you have to be very still and know when to use your eyes. Also the voice that makes it smooth,” she continued.
“I didn’t want her to be a monstrous villain. I wanted us to understand where she came from. It was very important to have an emotional core that drives many of their actions.
The 53-year-old admitted performing face-covered, which required her to act with her eyes, was “extremely challenging”.
Naomi also said she was very focused on “physicality” throughout the film’s broader takes and was so specific in her performance that she even focused on smaller details like her fingertips.
Gute Nacht Mama is a remake of the terrifying 2014 Austrian film of the same name.
The plot follows young twin actors Cameron and Nicholas Crovetti who become increasingly convinced their mother is a fraud after noticing her disruptive behavior when she returns home after reconstructive facial surgery.
Naomi also said she was very focused on “physicality” throughout the film’s broader takes and was so specific in her performance that she even focused on smaller details like her fingertips
The original Goodnight Mommy film had its world premiere at the 2014 Venice Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim for its suspenseful and dark plot.
The film was later selected as Austria’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.
The remake is directed by Matt Sobel with a screenplay by Kyle Warren. The film has been available to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video since September 16.
Gute Nacht Mama is a remake of the terrifying 2014 Austrian film of the same name
Goodnight Mommy isn’t the first Austrian horror remake Naomi has starred in.
In 2007, she starred in Michael Haneke’s home invasion psychological thriller Michael Haneke.
The film received a mixed reception from critics, with one calling it “art house torture porn”.
The film has been available to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video since September 16