Naomi Watts used her Donostia Award at the San Sebastián Film Festival to name the prize as much for David Lynch as for herself, and to press for more film roles for women past Hollywood's supposed sell-by date. Watts, 57, accepted the festival's top honor on Saturday evening ahead of a screening of her new film, The Housewife, and repeatedly framed the moment as a tribute to the director who changed her career.
She was introduced by J.A. Bayona, who recalled working with Watts on The Impossible and thanked her for believing in a young filmmaker. Watts returned the gratitude with memories of the tsunami drama, which she said left her with “full, brilliant memories,” and noted the film’s global box-office haul of over $198 million. She also laughed about the gruelling water-tank shoots and singled out her one-time co-star Tom Holland, repeating his line that the set was “the best water park he ever went to,” while she called it “pure pain.”
Watts traced her breakthrough back to Mulholland Drive and to David Lynch, saying that after years of rejection he “saw” her and offered a role that altered how she approached acting. She credited him with teaching her to trust instinct and embrace uncertainty, and declared the Donostia Award to be “very much about David.” Holding the trophy aloft she added, “I miss you!”
The actress also made a pointed remark about age and visibility. Recalling warnings she heard at 31 that her career would be “dried up” by 40, Watts described herself as “grateful beyond words” to be getting opportunities now and called for audiences and makers to reflect older women on screen. After thanking festival organisers she promised she still had “lots more in me” and said she was still “reaching for the stars.”
The Housewife, directed by Ben Shirinian and starring Tye Sheridan, Michael Imperioli and Luke Evans, is based on a true story set in 1964 New York. The 2026 San Sebastián International Film Festival runs Sep. 18-26; Watts’s award preceded a screening of her new film and followed Werner Herzog’s Donostia ceremony the previous night.
