Naomi Watts isn’t too keen on reading any reviews of her biopic on Princess Diana as critics aren’t too pleased with her performance. Mirror.co.uk called the movie a “cheap and cheerless effort” and said Naomi looks “utterly, completely and entirely nothing like the real thing.” It was also said that Wesley Snipes in a blonde wig would’ve been more convincing. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that poor Naomi is trying to isolate herself from critics and reviews to protect her confidence.
“The awful truth is that 16 years after that terrible day in 1997, Diana has died another awful death,” wrote The Guardian’s critic. “This is due to an excruciatingly well-intentioned, reverential and sentimental biopic about her troubled final years, laced with bizarre cardboard dialog — a tabloid fantasy of how famous and important people speak in private.”
Naomi has decided to keep away from all the negativity. “I didn’t follow the reactions. I don’t think it would be a good idea. We always knew the response would be extreme in England,” said Naomi, according to channel24.co. “The opinion has always been divided there about Diana. It’s definitely a sensitive subject. The English feel like she belongs to them.”
The actor is hopeful that people will be able to focus on her similarities with the late Princess of Wales instead of criticise her for the differences. “It’s the very definition of an icon. Everyone has their own ways of identifying with ‘larger than life public figures,” she told France’s Voici magazine. “If you’re a strong and intelligent person, you think, ‘She’s like me’. But if you’re feeling fragile at the moment, you’ll identify with that side of her.”
Despite the mortifying reviews, Naomi has taken solace in the fact that at least her sense of humour is as cheeky as the late princess. “Regarding similarities between Naomi and Diana, they both like to tell dirty jokes,” quipped Director Oliver Hirschbiegel. When asked to comment, Naomi blushed and said, “Yes, why not? A good dirty joke every now and then — early in the morning on set before conquering the day. Diana used to do that, too.”
The movie, which focuses on the last two years of Diana’s life, and her romance with heart surgeon Dr Hasnat Khan, released in the UK and Pakistan earlier this month.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2013.
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