15 Incredible Naomi Watts Performances

The British-born actress has enjoyed a decades-long film career earning her recognition, respect and high praise. Here are some of her most memorable roles.

In this comedy, Watts plays a pregnant Russian prostitute who, um, “befriends” Bill Murray. Expect 'St. Vincent' to garner some awards attention this season. 

For a biopic based on the book ‘Diana: Her Last Love,' Watts was masterful, disappearing into the role of an icon: The late Princess of Wales.

The actress snagged an Academy Award nomination for her unsettling and heroic portrayal of a woman whose family is caught in a violent tsunami.

As J. Edgar Hoover’s devoted secretary, Helen Gandy, Watts played opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in this biographical crime drama from director Clint Eastwood. 

This nail-biting conspiracy thriller -- based on true events -- stars Watts as real-life CIA operative Valerie Plume. This underseen entry on director Doug Liman's resume is definitely worth a viewing. 

In this high-stakes mystery suspense drama, Watts plays an assistant D.A. out for justice, opposite a gun-weilding Clive Owen. 

Playing the part of a midwife, Watts finds herself protecting a motherless infant -- who turns out to be the child of a thief in the Russian Mafia. Viggo Mortensen headlines, and one very violent, very naked brawl in a sauna steals the show. 

In this film version of W. Somerset Maugham’s novel, Watts starred alongside her real-life husband, Liev Schreiber.

Watts wasn’t monkeying around when she played the luminous blonde beauty who formed a bond with the famous giant ape in Peter Jackson's big-budget remake. Watts and Kong steal the show. 

In this quirky comedy, Watts got to have fun as an actress, playing a woman who is an unhinged mess. While this comedy isn't for all audiences, Watts' performance is definitely must-see. 

As an actress trying to make it in Tinseltown, Watts let us see her struggle and pain in this oh-so-realistic art house comedy.

In this critically-acclaimed movie, Watts joins Sean Penn in a story about people struggling to get their lives together when faced with a tragic event that throws everyone off balance. Watts gives one of her best performances to date in this underrated drama.  

Taking a break from "Serious" fare, Watts goes the horror movie route in this remake of the Japanese film about a cursed videotape that promises to kill its viewers in seven days. That's why it pays to rewind, folks. 

David Lynch’s neo-noir mystery gave Watts her breakout role, as an aspiring actress living in the seedy underbelly of LA. The words "weird" and "out there" barely do the Oscar-nominated movie justice. 

Watts became a full-on brunette to play Tank Girl’s sidekick, Jet Girl, in this movie based on the cult British comic book.