Academy Award nominated-actress Naomi Watts will receive the 2019 Orry-Kelly Award at the Australians in Film’s (AiF) 8thAnnual AiF Awards Gala and Benefit Dinner, an annual fundraising event celebrating Australian talent in the entertainment industry. The award, which celebrates Watts’ continued excellence in international cinema and television and her inspiration to her peers in the industry, will be presented to her at the star-studded event held at the Intercontinental Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 23, 2019.
The Orry-Kelly Award is given to an Australian whose body of work has provided inspiration globally in film and television and who continues to give back to the Australian industry.
Kate Marks, President of Australians in Film said, “2019 has been a remarkable year so far for Naomi Watts, so we are thrilled to be honoring and celebrating her impressive body of work. Coming off a powerful performance in The Loudest Voice, and a lead role in Penguin Bloom – her first Australian film since 2013 – which she also produced, Naomi’s work continues to challenge and inspire audiences around the world.”
Two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts has garnered several accolades throughout her career including nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award. She was recently seen in SHOWTIME’s® limited series The Loudest Voice alongside Russell Crowe and Sienna Miller. Watts will also produce and star alongside Andrew Lincoln and Jacki Weaver in Penguin Bloom, the upcoming feature film based on the bestselling book, which has just finished shooting in Sydney, Australia. Her feature film credits include – most recently – Luce and Ophelia, as well as Mulholland Drive, The Impossible, 21 Grams, I Heart Huckabees, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), St. Vincent, The Ring, King Kong, Eastern Promises, Fair Game, J. Edgar, The International and The Painted Veil.
Watts joins previously announced honorees: Ruby Rose (The CW’s Batwoman), Sarah Snook (HBO’s Succession), Dacre Montgomery (Netflix’s Stranger Things) and director Anthony Maras (Hotel Mumbai) and Bill Draper (Warner Bros’ President Worldwide Physical Production).
The fundraising event will be hosted by Australian singer-songwriter, comedian, writer and actor, Eddie Perfect, best known for his performance in critically acclaimed seriesOffspring and more recently for his Tony-nominated work on Broadway, writing the score for Beetlejuice.
The 8th AiF Awards Gala and Benefit Dinner is presented by Ausfilm, Screen Australia and Create NSW and proudly supported by media partners Vogue and GQ Australia, together with Qantas, AiF’s official airline and hotel partner, The Standard Hollywood. Beverage partners include Bird in Hand, Penfolds, Mr Black and Little Creatures.
The awards support AiF’s non-profit mission to usher Australian talent into the international market and provide educational and career development programs including the highly successful creative work sharing space, Charlie’s in Hollywood.
