Not so impossible for Naomi

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In The Impossible, Naomi Watts plays Maria Belton, a woman torn apart from her husband and sons, while vacationing in Thailand when Tsunami hits in 2004.

What were your thoughts when you were offered the role of Maria Belton?
When I first read the script, I thought, wow, it sounds so clear and true, not like someone just decided to use Tsunami as a terrible backdrop for this family. I later found out that much of it was based on Maria and Henry’s words and their experiences.

What struck you most about the real Maria Belton?
Maria’s fighting spirit and the level of courage really inspires me. When I first met her I was incredibly nervous and I didn’t know where to begin. I felt like I’m just an actor and you have lived through this extraordinary horrendous thing, and I just don’t know where to start. But we sat together for five minutes, she didn’t feel the need to speak and I couldn’t, and then she started just welling up and I started welling up and then she continued to speak for three-and-a-half hours.
With a lot of “disaster movies” it tends to become more about the spectacle than the story. How did the film manage to avoid that?
When I heard that Juan Antonio is attached with the project, I thought, he is a proper filmmaker. I have seen his fantastic work on The Orphanage. Clearly, if he’s invested, it must be something great. And I was right; Juan Antonio has taken the right approach. It felt rooted in truth.

The Impossible is being pitched as a role that gets you an Oscar...
It always feels good when your work is appreciated. I am totally thrilled about our Golden Globes nomination. But the greatest critique I've had is a letter from Maria that came after she saw the film. That was so great, I felt like I’d done my job.