During a roundtable discussion with Jodie Foster, Brie Larson, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Ana Sawai, and Sofie Vergara, Naomi Watts revealed that she was once asked to make out with a famous actor for a chemistry test.
The roundtable, hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, was published on May 29. The 55-year-old British actress shared her experience, saying,
"I Have. Just once, and it was very awkward."
She further added,
"It was mortifying because we didn't hear a 'cut,' and it just kept going. Then they were like, 'OK, OK.'"
Naomi Watts is well known for her roles in movies such as Mulholland Drive (2001), Adore (2013), King Kong (2005), and many others.
"I did feel a bit rattled" — Naomi Watts shares her chemistry test experience
At the roundtable, while discussing the norm of chemistry tests as a part of auditions, Naomi Watts recalled an audition where she was asked to "make out" with a famous actor. She stated:
"I was auditioning and I didn't get the job, so clearly I did not do a good makeout. It was with a very well-known actor. And we both were like, 'Oh, sorry, we didn't hear...' I did feel a bit rattled."
Nicole Kidman responded, saying,
"You can not have chemistry, and onscreen, it's made. There's a way you can shoot things. I think just relying on chemistry is lazy. There's the writing. There's the interaction. You can literally be directed through it."
Jennifer Anniston also chimed in, noting that while chemistry might exist between two people, the audition environment can affect it.
"Maybe you'd have chemistry with this person if you were in a different environment and not, like, 'Create chemistry. Ready? Go!"
She also admitted she was a terrible auditioner and worked as a waitress before landing her first gig, a Bob's Big Boy commercial.
While speaking about the chemistry test, Watts further said she could "feel the energy in the room" and felt that she was hurried.
"I'd even go, 'Yeah, don't worry, I'm out of your way in one second. You don't even have to look me in the eye and shake my hand."
While speaking about auditioning, Naomi Watts recalled filming with David Lynch for Mulholland Drive and how the director handled casting differently. She was surprised when Lynch took the time to get to know her and asked her about herself.
"I was like, 'Wait really? You want to take time with me? You want to know s--- about me and how I was raised an all of that?"
Naomi Watts' revelations come after Anne Hathway revealed in April that she had to kiss ten actors for a chemistry test during the early stages of her acting career.