David Lynch‘s death continues to shake the industry, and one of his beloved collaborators is speaking up. Naomi Watts, who worked with the renowned director on Mulholland Drive, mourned his passing in a heartfelt Instagram post.
Watts reflected on her bond with the legendary filmmaker in the emotional post, confirming that their relationship transcended the screens. “My heart is broken. My Buddy Dave… The world will not be the same without him,” she began. Opening up about Lynch’s impact on her career, the 54-year-old wrote:
“He put me on the map. The world I’d been trying to break into for ten plus years, flunking auditions left and right. Finally, I sat in front of a curious man, beaming with light, speaking words from another era, making me laugh and feel at ease.”
Watts further gushed about Lynch’s “wisdom, humor, and love,” saying it gave her a sense of belief. “David invited all to glimpse into that world through his exquisite storytelling, which elevated cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers across the globe,” she added. Concluding her tribute, the British actress penned, “I just cannot believe that he’s gone. I’m in pieces but forever grateful for our friendship. I’m yelling from the bullhorn: Godspeed, Buddy Dave! Thank you for your everything. —Buttercup xox.” Alongside the tear-jerking tribute, Watts uploaded a cute photo of her planting a kiss on the late director’s cheek.
David Lynch ‘Changed’ Naomi Watts’ Career After She ‘Wasn’t Getting Parts’
Watts has often been vocal about Lynch’s impact on her career before his painful passing. In a 2017 interview, she recalled a difficult time when she “wasn’t getting parts” until the Dune director came her way.
“I was giving myself away. My soul was being destroyed. I was never able to walk in a room and own it by being me. David [Lynch] changed that.”
The late Lynch and Watts’s first collaboration on the 2001 psychological thriller earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. The pair would go on to collaborate on more projects, including Rabbits, Inland Empire, and Twin Peaks.
The devastating news of Lynch’s death was announced on Facebook by his family. “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” it read. “There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.'”
Lynch was 78 at the time of his passing. He was set to turn 79 on Monday, Jan. 20. May his soul RIP.
