Over the past couple years, Naomi Watts has been very vocal about her menopause journey. But it took years of working through feelings of shame and the fear of being shunned by Hollywood to reach that point, she tells us. The star went through perimenopause earlier than most women, at 36, when she was trying to get pregnant.
“I didn’t even know the word ‘perimenopause‘ at that time,” the 56-year-old tells us. “When my physician told me that it looked like I was close to menopause, I nearly fell out of my chair. I felt ashamed and like it was the end of my dream of becoming a mother, the end of my acting career, the end of, well, everything.”
That experience made her feel “so isolated and alone,” she says, and it’s part of what inspired the star to found Stripes, a wellness brand that creates science-backed products for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Watts opened up about her advocacy work and involvement with QVC’s Quintessential 50, how Hollywood is slowly beginning to “celebrate the stories of women of a certain age,” and much more.
Katie Couric Media: You’ve talked about your experience with hot flashes and shared that you were put on HRT pretty quickly. What do you want women to know about HRT and their options to treat their symptoms?
Naomi Watts: I want women to know that they should be able to at least have an open conversation with their doctor about the changes they’re experiencing in their bodies — and if your doctor doesn’t believe you or show care about addressing your symptoms, it may be time to find a new doctor.
I’m no physician, so I won’t make any specific prescriptions around HRT — but for some women who have suffered through the symptoms of menopause, like me, it can make a difference in providing relief. There is a lot better information out there now about the safety of using hormones, like Susan Dominus’ article in The New York Times — but it’s not necessarily right or safe for everyone. If it’s something you’re thinking about, I encourage you to do some research and talk to your doctor.
How does it feel to work with a brand like QVC that empowers women and promotes products directed at women who have or are going through menopause?
I’m proud to partner with a brand like QVC that’s here for women going through this life stage. We deserve to be seen and supported, not ignored. It means everything to me to be appreciated for who I am — and I’m pretty sure it means the same to others as well. We always want to feel relevant. We don’t want to feel invisible at any time in life. And we’ve still got plenty to do.
While we all know you cannot have kids after menopause, I don’t think people understand how perimenopause impacts fertility. How did perimenopause end up interfering with fertility for you, if at all?
My perimenopause story and my fertility story are one and the same. I found out I was close to menopause at the exact time that I was struggling to get pregnant. So my changing hormone levels as I was approaching menopause only made it harder for me to have my kids. I feel very grateful that after I tried practically everything under the sun, I was lucky enough to have my two children.
Which of your Stripes products do you personally rely on most?
I use the whole line. But I especially swear by Vag of Honor, our skincare for down there, which I’ve found really helps with discomfort; the Crown Pleaser, our hair mask, which gives my hair a lovely shine; and the Full Monty, our body oil, which has the most delicious scent and leaves my skin looking radiant.
With National Hot Flash Day, your brand Stripes, and other efforts, does it feel like how we view and talk about menopause is changing for the better?
Absolutely, I feel like these conversations are opening up more and more. I certainly hope that the quality of life for women can improve across the board: that doctors can get better training around menopause; that we can all be better informed about what’s in store for us as we age; and that we can let go of all the stigmas and taboos around this very normal time in our lives. There’s so much needless suffering out there.
Did you feel your early experience with perimenopause impacted your career at all? Can you recall any times it interfered with a film or show you were working on?
Certainly, when I first started speaking up about this, I felt extremely nervous about what it might mean for my career. Unfortunately, in Hollywood, for too long, the norm for women has been “Don’t call attention to your age if you’re over 23.” But I feel proud to be a part of a generation of women who are speaking out to hopefully help shift the conversation in Hollywood and carve out more space for women of every age.
Menopause and this stage of a woman’s life get a pretty bad rap, but there are some beautiful things about this time. What have been some of the highlights of this stage of life for you?
This can be the best era of our lives. I’m most proud of the years of hard work I’ve poured into my relationships and work. I’m lucky enough to have some very deep friendships and a job I’m passionate about, and now I get to see some of the payoff from those years of experience. The shared memories I have with my friends and colleagues make our relationships stronger and more meaningful as they continue to grow. And I find myself able to make room for new friendships, too. At this age, knowing myself as well as I do, I’m a better friend because I’m not as guarded as I used to be. It’s easier to be unapologetically myself. It’s a lot of work, and it’s not always easy to find the time — life has a funny way of getting in the way — but it’s something I really try to prioritize because it’s worth it. And pickleball has been a highlight, too. Lots and lots of pickleball.
Do you think roles for older women are evolving? What has it been like being a part of QVC’s Age of Possibility with so many other wonderful Q50 members?
It’s been very meaningful to be a part of QVC’s Age of Possibility — I’ve met many wonderful women and friends, and I’m glad to be a part of a group who are helping to change the narrative around getting older. Hopefully the conversations that we’ve been having are doing a bit to reduce any stigma and shame around aging. More people are making their voices heard. It would be great to have more representation in the media of what it’s like to age and thrive, bringing humor to the indignities and the joys of this part of our lives to lighten things up a little.
I feel grateful that as I’ve started to share my story, people have embraced me in return. More creators in Hollywood, like Ryan Murphy, have begun to celebrate the stories of women of a certain age. I just had one of the best roles of my career as Babe Paley in Feud, so I’m hoping the work is only just beginning!
