Q&A: Naomi Watts talks beauty hacks and aging gracefully in Hollywood

On embracing her age: "I feel like I’ve been playing mothers to pretty much everyone lately, which I don’t mind, if it’s a great role. It doesn’t matter if I have a seven-year-old or 20-something kid in a film. The roles are going to reflect where you are in life. What’s the point in trying to fight that? Why not open up a new territory? I feel inspired by these characters, these women who have gone through a great list of experiences."

On wearing whatever you want: "I love fashion. I’ve always been into clothing; it's something I notice. [Ed. note: When I sat down with Watts, she immediately complimented my printed Anthropologie dress.] Overall, I want to feel comfortable, and I don’t like it when people say, 'Oh, that’s not age appropriate.’ Look at some of the greatest style icons around — Vivienne Westwood, for example. She wears exactly what she wants and totally owns it."

On her favourite — and not-so-favourite — parts of her 40s: "My friendships. You’ve usually gone through a lot by your 40s, so you share those experiences with friends. Most of my closest friends were forged in my 20s or earlier. Now, we talk about staying up-to-date — social media comes up a lot. [Not understanding new technology] is a horrible feeling, and so you want to keep up with the times by chatting about it with friends."

On her go-to makeup trick: "A trick I learned from a make-up artist was to darken my eyebrows to frame my face. I think eyes are particularly powerful in cinema, especially on a giant, 50-foot screen! [But] too much make-up will instantly make you look older."

On her beauty-bag essentials: "Sunscreen, mascara and a pink-y cheek."

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