Emily Anita Watson was born on 14 January 1967 in Islington, London, England. She is an Oscar nominated English actress best known for her acclaimed debut film performance in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves.

Her bold performance drew rave notices and was the first of many strong performances in emotionally-charged dramas. She has also appeared in Hilary and Jackie (1998), The Cradle Will Rock (1999), Angela's Ashes (1999), Red Dragon (2002) with Anthony Hopkins and Punch-Drunk Love (2002) starred opposite Adam Sandler.

He also starred in Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005) and Miss Potter (2006) opposite Renée Zellweger.

Filmography

• Synecdoche, New York (2007)
• Fireflies in the Garden (2008)
• The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007)
• Miss Potter (2006)
• Kruistocht in spijkerbroek (2006)
• Separate Lies (2005)
• Corpse Bride (2005)
• Wah-Wah (2005)
• The Proposition (2005)
• The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)
• Back to Gaya (2004)
• Blossoms & Blood (2003)
• Equilibrium (2002)
• Red Dragon (2002)
• Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
• Gosford Park (2001)
• The Luzhin Defence (2000)
• Trixie (2000)
• Angela's Ashes (1999)
• Cradle Will Rock (1999)
• Hilary and Jackie (1998)
• The Boxer (1997)
• The Mill on the Floss (1997)
• Metroland (1997)
• Breaking the Waves (1996)

Awards

• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Acting Ensemble "Gosford Park" 2001
• Florida Film Critics Circle Award Best Ensemble "Gosford Park" 2001
• Online Film Critics Society Award Best Ensemble "Gosford Park" 2001
• The Actor Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture "Gosford Park" 2001
• London Film Critics Circle Award British Actress of the Year "Angela's Ashes" and "Hilary and Jackie" 2000
• British Independent Film Award Best Actress "Hilary and Jackie" 1999
• Felix Best Actress "Breaking the Waves" 1996
• London Film Critics Circle Award Best British Newcomer "Breaking the Waves" 1996
• Los Angeles Film Critics New Generation Award "Breaking the Waves" 1996
• National Society of Film Critics Award Best Actress "Breaking the Waves" 1996
• New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress "Breaking the Waves" 1996