An illustration of Naomi Watts sitting with her dinner party crew, which includes Jane Fonda, Rebecca Rigg, Naomi's grandmother, Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman, Gloria Steinem, Maya Angelou, Debbie Harry, Jane Goodall, Celeste Barber.
Dinner Party

Naomi Watts

The star of Ryan Murphy’s The Watcher shares the guests and menu for her dream dinner party.

As told to Krista Smith
Illustration by Barry Falls
7 December 20222 min read

Let’s make it a girls’ dinner. Michelle Obama would be there. I just love her; everything she says, everything she does. I love her book. I’ve heard her in interviews and I really appreciate how honest she is. Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, Maya Angelou, Jane Goodall, Debbie Harry, and Celeste Barber are invited — they’re all brilliant. Rebecca Rigg is there. She’s my best friend in the whole wide world. Of course, Nicole Kidman. And my grandma, for sure. She’s 97, and she can still tell a good story. She’d have a little glass of wine, and she’d be telling fantastic, 10-minute long stories of the old days; she’s really sharp as a tack, as we say. 

This group feels well balanced between being smart, innovative, and hilarious. Feels like the perfect dinner guest list. And we know all of these women have a story to tell. I really pride myself on the people I surround myself with. I choose my friends carefully and they really bolster me at all moments. I hope I do the same for them. It’s such an important thing to have great women in your life. I could not imagine a life without them. 

I like to cook, actually. I’ve got different eaters in my house, so I mix it up. I don’t eat any red meat myself, so there’d probably be fish and chicken. The preparation for the fish wouldn’t be too fussy: grilled fish, probably a big halibut on a bed of asparagus and baby tomatoes, lemon, butter, and salt. I’d also have a delicious wild rocket salad and some fingerling potatoes. For dessert: strawberries and cream, plus something citrusy and maybe chocolatey. 

After all the great food and stories are told, nuggets of wisdom imparted, and laughter shared, it would be time to turn up the music and dance till the wee hours. I’m sure this would all take place in Paris, so then we’d all walk home.