Naomi Watts and her real-life Penguin Bloom subject tell EW how they found humanity in birds.
“Big day for you guys, eh?”
NAOMI WATTS:I wasn’t lying, was I, Sam?
Cameron Bloom/NETFLIX
SAM BLOOM:Not at all!
When did you two first meet?
WATTS:We met in a hotel.
Cameron Bloom/NETFLIX
It was really polite, talking about the possibilities of where we could go with the story.
Why do you think the bond become so strong?
BLOOM:Naomi, you’re so down-to-earth.
Cameron Bloom/NETFLIX
You’re compassionate, and you have a big heart.
You make people feel completely comfortable.
You’re a beautiful person, inside and out.
The first time I met her I thought she’d be perfect [to tell my story].
I put all my trust in her.
WATTS:You’re going to make me cry!
What did you want her to “get” about your headspace at that time?
BLOOM:How I was actually feeling.
I was so devastated, I was angry, I was overwhelmed with my situation.
I hated my life.
I felt guilty as a mom, wife, and friend.
I pushed people away.
I wanted Naomi to get into my head and understand how I was feeling, which she portrayed brilliantly.
[Both laugh].
How does that play out in an emotional trajectory?
When I look at Sam, I see her as an incredibly strong, courageous, and inspiring.
That’s a story I think we all need to watch and learn from.
That was the hardest part, wasn’t it, Sam?
BLOOM: It’s not a normal thing to try and switch off three-quarters of your body!
She was precise with every movement, going by the numbers.
I practiced with a wheelchair in my apartment.
It’s hard when gravity is involved.
I noticed Sam’s balance.
She can’t lean certain ways from the bra strap down.
BLOOM:Right, no core!
WATTS:I had to watch and get Sam’s strict instruction!
There’s obviously sensitivity about how actors portray people with disabilities.
How do you feel Naomi handled that portrayal?
BLOOM:She had so much respect for it and did a great job.
It never doesn’t look right!
Sam, I have to ask: Was that a real experience you had with Penguin?
Are accidents in the mouth a real peril with pet birds?
BLOOM:I wasn’t asluckyas Naomi.
I’ve never had poo in my mouth!
But Penguin used to poo all over me.
It was pretty disgusting.
It’s just what they do.
I spend my life cleaning up bird poo!
So, I’m an even bigger loser!
Sam, have you had more birds since Penguin?
BLOOM:We’ve had quite a few birds!
We have one at the moment, a little baby magpie who’s so cute.
People contact us via Instagram saying they found a baby bird for us to look after!
They’re never in a cage, always free to fly away when they’re ready.
Naomi, your kids weresuperinto the wildlife on this film.
Are pet birds in your future?
WATTS:Um, no… but they were seriously talked about after filming!
We fell in love with the bird trainer and his birds!
We had a moment of discussion about it, but, no, not yet notin New York!
For both of you, what has the act of bonding with an animal taught both of you?
Is it more profound when you’re connecting emotionally with non-traditional, non-domesticated animal?
BLOOM:It’s quite unusual having a magpie as a companion.
All animals are healing.
Everybody who has an animal talks to them and tells them what’s going on in their mind.
I love their energy.
It brings happiness and good energy to your house.
WATTS:Sam, you said the bird unlocked you, didn’t it?
WATTS:You told me that animals don’t judge you.
it felt like that worked for them, but not necessarily you, and the bird is justtherewith you.
BLOOM:She was there all the time.
The authenticity amplified because you shot in the real Bloom household, right?
BLOOM:Theykickedus out.
Did that stir up dark memories?
BLOOM:We loved it!
Which scene was most important for the crew to get just right about your story?
The guilt and shame, the pure sadness of this is my life now.
What does it feel like to you to hear Sam say that you portrayed her lifejustright?
WATTS:It’s why I’m here.
As far as I’m concerned, it ends there.
That’s the most important feedback you might get.
Everything else is a bonus from here on out, if other people are moved by it.
Why this story right for people in this moment?
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
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