Emily Watson: Cult Ordered Me Not to Do Breaking the Waves
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- Emily Watson said at the Sarajevo Film Festival that the School of Philosophy and Economic Science — a London-based organization she called a "religious cult" — summoned her and forbade her from accepting the role of Bess McNeill in Lars von Trier's "Breaking the Waves."
- Watson called walking away from the group "a rupture," saying the feeling — "like a piece of wire being unplugged" — is directly embedded in the 1996 film's emotional core.
- Stellan Skarsgård did not learn about Watson's cult upbringing until they reunited on HBO's "Chernobyl" in 2016, prompting Watson to recall that "he literally did a spit take."
- Watson is receiving an honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award and presiding over the festival jury, where she noted industry barriers for female directors and praised her recent experience with Chloe Zhao on "Hamnet."
- Watson's upcoming projects include HBO Max's "Dune: Prophecy" Season 2, Mira Nair's historical drama "AMRI," and Mackenzie Crook's directorial debut "Mars Express" alongside Toby Jones.
Why it matters: Watson's revelation reframes her 1996 Oscar-nominated breakthrough as a literal act of defiance against the community that raised her — she was too defensive to share the story at Cannes in 1996 but credits a broader cultural shift toward discussing childhood trauma for her candor now.
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