Podcast Summary: Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Episode: Naomi Watts on Late Blooming, Bold Moves, and Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be
Date: November 5, 2025
Host: Hoda Kotb
Guest: Naomi Watts

Overview

In this uplifting and candid episode, Hoda Kotb sits down with acclaimed actress and entrepreneur Naomi Watts. The conversation explores Naomi’s journey as a “late bloomer,” her resilience in overcoming rejection and ageism in Hollywood, and her mission to reshape the way society talks about aging, perimenopause, and women’s empowerment. Touching on personal loss, motherhood, new projects, and starting the Stripes brand, Naomi shares insights on embracing new seasons of life and creating space for self-discovery and self-acceptance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Navigating New Seasons of Life

• Current Season of Life:
  • Naomi reflects on being in her 50s, juggling work, family, and an aging parent.
  • Quote: “We're managing all kinds of things at this point in our 50s… Pressures in the workplace… parents are getting older, and there's just a lot. But we do know how to navigate it.” (02:39)
• Support Systems:
  • Emphasizes the importance of support and a good team for managing life’s demands.

Childhood, Adaptability, and Early Loss

• Nomadic Upbringing:
  • Naomi’s father was Pink Floyd’s audio engineer; her mother, a costume/set designer.
  • Moved frequently across England, then to Australia at 14, which fostered adaptability.
  • Quote: “You'd have to watch and learn ... but there were times where I felt very lonely and very much on the outside.” (05:09)
• Losing Her Father:
  • Lost her dad at age 7, processed grief without guidance; identity and grief became themes in her work.
  • Quote: “It was defining, and it is very much a part of who I am… there's a lot of grief in the stories that I've been part of.” (06:25–06:48)

Family Influences and Work Ethic

• Grandmothers’ Impact:
  • Raised with her mother and strong-willed grandmother; credits them for her work ethic.
  • Quote: “She was always, like, making us work hard. We were not allowed to sit around and read a book… there were goats to feed and chickens to clean out.” (08:22)

Discovering Acting

• The Spark for Performance:
  • Saw her mom perform in "My Fair Lady" as a child; “instantly… felt transported into this world of make believe.” (09:06–09:49)
• Understanding the Industry:
  • Recognizes the beauty and difficulty of acting, especially dealing with rejection.
  • Quote: “...a whole litany of different notes along the way. Whether it was… not funny, not sexy, too old, too intense, too this, too that.” (10:31–10:56)

Breakthrough and Ageism in Hollywood

• Finding Stardom Later:
  • Attained breakout success at 33 with "Mulholland Drive."
  • Quote: “Mulholland Drive changed everything... It really just changed the course forever.” (11:35)
• Facing Ageism:
  • Acknowledges age-based criticism and chooses to “own it.”
  • Quote: “We are all aging. It is a privilege, thankfully… find out ways how to make it better… by opening up the conversation.” (12:14)

Speaking Out & Changing the Discussion Around Aging

• Normalizing Menopause and Perimenopause:
  • Became an advocate after feeling isolated in her own experience; launched Stripes Beauty to support women through this stage.
  • Quote: “I could be branding myself as the old lady. Or maybe it'll be helpful... and maybe it'll elongate my career.” (13:18)
• Societal Shifts:
  • Notes that women in media are thriving at older ages, emphasizing, “Don't think you can just get rid of us. You need us, by the way. The younger generation needs us.” (18:39)

New Projects & Embracing Opportunity

• "All’s Fair" TV Series:
  • Stars as part of an all-star ensemble; show focuses on female divorce lawyers, blending comedy and drama.
  • Quote: “It's about women supporting women. But… there's some bad behavior in there, too.” (17:54)
• Writing a Book on Menopause:
  • Realized the scarcity of resources when she faced early menopause, decided to create the guide she wished she’d had.
  • Quote: “It’s the book I wish I’d had… conversations with doctors, experts, other women, and me telling my own story infused with humor and facts.” (20:19–21:11)

Fertility Journey

• Diagnosis and Struggle:
  • Discovered at 36 she was near menopause, which explained infertility; experienced “a lot of suffering and a lot of fear” (21:17).
  • Her journey underscores that timelines for life milestones don’t need to be rigid.

Stripes Beauty: Purpose and Mission

• Origin of the Brand:
  • Conceived to address the needs of women in midlife—especially skin changes and self-image.
  • Quote: “Everyone was still promising, you know, we can get rid of your wrinkles… But I felt like there’s a real gap in the market for women who… want to see ourselves in the best way that we possibly can.” (24:11–25:06)
  • The name “Stripes” symbolizes earning one’s dignity and embracing age.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Resilience and Sensitivity:
  • “It's okay to be sensitive... we need to know how to feel so that people can see their stories reflected through my telling.” (11:03)
• On Late Blooming and Timing:
  • “It’s never too late. Never too.” (19:39)
• Advice to Younger Women:
  • “It’s nice to have plans or timelines, but you don’t have to be so fixated on them… they can alter and, you know, shift.” (19:13)
• On her “Perfect Day” (Self-care):
  • “Coffee in bed, just start at a slower pace… Walking outside… music, maybe a little dance… dinner with friends." (26:32–27:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:43 – Compartmentalizing and prioritizing during busy life seasons
• 05:09 – Adapting to constant change during childhood
• 06:25 – Processing childhood loss and how it shaped Naomi
• 08:22 – The impact of strong grandmothers and work ethic
• 09:06 – Discovering the magic of performance
• 11:35 – Breakout with "Mulholland Drive" and confronting Hollywood ageism
• 12:14 – Embracing aging publicly and spearheading the conversation
• 13:18 – Addressing menopause openly; fears of "career suicide" and finding strength in advocacy
• 17:44 – Excitement and details about the new project “All’s Fair”
• 19:13 – Reflections on love, partnership, and shifting life timelines
• 21:17 – Her early diagnosis of menopause and fertility struggles
• 24:11 – The story and mission behind Stripes Beauty
• 26:32 – Naomi’s vision of a “perfect day” for self-care

Conclusion

Naomi Watts’s journey is both inspiring and reassuring, especially for listeners who feel out of sync with traditional timelines or who are navigating change. By embracing her own late blooming and vulnerabilities, advocating for open conversations about menopause and aging, and leaning into new professional ventures, Watts exemplifies the power of resilience and authenticity. This episode is a reminder, in Naomi’s words, that “it’s never too late”—and that we all have the capacity to "make space" for growth, no matter our age or the obstacles we face.