Naomi Watts to return to Sydney for film project Penguin Bloom

One family’s struggle against adversity has inspired Aussie superstar Naomi Watts to take on a new film project — which will bring bringing her back home.

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She may have based herself in the US for the better part of 25 years, but Aussie actor Naomi Watts definitely considers herself a home bird.

The 50-year-old, who was back in Sydney last week, says she doesn’t spend nearly enough time in Australia, but all of that is about to change.

Watts’ latest film project — Penguin Bloom, about a magpie that healed a family after a tragic incident — is bringing her back home.

“All things going well it will be filmed in July on the Northern Beaches,” Watts tells BW Magazine in an exclusive interview.

“It will be great to be home for a good, long stretch.”

Naomi Watts will star and produce new Aussie film Penguin Bloom. Picture: Tim Hunter

Penguin Bloom is no regular magpie, nor ordinary Australian story.

In 2013, on a family holiday in Thailand, Sam Bloom fell 6m onto a tiled floor after a railing on an observation deck gave way.

She fractured her skull and had bruising on the brain. The accident also ruptured her lungs and shattered her spine. Sam was told that she was paralysed and would never walk again.

She returned home after months of rehab and was driven to regular suicidal thoughts as she looked back on the life she lost.

It was an incredible tragedy for Sam, her husband Cameron and their family. At Sam’s lowest point, however, a little magpie fell from a nearby nest and into their life.

They named the bird Penguin and Sam was charged with her care. The injured bird became a member of the Bloom family and photographer Cameron began to document the unique familial interactions.

When the ABC picked up the story and images of Penguin at play with Sam and the kids, the story quickly spread and eventually, the family’s story was made into a book by best-selling author Bradley Trevor Grieve, titled Penguin Bloom.

Sam Bloom and her husband Cameron at the GQ Australia Men of The Year Awards. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty

Naomi Watts with Cameron Bloom at the GQ Australia Men of The Year Awards.

Then Hollywood came calling, led by Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies producer Bruna Papandrea and Watts. The Aussie star will produce the film and play Sam.

“(Aussie-based producer) Emma Cooper and Bruna Papandrea brought the story to my attention and showed me the book and I looked at it the minute it arrived with my children,” Watts says.

“We just went through the pages and saw these incredible, powerful images leap off the page and they told such a strong story of hope and humility.

“My kids love other kids but they also love animals and magpies as we know are not the friendliest birds and so to see this magpie doing incredible things on film was great.”

Watts was in Sydney last week as a McHappy Day ambassador, but she was also humbled to attend the GQ Men of The Year Awards to present the Creative Force award to Cameron Bloom and meet the family for the first time.

“I finally got to meet them,” she says.

“There have been lots of phone calls and emails, it just hadn’t been the right time.

“I was here last year but I went straight to Byron, where my mum lives, for Christmas, so this was perfect timing.

“What a story of hope and beauty, how they dealt with such a tragic situation.”

Cameron Bloom with the magpie named Penguin.

The Blooms, though delighted to meet Watts, say the Hollywood attention won’t change them.

“It’s really cool and nice that she was able to make the time to see us,” Cameron says of having lunch with Watts before the awards.

“It’s flattering but it’s also an opportunity to share the messages about spinal cord injuries and hopefully raise awareness about that. We hope that the film is a family orientated film that will touch all types of people — not just old people or young people or people in wheelchairs, it’s a love story.

“It’s awesome but it hasn’t changed us in any way and it won’t either.”

Sam adds: “(Watts is) so nice and super lovely and down to earth. It was just normal, it was awesome. To be honest I never thought anybody would want to make a movie about us.”

Accepting the award at The Star event centre last Wednesday night, Bloom recognised the “incredible bravery, resilience and humility” of Sam.

“I know most days are a struggle, but I also know that your determination in everything you do has given people perspective, and inspired thousands around the world to make the most of their lives,” he said.