Emily Watson
Emily Watson is an English actress who rose to international fame with her Academy Award-nominated debut in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves. She has since starred in Gosford Park, Punch-Drunk Love, The Book Thief and the HBO series Chernobyl.
Emily Watson filmed 1 production in Queenstown: The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep. Emily Watson is an English actress who rose to international fame with her Academy Award-nominated debut in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves. She has since starred in Gosford Park, Punch-Drunk Love, The Book Thief and the HBO series Chernobyl.
About Watson
British actor, 1 production filmed in Queenstown.
Emily Watson is an English actress who rose to international fame with her Academy Award-nominated debut in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves. She has since starred in Gosford Park, Punch-Drunk Love, The Book Thief and the HBO series Chernobyl.
In The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, Watson played Anne MacMorrow - a mother raising her children in a loch-side house in wartime Scotland. The film used Lake Wakatipu and the Queenstown surrounds to stand in for Loch Ness, with the TSS Earnslaw steamship and surrounding mountains providing authentic Scottish Highland atmosphere.
Watson has received two Academy Award nominations and a BAFTA for her work.
Actor portrait
Films Shot in Queenstown
Every production Watson filmed in the Queenstown-Lakes region, with characters, roles, and behind‑the‑scenes stories.
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“The Water Horse used Lake Wakatipu to double for Loch Ness - with the Remarkables mountain range standing in for the Scottish Highlands. Watson has said filming on the lake felt 'authentically Scottish' and that she was amazed by how well the Queenstown landscape transformed for the role.”
Behind the Camera
Queenstown Stories
Trivia, anecdotes, and inside stories from Watson's time filming in Queenstown.
How did Queenstown become Loch Ness in The Water Horse?
Lake Wakatipu was used to double for Loch Ness, with the surrounding Remarkables range and the TSS Earnslaw steamship providing the Scottish Highland atmosphere. The production design team built period sets along the lake shore, and the mountain-backed water created a convincing Scottish setting that impressed the Scottish cast members.
Did The Water Horse film entirely in Queenstown?
The Queenstown region was the primary outdoor filming location, with Lake Wakatipu standing in for Loch Ness. Additional studio work was done in Wellington. The production chose Queenstown because the lake and mountains provided the right combination of dramatic scenery and practical filmmaking infrastructure.
Make It Real
Walk in Watson's Footsteps
Book a tour to the actual filming locations. Experience the landscapes that inspired the performances.
NZD $307Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour
Explore the exact Middle‑earth locations, Glenorchy, Paradise, and the Dart Valley.
NZD $189Glenorchy & Paradise Scenic Tour
Visit the backdrops behind the most iconic performances. Spectacular half-day trip.
NZD $1,518Milford Helicopter Flight & Cruise
The aerial perspective that filmmakers love. Helicopter to Milford Sound with glacier landing.
Common Questions
Everything fans ask about Watson's time filming in Queenstown.
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More Actors in Queenstown
From Oscar winners to rising stars, explore every performer who has made Queenstown their cinematic home.
Don't Stop Here
Continue Exploring Queenstown
From the cast to the locations, every layer of Queenstown on screen.
ExploreAll Film Productions
Eight productions, dozens of locations, one landscape. Explore every film shot in Queenstown.
LocationsFilm Location Guide
GPS‑tagged film locations with access guides. Find every spot, from Glenorchy to Milford Sound.
Book NowQueenstown Tours
Guided tours, helicopter flights, and 4WD adventures that take you to the locations from the screen.