Watts hopes not to be typecast in screaming King Kong role

5.00pm - By COLIN MARSHALL

Naomi Watts knows playing Ann Darrow in the remake of 1933 classic King Kong is an iconic role, but she hopes it won't leave her typecast.

Australian Watts, an Academy Award nominee for her role in 21 Grams alongside Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro, told reporters today she was disappointed Fay Wray, who died last month at the age of 96, wouldn't see her reprise the Ann role.

"It's very sad. Those are some big shoes to fill. She did a wonderful job. Going back and seeing the movie several times and seeing what she did - it's quite beautiful.

"Luckily enough, we got the opportunity to meet her, all together in New York and we had just a lovely evening.

"We had a little chit-chat about the experience and she cracked a few jokes. It was nice to have that connection but it's very sad that she's not going to be able to see the movie. She seemed quite interested."

Wray's career has been forever remembered for her screams in King Kong, a damsel in distress in the grasp of a giant gorilla atop the Empire State Builing.

Watts, however, was optimistic her own career wouldn't become typecast in the role of vaudeville actress cum King Kong love interest Darrow.

"It is an iconic movie and an iconic role but there are pluses about that. I've done quite a lot of different work before this movie and hopefully people won't suddenly see me as only this role."

So keen was Watts to join Peter Jackson's cast for King Kong, she signed up script-unseen.

"Obviously there was no script at that time but I did know the film... it seemed like a great idea and with Fran Walsh and Phillipa (Boyens), the great scripts that they have... produced before, it seemed like a very full package," she said.

"This story is just so simplistic and very human. That's why I'm here."

- NZPA