Watts: Renée backlash was cruel

Naomi Watts has defended Renée Zellweger.

The 45-year-old actress hit headlines when she emerged with an apparently changed appearance earlier this year.

But now Naomi has hit back at critics of the Hollywood star, insisting “she looks great”.

"The backlash was cruel and unnecessary," Naomi told Britain’s InStyle magazine. "I saw a picture and I thought she looked great! She looked amazing! Leave her alone! You can't win can you'"

Naomi’s comments came after Reese Witherspoon also defended Renée, saying the criticisms were “cruel, rude and disrespectful”.

She added: “I know this is so Pollyanna of me, but why — and it’s particularly women — why do they have to tear women down' And why do we have to tear other women down to build another woman up' It drives me crazy. Like, this one looks great without her makeup but that one doesn’t look good without her makeup, and it’s all just a judgment and assault that I don’t — look, men are prey to it as well. I just don’t think it’s with the same sort of ferocity.”

Following the uproar surrounding her new look, Renée credited a “happy, healthy lifestyle” for the change in her appearance.

Meanwhile, Naomi also opened up about her thoughts on plastic surgery, admitting she hasn’t ruled out going under the surgeon’s knife in the future.

"I don't have any judgment about [plastic surgery]; whoever makes that choice, that's fine," Naomi said. "It's not easy watching yourself get older, but when I look at two women in their fifties or sixties or seventies side by side, one who's had surgery and one who hasn't, I think one likes themselves a lot more and one looks more dignified and graceful.

"I hope I get to stay being that woman. But I would never say 'never.'"