Partner comforts actress during menopause with aging joke


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Naomi Watts, the acclaimed actress, recently unveiled a humorous anecdote about her partner, Billy Crudup, in her newly released memoir, “Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause.” The 56-year-old shared a candid recollection from the early days of their relationship, shedding light on Crudup’s endearing approach to making her feel comfortable during a vulnerable moment.

As Watts navigated the challenges of menopause, she found herself wearing an estrogen patch for hormone therapy. However, she harbored concerns about Crudup discovering the patch, fearing it might diminish her perceived vitality and fertility. “Unfortunately, the patch’s adhesive leaves a mark on the skin that’s very hard to get rid of,” she candidly revealed in her book.

Watts vividly recounted the moments leading up to an intimate encounter at Crudup’s residence. Consumed by apprehension over the prospect of him noticing the marks left by the patch’s adhesive, she meticulously scrubbed her skin “raw” in the bathroom, desperate to conceal any traces of her menopausal state.

Crudup, sensing her prolonged absence, inquired about her well-being, prompting Watts to emerge “mortified” and struggling to articulate her predicament. Ultimately, she mustered the courage to confide in him about the patches and her reluctance for him to discover her menopausal journey.

To Watts’ surprise, Crudup responded with empathy and understanding. “A smile broke over his face. He seemed very relieved that the issue wasn’t a lack of desire,” she shared. “He told me he thought it was great I was taking care of myself, and he asked me how he could help.”

In a lighthearted attempt to assuage her concerns, the Tony-nominated actor disclosed his own experience with aging, uttering the words: “Hey, if it makes you feel better: I’ve got gray hairs on my balls.”

Watts playfully acknowledged these words as “the most romantic words” she has ever encountered, surpassing even the scripts of her illustrious film career and Crudup’s subsequent marriage proposal seven years later.

The couple’s relationship blossomed on the set of their Netflix series “Gypsy” in 2017, leading to a private courtship that culminated in their public debut as a couple five years later. Engagement rumors swirled in 2023, eventually confirmed by their marriage later that year.