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Naomi Watts was honored with the 2,825th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday, Oct. 13The actress paid special tribute to her husband, Billy Crudup, who attended the prestigious ceremony in support of his wife”We have something quite special,” the two-time Oscar nominee says of Crudup while speaking exclusively to PEOPLE

Naomi Watts is feeling the love.

While being honored with the 2,825th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, Oct. 13, the two-time Oscar nominee paid special tribute to her husband, Billy Crudup, and opened up about the deep connection they share.

“Oh, he’s just the best listener, the most present human being, gentle and supportive and funny and smart as anything,” Watts told PEOPLE exclusively after being honored. “We have something quite special.”

Naomi Watts being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 13, 2025.

Amy Sussman/Getty

The couple, both 57, first met while starring together in the 2017 Netflix series Gypsy and quietly began dating shortly thereafter. They made their red carpet debut as a couple in 2022 at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The pair married in 2023 at a New York City courthouse. Exactly a year later, Watts and Crudup threw a lavish wedding attended by their family and friends in Mexico City.

The King Kong actress shares two kids, Kai, 16, and Sasha, 18, with ex-husband Liev Schreiber. The Almost Famous actor is dad to son William Parker (with ex Mary-Louise Parker). 

Watts glowed as she took the stage on Hollywood Boulevard to accept the prestigious honor, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues. The ceremony was emceed by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Steve Nissen.

Billy Crudup, Naomi Watts, Sasha Schreiber.

 Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty

During her speech, Watts reflected on receiving the star at this point in her life and career, and why it feels particularly meaningful.

“I got started a bit later than some, at least by Hollywood standards, and I was always told, you know, you better work, work, work because it’ll all be finished by a certain age, which was, you know, at that point 40,” she tells PEOPLE. 

“And now you look at all of these women who are driving stories at my age and beyond. It’s heartening to see that narrative changing. We have plenty to give. We have plenty of stamina and this community needs to be reflected in storytelling and media in every place.”

Watts adds, “I’m so grateful to be part of the shift of that narrative. Let’s be done with those old archaic messages that are fed down to us from society.”

Meanwhile, while speaking at a podium in front of attendees, she explained what having her support system present meant to her.

“I’m so proud of my kids. My son Sasha, a freshman at USC [University of Southern California], is here straight from class,” Watts said as she smiled and looked over to him during her speech. 

“He rolled in, and he’s blossoming into the kindest, most charismatic young man,” she continued.

Watts also thanked daughter Kai, “a high school senior, who’s both fierce and fearless,” as well as her stepson Will “a young artist, following in his father’s footsteps” as he prepares to graduate from college. 

Before mentioning her two children, the Birdman actress gave a special nod to Crudup who “has shown me phenomenal love and support.”