Naomi Watts’ fight against menopause taboos

On August 20, Naomi Watts announced to the world via her Instagram account that she had written a book, Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause. Due out in January 2025, this book is different. Its approach is fresh and relevant. Affected by early perimenopause — her symptoms began at age 36, when the actress was planning to start a family — she has spent years fighting to break taboos and bring women’s issues to the table and onto the screen.

It all began when Watts, at age 36, was having trouble getting pregnant. Her doctor told her she was close to menopause. The Mulholland Drive star recalls via email how she felt at the time. “I was shocked. I didn’t know it was possible to enter perimenopause at such a young age. I felt so ashamed and scared. I was surprised at how little information I had been given about what was happening to me, and I felt so alone. I worried that my body would prevent me from fulfilling my dream of becoming a mother. Fortunately, I was able to have two beautiful children with the support of my doctors, but my symptoms—hot flashes, dry and itchy skin, mood swings—continued for many years after my children were born.”

The actress’s position in Hollywood, which heavily penalizes signs of the passage of time, became especially delicate. “From the day I entered this business, I was told that, as a woman, I should never draw attention to my age. Admitting that I was menopausal would make me undesirable and would make it impossible for me to get projects. Objectively, I knew that was nonsense, but I’m not going to lie: I was afraid of what it could mean for my career when I started sharing my story,” says Watts, who is not only interested in making her case visible, but in providing solutions. And that is exactly what her brand, Stripes Beauty, seeks.

The company makes and sells feminine beauty products focused on addressing the hormonal changes that come with age, from vaginal gels to vitamin supplements. “I couldn’t stop thinking that women my age deserved to feel seen and I wanted to have a brand that could cut through the confusion and provide support for all the symptoms, from head to toe, that we deal with. It was time to stop shopping at a million different stores and consulting 30 different websites for answers. My partner and I put together a proposal for a new company dedicated to bringing together education, community and solutions for all things menopause. We pitched it to an executive at a biotech company, and Stripes Beauty was born,” Watts recalls.

The company defines itself as pro-aging. Quite a statement of intent. “I’m not surprised when someone stops me on the street, it’s part of my job as an actress. But now, when someone approaches me, it’s almost always a woman who tells me how much Stripes means to her – how alone she felt in this and how much it matters that there are people talking about menopause. That means the world to me,” Watts explains. “I hope we can continue to serve our community – helping women feel seen and heard; providing solutions that support them from head to vagina and providing the education necessary to cope with this stage of their lives; bringing people together to create a community of support; and that we can bring a little fun and humor into our lives.” This summer, the investment fund L Catterton, associated with the LVMH Group, acquired Stripes Beauty.

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