Jessica Watson on True Spirit, the new film about her incredible journey

When Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbour in May 2010, three days before her 17th birthday, the teenager was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters. Having spent 210 days alone at sea, Watson had circumnavigated the globe and, via her blog, gained a worldwide following of fans. She had left the country under a barrage of criticism that she was too young, too ill-prepared to undertake such a perilous journey, and returned to the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd waiting at the harbour to tell her, “You may feel a little wobbly on your feet just now, but in the eyes of all Australians you now stand tall as our newest Australian hero.” Inspiring stuff — especially for the country’s young people, who Watson went on to represent as Young Australian of the Year. Now Watson’s story is set to inspire a new generation, with the 29-year-old’s remarkable journey being turned into a film, True Spirit, something the adventurer is still getting her head around. “It’s just such a crazy thing to happen,” Watson tells PLAY. “I don’t think I ever really believed it, even seeing the set, it was just sort of — what?! — only since I’ve seen it on the big screen in the last few days that I have realised that, yep, this really happened.” Watson is played by Teagan Croft, star of superhero series Titans. True Spirit depicts a determined young Watson solemnly informing her somewhat credulous parents of her intention to become the youngest person to sail around the world solo and unassisted. Does the now-adult Watson look at her childhood determination with the same amazement her parents once did? “Looking at young me being so serious about these things is like — do kids really say that?” Watson says with a laugh. “Well, some kids do. And it’s been a realisation for me that not all kids are so serious about these things and that’s good. Good on them. They should be just having fun. But some kids are ready and serious and focused. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, that’s for sure. But there are a lot of determined young people out there.” Perhaps because every movie needs a villain, the journalists and child protection officials who raised doubts about Watson’s audacious plan are cast as the bad guys in True Spirit, although Watson says she can understand why the doubters had concerns. “I don’t think I was ever actually completely dismissive of those people,” she says. “I was very single-mindedly focused at the time — you absolutely have to be — but that was not without an awareness of where people were coming from. It’s so lovely that they were so concerned!” she says. “I absolutely appreciate that. But at the same time, you have got to live. You’ve got to take on adventures.” Watson says it was surreal watching Croft become a teenage version of herself. She says while there is some dramatic licence taken, she was surprised just how true to life the film is. “It’s strange because it is its own thing, but there are moments that are so real,” she says. “That’s actually unnerving. Hearing Teagan — well, Teagan playing me — talking about the world being tough but beautiful, it’s really full on to hear that and be touched and inspired by that now.” Watson admits her teenage exploits have become a defining point in her life, and although she now does “a normal, sensible desk job that I absolutely love”, she doesn’t mind rehashing her great adventure for those who want to hear about it. “I’m at a point luckily where I’ve made peace with that and gone, ‘you know what? It’s actually not about me, get over yourself Jess and just tell the stories that people want to hear because they enjoy it and just go with it,’” she says. “It’s probably what it would be like to be a musician being asked to play that famous, iconic song that a band always gets requested. Just let people enjoy it.” True Spirit is aimed at teenage audiences who would have been infants when Watson first made headlines. Watson says she hopes the film can inspire people in the same way her original journey did. “I hope it’s uplifting,” she says. “And I hope it’s a moment to go, ‘hey, look how cool sailing is’.” True Spirit is available to view on Netflix now.

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Jessica Watson on True Spirit, the new film about her incredible journey