Naomi Watts Shares Her Favorite Memories of Late “Feud” Costar Treat Williams: ‘He Loved His Life’ (Exclusive)

Watts played Babe Paley, the wife of Williams' character Bill Paley on the FX series

Naomi Watts is opening up about what she learned from her late costar Treat Williams.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Feud: Capote vs. The Swans FYC Event in West Hollywood on Wednesday, May 29, Watts, 55, opened up about working with Williams in the drama series where she played the role of Babe Paley alongside Williams’ CBS co-founder character, Bill Paley.

“He was filled with gratitude,” she says. “I feel the gratitude in my 50s to have my hands on that kind of material with such a dynamic woman. He felt it. He had a birthday on set. I think he turned 71, and he just kept saying, ‘I can't believe I've got this. This is unbelievable.’ "

Related: Naomi Watts Recalls Nicole Kidman's Act of Generosity When They First Met at 15: 'Like the Sister I Never Had'

Watts adds, “So the gratitude and the joy that he felt sinking his teeth into this delicious material ... which we had moments where it was big rows that were filled with horrific insults and all kinds of things. But then we would have, when Babe is getting closer to the end of her life, these wonderfully bonding scenes, and he would just break down.”

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The actress explains she believes as one gets older they become “more sentimental.”

“He loved his life and it is senseless and tragic that he's not here, period,” Watts says. “But also that he's not here to enjoy the accolades, because I know he felt really good about doing it. So I'm just heartbroken that he's not able to witness the adoration with what he gave.”

Related: Treat Williams' Wife and Kids Remember the Actor 7 Months After His Death: 'He Was and Is Our Hero' (Exclusive)

Williams died in June 2023 at the age of 71 after being involved in a motorcycle accident.

"He was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off," the actor’s agent of 15 years Barry McPherson told PEOPLE at the time. "I'm just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented."

Following the news of Williams’ death, Watts said, “I'm so heartbroken by the news of Treat,” adding, “He was a true gentleman who always spoke so lovingly of his family."

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