Circumnavigator Jessica Watson is ‘so proud’ as she shares exciting news

Not every celebrity is happy about movies being made about their lives, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with Australian sailing icon Jessica Watson.

The 29-year-old, who attempted to circumnavigate the world in 2009 at the age of just 16, has had her remarkable story adapted into a Netflix film called True Spirit.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: True Spirit trailer released

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And Watson was keen to bring the fact to the attention of her social media followers by posting a trailer for the film on her Instagram page.

“Official trailer!” she wrote. “So proud of everyone involved! Some of @teegancroft’s lines ring so true to me today – it’s a little unnerving in a nice way.

“True Spirit is on Netflix February 3.”

In the film, Watson is played by Australian actress and Titans star Teegan Croft, with Anna Paquin as her mother, Julie Watson, and Josh Lawson as Jessica’s father, Roger Watson.

The film is based on Watson’s book of the same name, which was published in 2010.

Although Watson did not quite reach the 21,600 nautical miles required to complete a full circumnavigation of the world, she was awarded an Order of Australia medal and inducted into the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame.

The trailer for True Spirit shows her struggling with shocking conditions at sea as the ordeal struggles with fear and loneliness, and press coverage of Watson’s journey, with one reporter suggesting her parents are irresponsible for making her the voyage let.

Despite the difficulties of the endeavor, Watson looks back on her accomplishment triumphant and proud.

Watson’s followers loved the trailer for the film.

“So exciting Jess!” wrote Turia Pitt.

“Congratulations! So cool to see,” wrote another follower.

“I followed you the whole journey,” wrote one fan.

“I bought your book as soon as it came out!

“Now I can’t wait to see that (maybe with a box of tissues)!”

Set in Queensland, the film has experienced several filming delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But it seems the wait was worth it, as Watson’s followers are dying to see it once it hits Netflix.

“So excited to see it! You are such a brave person to go it alone,” one fan wrote.

“Congratulations on your awards and accomplishments ma’am. You are really inspirational.”

“An amazing story and very inspiring, really looking forward to checking it out!” said another.

However, not everything has gone smoothly for Watson since her incredible journey.

She lost her partner Cameron Dale in August 2021 after he suffered a catastrophic stroke resulting from undiagnosed high blood pressure.

But sailing – Watson’s first love – helped her emerge from a black hole of depression after Dale’s shock death.

Finding solace in wind and water gave her “a strong desire to be alive,” she said in a recent article for The Australian.

Watson also recently celebrated becoming an aunt again when her sister Hannah gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Thea.

Watson took to Instagram in late December to share the good news.

“Niece number 2,” she captioned a sweet photo of Hannah, Thea and their big sister.

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