Naomi Watts Gets Emotional as Son Sasha Leaves for College

Naomi Watts is soaking in an emotional milestone. She’s officially the mom of a college student. On Monday, August 18, the 56-year-old actress shared that her son, Sasha Schreiber, 18, was heading off to begin his freshman year at the University of Southern California, marking a bittersweet new chapter for their family.

(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

Watts marked the milestone on Instagram Stories, sharing a photo of herself clinging to Sasha as he stood surrounded by his college bags. Dressed in a tan jacket and jeans, Watts leaned her head on her son’s shoulder while he wrapped an arm around her. “Already [bawling],” she wrote over the photo, adding crying emojis.

In another picture, her daughter Kai, 16, hugged Sasha tightly before saying goodbye.

Schreiber Shares His Own Heartfelt Message

Sasha’s father, Liev Schreiber, also celebrated the milestone on Instagram. Posting a photo of himself with his son, the actor wrote, “Starting to feel the pull. Gonna miss my ride or die. Having said that, USC is gonna get one of the deepest, kindest, bravest and most beautiful boys I have ever known.”

In the snapshot, Sasha wore a dark plaid shirt while Schreiber stood beside him in a beige top and green pants, smiling with pride.

A Blended Family That Stays Close

Watts and Schreiber were together for 11 years before splitting in 2016, but the former couple has continued to prioritize their children. Both have since remarried: Watts to Billy Crudup and Schreiber to Taylor Neisen, yet they remain close for family milestones.

(Photo by Michael Tran / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)

They reunited in May for Sasha’s prom, came together again in June for his graduation, and in July celebrated his 18th birthday. “Happy birthday sweet, darling @sashapeteschreiber 18 today — and ready for the world! Cannot believe it,” Watts wrote on Instagram. “Have so loved watching you grow into the kindest, most wonderful young man. Thank you for making me a first time mum.”

A Special Bond With Both Parents

Sasha has remained close to both parents, even playing a special role in Watts’ life when he walked her down the aisle at her 2024 wedding to Crudup.

Earlier this year, Sasha joined both Watts and Schreiber at the 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards, where he celebrated his father’s win for “The Perfect Couple”. Sharing red carpet photos and videos from the night, he captioned his post, “So proud of my pops for this great accomplishment! (and mom for trying).”

Though he hasn’t yet commented on his college journey publicly, the milestone has already shown how loved and supported he is by both parents.

The post Naomi Watts Gets Emotional as Son Sasha Leaves for College appeared first on EntertainmentNow.