In May 2010, at the age of 16, Australian sailor Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.
The voyage, which took 210 days, saw her battle intense conditions — including her yacht Ella’s Pink Lady losing its mast after colliding with a bulk carrier — and surviving seven knockdowns on her 33-foot vessel.
When she returned back to her home of Sydney, Australia, Watson, who was just three days shy of her seventeenth birthday, was heralded a hero. However, she never saw it that way.
In her head, she was just an “ordinary person, who had a dream, worked hard at it and proved that anything really is possible”.
Her success inspired the nation with more than 75,000 people, including the Prime Minister, turning out to welcome her home.
According to Variety, streaming service Netflix has announced it will now be developing a feature film based on Watson’s journey and her memoir True Spirit.
The biopic will be directed and written by Sarah Spillane (This Life) alongside The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants writer, Cathy Randall, and Watson will serve as a consultant.
In a statement, Watson, who is now 27, said it was “quite humbling” to have her story brought to life.
“I hope that the film inspires people around the world to try sailing and to also pursue their own adventures. I’m thrilled that it will be directed by Sarah and supported by such a strong production team,” she said.
Watson released a self-filmed documentary in 2011 called 210 Days which was voiced by Virgin founder, Richard Branson. She was also named Young Australian of the Year in 2011 and received an Order of Australian Medal in 2012.
There’s no word on who will play the role of a young Watson, although we’re hoping a young unknown Australian will fit the bill.
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