Designer Spills Beans on Naomi Pregnancy, Liev Confirms

Canada

Designer Spills Beans on Naomi Pregnancy, Liev Confirms

Tue., Feb. 27, 2007 12:35 PM PST by Gina Serpe

Don't count on Naomi Watts appearing as the face of Escada anytime soon.

While the Australian thesp has spent the past few weeks responding to increasing stork watch queries over her expanding belly with a steady stream of "no comments," her work was rendered naught as the Italian design house outed her.

In a publicity gaffe for the record books, Escada, whose couture was modeled by Watts at the Academy Awards, released a statement Sunday afternoon touting their newest design and inadvertently spilling the beans on Watts' pregnancy.

"The Escada gown sets off her most precious new asset—the baby she is expecting with longtime boyfriend Liev Schreiber," read the press release, sent to outlets including E! News.

Oops.

Watts, either unaware of the gaffe or showing renewed commitment to remaining mum, did not discuss her impending delivery on her red carpet walk, choosing instead to express her excitement over the night's festivities.

The 38-year-old actor also notably did not stroll down the carpet with Schreiber, instead choosing to take a turn with longtime pal Nicole Kidman.

But by Monday night, there was no doubt.

Schreiber confirmed the news during an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, accepting the host's congratulations.

"Yes, I'm going to be a dad," the actor said. "Very exciting."

Schreiber also said that he "gave grief" to Watts over her sudden yearning to attend to Oscars with a bun in the oven, to which Watts replied, per Schreiber, "'No, no—it's a very auspicious thing that our embryo is going to be at the Oscars.' "

As for potential names for the baby, whose sex has not been disclosed, Schreiber said simply, "I'm trying to stay out of it. I'm trying not to make any decisions, [because] everything that I try to do in service of her or the coming baby is wrong. So I really don't even go to my house much anymore."

Of course, while Schreiber may have no preference for what the tot may be called, at least for certain it won't be a junior.

Schreiber went on to deem his own first name as just "awful."

"It's probably the most oft-mispronounced name in showbiz," he said.

Watts and Schreiber, 39, have been dating since 2005 and recently appeared together in the Oscar-nominated The Painted Veil.