JESSICA WATSON: 'It hasn't been SMOOTHS AILING'

AFTER LOSING HER SOULMATE, JESS IS SET FOR HER NEXT ADVENTURE

- Lizzie Wilson

Jessica Watson was just 16 when she earned her place in the record books as the youngest solo person to sail around the world nonstop and unassisted.

It was 2009 and the teenage trailblazer, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, set out for 210 days over 34,000 kilometres, battling 10-metre-high waves and cyclonic winds.

Fast forward more than 10 years, and the once-shy girl is all grown-up. Turning 30 in May, Jess admits she's more nervous about the release of the upcoming movie based on her epic voyage than she was about circumnavigating the world!

On the eve of the premiere of Netflix's inspiring drama True Spirit, the same title as her successful biography, Jess tells New Idea: "It's been a surreal experience seeing chapters of my life recreated for all to see on the big screen - I never imagined I'd be sitting in a cinema watching little old me in a movie!

"It was a little unnerving, like having a caricature of yourself drawn but I admit it was eye-opening, and a lot of fun, to see the whole amazing project finally come together."