Actor Michelle Williams Works from a ‘Place of Peace’
Jan 7, 2024
auto_awesome
Brilliant actor Michelle Williams discusses her partnership with director Kelly Reichardt, her upbringing in Montana and San Diego, and her experiences on the sets of Dawson's Creek and Brokeback Mountain. She reflects on the healing power of Rebecca Solnit's book and shares insights into her performances in Blue Valentine and My Week with Marilyn. Williams also talks about her journey as a mother and creating from a place of peace.
Michelle Williams emphasizes the importance of creating a peaceful and magical upbringing for her children based on her own childhood experiences in Montana and San Diego.
Williams reflects on the shift in her acting approach from naturalism to expressionism and discusses the significance of exploring diverse roles and characters to challenge herself as an artist.
Deep dives
The power of childhood memories and the desire for a magical upbringing
Michelle Williams reflects on the importance of childhood memories and the desire to create a magical upbringing for her children, drawing from her own experiences in Montana and San Diego.
The evolution of her acting career and the search for artistic expression
Williams discusses the shift in her acting approach, moving from naturalism to expressionism, and the importance of exploring different roles and characters to push herself as an artist, particularly in films like Blue Valentine and Marilyn.
The impact of grief and loss on her personal and professional life
Williams candidly shares how personal experiences of grief, including the loss of Heath Ledger, have influenced her work and shaped her perspective on life, art, and self-acceptance.
Redefining motherhood and finding a sense of peace
As a mother of three, Williams reflects on her journey as a parent, the challenges of balancing work and family, and the importance of creating a sense of peace and playfulness in her children's lives.
As we begin the new year, we're returning to our conversation with brilliant actor Michelle Williams.
We walk through the making of Showing Up (6:05), Williams’ fifteen-year partnership with director Kelly Reichardt (8:10), and her upbringing in Montana and San Diego (10:42). Then, she describes coming of age on the set of Dawson’s Creek (14:50), her pivotal turn in Tracy Letts’ Killer Joe (20:00), and her path to Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain (26:10).
On the back-half, we discuss a healing passage from Rebecca Solnit’s A Field Guide to Getting Lost (29:37), Williams’ memorable performances in Blue Valentine (32:12) and My Week with Marilyn (37:47), and her final day shooting The Fabelmans (40:50). To close, she shares how she remains present as a mother (45:40), a formative Walt Whitman quote (47:22), and how—at age 42—she’s begun to create from “a place of peace.” (50:36).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, drop me a line at sf@talkeasypod.com.