Michelle Williams’ Last Interview Before Heath Ledger’s Death
February 14th, 2008
Before Heath Ledger’s tragic death last month, Michelle Williams sat down with British magazine Wonderland. The issue has just hit newsstands.
In the interview, Michelle, 27, briefly opens up about her split from Heath, as well as how daughter Matilda, 2, has changed her life.
Eerily, she also talks about shooting a movie, where she pays a woman grieving over the loss of her husband.
ON SPLITTING WITH HEATH
“When you’re in a relationship with somebody who is also a public personality then it doubles the attention from the media. When you minus that equation it’s just less enticing. That’s been a real bonus. It’s the plus side of the break-up for me. It was so pervading, it got bad there for a while. Every time I walk out of the door I still worry. That’s what is so silly about it: even if the paparazzi aren’t there, you wonder if they are. I’m not good at that stuff. I need to get better at it. It really used to affect me.”
ON HOW MOTHERHOOD HAS CHANGED HER
“I feel like I didn’t have any relationship with my body before Matilda. Well, I did, but it was just a bad one. After having my daughter I can’t judge myself in the same way. My body has done this totally miraculous but utterly ordinary thing. The downside is that my vocabulary has shrunk to the size of a pea. Since having a kid I just don’t have the same access to the world. I don’t see as many shows, I don’t go to many movies and I hardly read any books anymore. I’m lucky to make it through a book a month. So you start to develop in a much more non-verbal way, which can be so frustrating. Also there’s been a lot going on in my personal life and part of me is… I don’t know. I shouldn’t talk about it but it’s like I’m re-emerging back into the world or something.”
ON BALANCING WORK AND MOTHERHOOD
“It’s not easy. Last April I was over in London doing a movie called Incendiary with Ewan McGregor. It’s about a woman grieving after losing her husband and son in a terrorist attack. It was a brutal role and arduous: six-day weeks, 14 hour-days. I was like the walking dead towards the end. Matilda would visit me everyday on-set for lunch and I’d race home to put her to bed. My only days off were Sundays and as much as I’d want to pass out, I’d try to take her out somewhere fun so she didn’t associate me with boredom. The only time that is really my own these days is after I’ve put her to bed and until I go to bed. That’s about two hours.”
ON LOOKING FORWARD TO HER 30s
“I don’t really have a concept of my 30s. Obviously so much has changed for me in the last few months that I don’t really have an idea of what my life is going to be. I thought I knew certain things and it turned out that I didn’t so I don’t really try and anticipate so much anymore. I’m not making any bets on the future. I feel like I’m just starting to catch up to my age. 27 years old sounds about right now. For a long time I didn’t really relate to my age because I was working so much when I was 16 and I had a child at 24. I always felt way too young for my situation. Now it’s starting to even out.”
ON BEING A WORKAHOLIC
“Sometimes I wonder but I’m very happy at home just reading a book or pottering about. I love domestic life. I’m really my mother’s daughter. I like needlepoint, folding laundry and baking bread. I can be happy doing that stuff for a long time. But right now the work is so good and the opportunities are so remarkable - they’re what I’ve always hoped for - that it’s hard to pass up. You always wonder how long the good roles will keep coming.”
ON BEING AN INTROVERT
“It’s a generalization but actors are either extroverts or introverts, it’s true. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about why I act because I think of myself as more of an introvert. I embarrass easily. I have such problems with people looking at me. So I think, ‘Why do I do this to myself? Why do I do something so public?’ But I never expected it to be this public. It does seem like a funny choice for somebody who doesn’t really like attention.”
ON GROWING UP ON TV
“I was 16 when I started. It’s a strange record to have of those awkward years. It was a very important time for my personal development. When I came onto that show I didn’t have any taste or values. Doing that show gave me self-esteem and my work ethic. But, weirdly enough, it also gave me some privacy to develop my ideas about who I was as an actress and what I did and did not want to do.”
ON SKIPPING KATIE HOLMES’ WEDDING
“Everybody wants to know that. No, I didn’t go because I was working on The Tourist. To be honest, we’re not really in touch.”
Entry Filed under: Michelle Williams & Heath Ledger
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1. boo | February 14th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I feel such heartache for her!!! Its truly Devestating :( I’m still saddened and shocked over Heath’s Death…..So I can’t imagine what Michelle & Matilda are going through? The Poor Baby has to be wondering by now where Daddy is now and why he hasn’t come to see her in the past few weeks?? Its Just extremely Heartbreaking :( I hope She/They will be ok!!!
2. carleigh | February 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I admire Michelle for her tact and sensitivity. She is a great actress and she also has a very realistic approach to her life, I believe she is going to be fine and she will do a great job of raising Matilda and getting them both through this difficult situation.
I wish only the best for her and that she finds her peace in life.
3. Amy | February 14th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I love how honest she is…and REAL. You can always tell she’s not into the hoop-la with being famous. That’s what drew Heath/Michelle together–neither liked the spotlight; they liked living their ordinary/authentic lives as they saw them; and shared a great many other things in common we (the public) shall never know (besides the obvious: acting).
She sounds matured…I only wish her a small or large piece of solace and peace as each day goes by after Heath’s passing.
I am still reeling over it, as many of you are. Michelle will be strong, for she loves Matilda and has a part of Heath in Matilda to hold onto.
Hugs Michelle/Matilda…
A
4. Jacquie | February 14th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
She is fantastic! I loved her on Dawsons Creek and continue to do so. Matilda is very lucky to have Michelle as a Mom.
5. luckylee13 | February 14th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Heath’s death is still sad and shocking to me,too.Michelle certainly has a good head on her shoulders and Heath’s family seems so close and loving - I’m sure they’ll give the two of them a lot of support through the years. The thought that this little girl will never see her daddy again still brings tears to my eyes.
6. Tootsie | February 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Such a classy woman!
7. oriana | February 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I can get her mind off of everything……..I have been known to ALL my LEZBO friends as WONDERWOMAN.
8. oriana | February 14th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Again, just pitiful when someone steals another person’s name!
I do admire Michelle and I pray she will continue to be strong and be uplifted. It is still a shock to me about Heath, I can only imagine what it is to her and Matilda. It just one of the saddest things to me and it was a tragedy indeed.
#7, Shut your filthy mouth!!!!!
9. madelyn | February 14th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
very sweet
10. Meg | February 14th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
My heart goes out to them.
11. jennifer | February 14th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I cannot understand you guys,Heath and Michelle split,that means
they found out they had nothing in common,besides they couldn’t
get along with eachother so what is all fuss about worrying 4 Michelle
on Heath’s dead,I mean michelle decided to go on her way why then
you are worried about how can she deal with his loss in her life.
O.K this is true about Matilda but I cannot understand the fuss over Michelle’s life.
12. nanda | February 14th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Imagine you’re tweenty-seven and the father of your only daughter, who has only two years, die without nobody expecting it and you only break-up five monts ago… yes jennifer, you would feel very well
13. Lauren | February 14th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
I admire Michelle for being classy throughout this whole ordeal. She seems so much more mature than 27
14. Tia :) | February 15th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Jennifer, irregardless if they broke up, they shared something scared together. They had a daughter. Michelle is hurting right now for what they once had and their daughter that has to grow up without a daughter. nanda was right, the break-up is still fresh, of course it’s going to hurt. She’ll probably always love him.
15. celine | February 15th, 2008 at 8:59 am
she’s a cool one. good woman. i like how she gives it to that silly thing kati holmes, who by the way remember how she said yeah they keep in touch and people have had babies etc so that’s what they share. lies. she said this last month while promoting her silly movie.
16. jennifer | February 15th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I also thought Katie and Michelle were in touch as Katie sounded so.
WEIRD
17. Taylor Mastronni | February 15th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I am so sad for her, Matilda and Heath. It’s incredibly sad that Heath will never be able to see his little angel grow up.
:( My sincere and heartfelt condolences.
18. Malayka | February 15th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Jennifer # 16 Katie just said that Michelle is a mysterious sweetheart, has never said they keep in touch. I am so sad for Michelle, she is a tough cookie.
19. jennifer | February 15th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Malayka thanks 4 the information:)
20. Mia-pocca | February 16th, 2008 at 9:05 am
See its only katie holmes who pretends she is touch with people who are not in touch with her…ahahhahahha…the cruises are showing their a-r-se-s..ahahha
21. Mia-pocca | February 16th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Malayk ais just another schiller for the cult…katoe holmes SAID she keeps in touch..and she shows up at a funeral of someone she hardly knows so hey can commandeer all the police in LA ..such an atrocious couple..
http://www.tmz.com/category/tom-and-katie/