People often confuse Michelle Williams and Carey Mulligan. I get it. They both chopped off their hair around the same time, both can be overly “precious” and too girlish and wispy. Both have sometimes sketchy styles. Both seem obsessed with “the Mia Farrow look” – meaning Mia Farrow’s most identifiable look in the 1970s, circa Rosemary’s Baby – the short hair, the school-girl style. Both Carey and Michelle are talented actresses with Oscar nominations under their belts, and their pick amongst the independent-film scripts (I actually think Carey is more mainstream than Michelle, though). And Carey and Michelle actually do look rather similar, although I would describe Carey as more “elfin” and Michelle as more standard-issue “pretty”.
But there are significant differences – one is British and one sometimes speaks in a hokey fake accent in interviews. One is moving past the Mia Farrow look and one isn’t. And… that’s about it, as far as superficial differences go. In any case, Michelle and Carey were both at last night’s Hollywood Film Awards. Both had short blonde hair. Both wore dark dresses (Michelle‘s is technically navy, but looks black in many photos). Both were promoting films that will likely be up for awards this year, and both received awards at the ceremony (Michelle for My Week With Marilyn, and Carey for Shame). And on and on…
Michelle must have gotten Stacy Keibler’s memo about sheer skirts, because Michelle wore this Nina Ricci gown that actually seemed uncharacteristically “sexy”. Usually Michelle hates to show off her figure. I don’t particularly like the gown, but I like that Michelle is trying to mix it up. I absolutely hate Michelle’s current cropped haircut, though.
Meanwhile, Carey Mulligan wore this black Bottega Veneta. If I’m doing a comparison with Michelle’s Nina Ricci, I like Carey’s so much better. I just think it’s a cute dress, appropriate for her age, and it’s sexy without being over the top. I like Carey’s current hair too – but I hate her makeup job here. The eyes are too dark and the lip is too nude.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I generally always favor Carey over Michelle but on this night, Michelle wins. Although I do like CM’s dress, her hair and makeup and not looking good at all. She looks tired and unwell in these pics.
Michelle!
I think they are looks equals. Both totally pretty and always dressed really cute.
Michelle is boring both as a person and as actress, her roles in Brokeback Mountain and Blue Valentine as a bored unhappy wife is the same and she played it in the same manner.
I’m going with Michelle…I think she’s had this haircut for a while and it suits her. I prefer her dress as well, she looks a lot more fresh than Carey who is 5 years younger!
I love both of them! They have both chosen such interesting films during the course of their careers and have never fallen into the starlet trap. I think they both look great. I have to go with Carey, though, because after every sentence I read about her I added “and she’s engaged to Marcus Mumford” in my head.
i love Michelle’s dress and her hair cut, i think she looks super sexy, and not whorish ( is that a word?).
They have different hairstyles.
It seems like Michelle is sticking to the short hair.
Carey is at an akward stage with her hair where it isn’t too short but not long yet.
I know the feeling of waiting for your hair to grow only too well.
Oh come on, Carey’s dress is so meh, so not pretty or sexy, just boring.
Meanwhile Michelle is stunning in that dress, finally she stopped with those unflattering goodgirls dresses.
I like Michelle here. I have seen several of Carey’s films and I don’t find her impressive or charismatic. This might change after I see Shame because she is supposed to be wonderful in it.
i like both of them! carey much more in general, but michelle’s make-up & hair looks so nicely done here! simple, clean and tasteful.
for me, there is too much going on material-wise with carey’s dress, purse and shoes-combo. same goes for her hair (different colors, hard to match her eyebrows, too many sparkles). but that’s just some minor complaints. all in all she looks as lovely as always. and she has marcus mumford as a great plus!
Michelle. She is so pretty to me.
They both look amazing, I keep going back and forth. Such gorgeous skin. I like Michelle with the short blonde hair but think she looks better with less bang/fringe.
I love them both, both are so talented and such a refreshing change from the usual Hollywood type.
Sorry, much as I can’t take Michelle (what about hollywood did she survive? Drama Queen!) DO NOT like Carey Mulligan at all. She does look more boy than girl. Is that the look she was going for?
neither of these girls have beautiful faces, sorry. whereas mia had and still has stunning facial feautures. so she could rock that vidal sassoon hair as you have to have a great face to rock really short hair.
” whereas mia had and still has stunning facial feautures. so she could rock that vidal sassoon hair as you have to have a great face to rock really short hair. ”
I agree. They should try for more ” personal” look, something that is just right for them.
Anyway, i really like the Carey dress, here. I think that she usually dress too ” mature” for her age, too ” serious”. But this dress is very cute.
dresses up
Michelle
michelle no longer looks like a 9 yr old boy! finally! she wins.
carey mulligan.
Both great actresses. Apart from the short hair, I don’t get the comparison. They don’t even fall in to the same age group.
Mia Farrow did the Mia Farrow thing the best.
I LOVE Carey Mulligan – love her voice, love her maturity, love that she seems like a genuine person – but yeah, the make-up is not working at all.
Why does it matter? They have similar shaped faces (same as Mia’s) so this cut looks good on both…
Michelle’s outfit is the better one here imo but in the battle of the blondes I’ll take Carey. Although I think she’s a fine actress, there’s just something about Michelle’s personality that I find off-putting. I dunno if it’s the little-girl-lost vibe or that she just comes off a little too precious and twee but Carey seems the more genuine person. (Loved her chemistry with Ryan Gosling in Drive)
They look like they could be sisters.
Carey forever! (even though her face and hair look a bit sad in these photos)
omg this is boring. who cares?
Michelle looks much fresher. Careys make-up is too heavy, unflattering and old-fashioned, its making her look a lot older than she is
Michelle.
I dont understand why people are going crazy & saying she copied Carey- Michelle had the pixie years ago after she gave birth to her daughter