Michelle Williams is the cover girl for the October issue of Vogue. The piece is called “Triumph After Tragedy” with Michelle‘s big quote “I feel hopeful and grateful” on the cover. As far as the cover shot and the rest of the images – all done by the brilliant Mario Testino – I’m not loving it. In my opinion, Michelle looks so much prettier with long hair, and I can’t help but think this short crop, plus the sort-of retro styling, gives Michelle a very “Mia Farrow circa Rosmary’s Baby” vibe. If that’s your thing, God bless. But I could think of much better looks for Michelle.
The full interview is at Vogue’s style site, but Us Weekly pulled the most interesting quotes. I tend to think Michelle is probably a very eccentric, quiet, almost fragile woman, but she surprised me in the interview. She opened about Heath Ledger and his death, and why she hasn’t talked to the press very much since his death.
More than a year after his tragic death, Michelle Williams opens up about losing Heath Ledger.
“I didn’t know what my boundaries were for a long time, which made interviews feel very unsafe,” Williams, 29, says in Vogue’s October issue (on newsstands now) about her former boyfriend, who died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 28 in January 2008.
She adds: “I can talk about grief because that’s mine, about single parenting, about trying to balance work and kids. But what I don’t have to talk about is what happened between Heath and me in our relationship.”
She and Ledger — who met while filming Brokeback Mountain — dated for three years before they amicably split in August 2007. The duo had a daughter, Matilda Rose, 3.
“Brokeback Mountain was an unrepeatable moment in time, a very charmed time in my life,” she tells Vogue. “I was in love. I was in a movie I was proud to be a part of, and with a beautiful brand-new baby. Everything was good in that moment.”
When he died, she struggled to cope.
“I was holding it together by a string and a paper clip in the fall and winter,” she says. “I didn’t know if I could keep it all together… You console yourself by saying it’s all a deepening process. But it’s wired. After the first year, the pain is less intense — it’s less immediate. But the magical thinking goes away too. And that’s a whole new reckoning.”
Still, their child provided her strength.
“Every time I really miss him and wonder where he’s gone, I just look at her,” she says.
On her relationship with Matilda, Michelle says, “I’m falling more and more in love with her and I think she deserves the bulk of my attention. We’re lucky. I can work. She can go to a good school. There’s a lot there for her. And she can know her dad in so many ways, and so many of his friends who will be able to tell her so many stories. His friends, his family—they were a big part of his life, and they will be a big part of her life.”
Of the future, she says: “I feel hopeful and grateful. For a while I thought we had lost everything. It makes you want to love better and live better.”
[From Us Weekly]
The author of the piece, Sally Singer, claims that Michelle’s grief was twofold: “There was death, but before that there was the loss of her partner and the dream of an intact family, a loss that Williams, it’s pretty clear, did not want.” Fascinating. Because in Vanity Fair’s August cover story about Heath, his friends made the year before his death (the year in which he and Michelle were separated and perhaps very estranged) sound very, very different.
Michelle also confirmed to Vogue that she is no longer dating director (and ex-husband of Sofia Coppola) Spike Jonze, who she was with for about a year. Michelle says about her brief romance with Jonze: “The timing was impossible. I thought falling in love again was the only thing that was going to save me from the pain. This erroneous idea: It just makes things more complicated.” Michelle admits that “obviously [I] don’t know how to” date as a single parent. That’s sad. I thought she and Spike were still together. Who would Michelle be good with? I’m thinking Ryan Gosling… or maybe someone a bit older and wiser, like… maybe Edward Norton? Hey, they would be really cute together!
Header via CoverAwards. Other images from Style.com
At least she realizes it’s a learning process. That will work more in her favor than anything else.
I like the hair. I think it’s cute, but I’ll never understand why people go with such dark eyebrows and blond hair.
Maybe Michelle just needs to be with her daughter right now and with her acting. She is young, pretty and has plenty of time to find someone down the road. There is no need for her to rush into being with someone. She had a tragic loss and it takes time to get your bearings after something jolts your life like that.
She seems like such a genuinely lovely person.
She has sad eyes.Maybe now that Matilda is growing she realizes all the things that Heath is missing and not being able to share with him their daughters day by day accomplishments must be tough.
It doesn’t matter that they were separated or that his drug problems where an issue to what happened between both of them , at the end of the day what matters is that this little girl hasn’t a daddy to run home to and tell her all the great things that happened to her and it must be sad for Michelle to realize that.It’s not as when you are divorced and you have some contact.
Maybe in all that caos Spike was someone she could hold on while trying to cope for Matildas best.When i got separated i was a mess ,truly depressed but was lucky to have found a great guy that was there for my daughter and was a great role model whom she could look up to or trust until i was “back”.For being there on those hard times i will be forever grateful and my daughter too.
You keep on Michelle ,i believe you are an awesome down to earth mom and Matildas face reflects that shes coping just fine or at least she will be ok.
I love her. Her strength is really amazing, I really admire her. She sounds like a wonderful mom, and the dating thing will happen when she’s ready.
It’s a lovely photoshoot; she looks like a gorgeous, gamine pixie. I didn’t like Dawson’s Creek, and she was the only thing that didn’t make me want to throw bricks at the telly when it was on.
It’s a shame she’s not with Spike – I think they might have made a good couple, perhaps in a year or two. Mind you, herself and Edward Norton would make a fab couple as well.
Her face is crazy gorgeous. Who cares about her hair.
Guys, she may be complete without a man. Heath may have been…the love of her life. We occasionally sneer at that, at people who don’t or can’t move on, but to her, she may not need to find someone new. She seems to have had that moment in time so many people strive for and few find: A great romance, a shining career, and a child. Few people get all three at the same moment, and anything less than that moment may just be a pale substitute.
It may just be me but I kind of get a Twiggy vibe with the new hair. I like it.
Egad … she’s an EX of a guy who died of a drug overdose – and quite some time ago to boot!
I hope it’s just the media milking this “oh po’ piteous Michelle” angle … but I see she’s doing it too.
If her EX was someone non-famous -do you think there’d be any articles on “her pain and struggle”? -No suh.
This wasn’t a guy who died in her arms, they were long done.
And their kid? -kid won’t miss what she never knew (except kid’s going to be asking “why do I look like this and not you?” (poor thing).
Well, all I can guess is maybe this chick just doesn’t hold interest without having to drum up her deceased famous ex.
I like her hair, too.
she is SO pretty that she really doesn’t “need” the hair to add to or complement her look.
man or no, I hope she can find peace and happiness.
She seems to live her life with grace and self-awareness. I too wish her peace and happiness.
Say what? Because that’s my opinion?
Tell me why I should be ashamed. Because my opinion does not fit yours or the majority?
Is this a private club …. did I miss paying the dues?
Would my address and birth name make my opinion more valid?
Does your screen name “Lois” indicate your integrity of commentary? Should I use my first name, would that appease you?
Here, my name is Alan, does that help? Am I no longer anonymous, Lois?
… moderator -if Lois’s post (as was written)is gone, please dispose of this reply as well.
Well congratulations Sol, truly. And your daughter too- for finding someone to help with the onslaught of lonliness. It can truly suck.
I think she looks quite pretty with the layout. but then, I always thought she was pretty-not a stunner but pretty.
And was there something going on with the above posts? the dialogue got a bit confusing……
@Popcorny: my ex died 10 years (to the date) after we broke up. He was the love of my life and, 4 years after that, I can still cry my eyes out about it. That pain will only fade, never go away. I hope you don’t have to learn compassion the hard way.
If the confusing dialogue begins in my (2nd) post, it’s because I was told I typified the “anonymous” poster and ought to “be ashamed” of myself, and so forth, by another poster/blogger who did not like my opinion (1st post of mine).
I replied, meanwhile the poster either changed or deleted their post ( that was taking me to task).
Not a big deal and sorry for the confusion if it started with me/my post.
I hear you, Buena, but my point is that EVERY time I hear of this actress, since Heath passed, it revolves around Heath’s passing.
Wow, Popcorny!! I wouldn’t like to have an on-line discussion with you!
You have no mercy!! : D
I LOVE her hair short! I think she is one of the few who looks better with it short, and carries it off beautifully. I wish I could do that! However, with the styling of this Vogue piece, she looks way too much like Sienna Miller. The hairstyling they did, plus the darkened brows– Sienna around the time of her own short haircut.
I do have mercy.
Heath passed nearly 2 years ago. That was sad. Mercy for everyone.
So, years have passed and yet still every article Williams appears in revolves around Heath (who was her Ex).
No, I’m not still dropping flowers at her feet or thinking/speaking of her in hushed funeral tones … and I don’t think that makes me unmerciful.
My favorite film of Michelle Williams’ is called “Me Without You”, a mostly British film about two girls’ complicated friendship. It’s sad, funny & sweet, and she does wonderful work in it. Rent/buy it if you haven’t seen it!
That Vanity Fair piece was a cruel hit job. They tried to turn a bunch of hearsay accounts, from only people ‘on Ledger’s side’, of what any divorce that included a child and an addiction would involve, into some big cruel plot against a fragile and defenseless Ledger. It read like hooey.
Can she be any cuter?? Cute as a button! I was a big fan of Dawson’s Creek but didn’t like her in it-but she has definitely grown on me. I hope she finds happiness.
She is so pretty I love her eyes.
@ Popcorny
I believe this is the first interview where she has spoken in depth about how she is feeling & how she dealt with Heath’s passing so obviously Heath was being brought up. I don’t see her pulling any sympathy card at all & as far as the ‘kid’ not missing out anything, are you kidding me?!
& chill the hell out! no one is attacking you because you don’t agree with the majority its just that your rationality sucks.
Maybe it isn’t me who should “chill the hell out” -considering I’m not, nor ever was, “attacking” another poster.
-talk about rationality that sucks!
Popcorny – I get your point. In the full Vogue interview, she spends a lot of time talking about Heath and her grief. I gave her a break because I do think she’s a very fragile sort of person, and I do think she’s struggling with raising Matilda as a single parent.
i love her hair short – she has a delicate face so i think it works. she seems like a great mother and i’m glad she is working through the difficulty of heath’s death. i love that movie “me without you” too!
Oh please, I gave you what you were begging for: an argument. So stop trying to act like you were offended by what I said. Anybody who has lost a loved one would have taken offense to your comment.
Maybe I came on a little too strong & for that I do apologize but you were poking on my wound there.
@ prettytarheelfan – I get your point totally, and ordinarily I would totally agree with you. Any man isn’t better than no man. Women really shouldn’t need to feel like they must have someone. But, it is nice.
@ popcorny. I also get your point about treating her with kid gloves and hushed reverential tones. It’s fair and to a large extent I agree with you. In their case the split was comparatively recent and perhaps there was some hope they’d get back together?
But I think what others are reacting against mostly is your point about Matilda not missing what she never had, is completely inaccurate.
I’ve friends who lost a parent at a young age, either through death or the parent left. Especially with those whose parent died, it’s a pall and a loss in their life they feel very keeny. One girl whose dad died when she was two and she used to talk about him a lot to keep what little memory she had of him alive. And this was the 70s, long before video cameras were commonplace, so each memory was precious. They missed what they never had very much.
Before I go crawl back under my rock to heal from these purse lumps … I misjudged her age and I was wrong about the emotional/psychological impact. And perhaps I was a little crass in pointing out that the child is not as “visually pleasing” as her mother is (but, it’s true and I’m sure there isn’t one person that hasn’t occured to).
Anyway, was not looking for an “argument” or to stir “wounds”(?), just said the first few things that popped to mind -and had I’d noticed the solidarity of all things Michelle Williams, it wouldn’t have changed much.
“I Am Not a Monster!” …. *trudge* … *trudge* …
;^)
I get your point, Popcorny. You’re not a monster. You’re just a judgy bitch like the rest of us. Come back soon!
I absolutely love her hair like that! She looks like a pixie or something-a pixie I’d like to spend a day in bed with.
Finally Vogue picked a fresh face instead the same old Frozen Kidman, Pouty Knightley, Pointy Chin Witherspoon or Horsey Miller. I love Michelle and I’m sick of people bothering her with questions about Heath and her “grief”. When Heath died, they were separated for a long time and he already had a girlfriend, australian model Gemma Ward. Michelle didn’t overcome a tragedy. She wasn’t even there when the tragedy happened. How come she’s so related with the whole thing? This is like calling Gwyneth Paltrow to ask about Brad Pitt, when he’s now living with someone else.
Of course, Michelle must’ve been sad with all this situation, because he was Matilda’s dad and his loss was too sudden, but, c’mon, at that time, they both had moved on. It’s not like Heath died in her arms or something.
Now, I’m strange to hear that she’s not with Spike anymore. They were getting so serious. Maybe it’s just a break. They may get back together, who knows? But his reputation with women isn’t great. He’s got a strange frat boy vibe for someone so beloved by the hipsters.
I get Firestarter’s drift.