I have watched Michelle Williams’ new series Dying for Sex three times all the way through, now. It’s just so good, and with each viewing I become more impressed with everything the showrunners and cast put into it. I’m not finding it now, but when the show first came out in early April I saw someone online say, “I think I just watched Michelle Williams win another Emmy.” I think so too! (Though Cristin Milioti’s Penguin performance will be in the same category, and that’s strong competition.) Whether it’s an early Emmy campaign hustle or not, Michelle is still out doing press for the show. She was the guest on Monday’s episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, and about 40 minutes in, Dax recalls his own brief moments with Heath Ledger, saying “I thought he was just so special.” Michelle concurred, and added “thank god there’s Matilda.”
“I feel obligated to say that I knew him a little bit when he was getting sober, and I don’t know that I’ve ever fallen in love with somebody so quickly,” the presenter said of the actor. “This is one of the most special boys I’ve ever met, and I can feel the weight of the world on him in a very special way that kind of broke my heart. I was very, very sad, and I thought he was just so special.”
Audibly emotional, Williams replied, “So special, so special, thank god there’s Matilda.”
Shepard described Ledger as “this heart here that’s just leaking out everywhere,” to which Williams replied, “Yeah, an incredible sensitivity.”
Williams and Ledger welcomed their daughter Matilda in October 2005 while publicizing their Oscar-winning film Brokeback Mountain. The pair met on the set of the Ang Lee film and fell for each other immediately.
“We had a baby. But I suppose maybe it’s a good thing about being young is that you don’t have so much life experience that you can contextualize things,” Williams said of that period. “So you’re really just going with the flow.”
The Dawson’s Creek alum, who also shares three children with her partner Tommy Kail, discussed her approach to balancing children and her career.
“Kids are such great life checkers,” she mused. “They force you to put your best self in front of them. You can’t abdicate your life and your work and your own desires, but you do have to put them in check and figure out which master you’re going to serve.”
Williams went on to note that she doesn’t believe you can have it all in work and parenthood, all of the time.
“You can’t be equally good at [everything] at the exact same time, and you have to allow for that give and take, but then replenish the other things,” she explained.
“If you have a big period of being at home, you need to go back to what you’ve left unattended and put some light over there. So I think it’s just this constant back and forth, but making sure that you don’t leave one of them unattended for too long,” she concluded.
Losing Heath Ledger was a tough one. I remember it vividly; I was newly relocated to NYC for school, went into a four hour class and when I came out, the news had broken that he was gone. Even without knowing him personally, I felt like I could see that special spirit and sensitivity Dax describes, just radiating out of Heath. My mother always describes people with that kind of presence as “pixelated” (I don’t know where she picked it up and am fairly certain she’s not using it in a traditional/established way, but I’ve taken up the usage out of my affection for her). And I could be way off the mark, here, but ever since we learned that Michelle’s oldest son with now-husband Tommy Kail is named Hart, I’ve always wondered the following: Kail is Jewish, where it’s customary to name babies after deceased loved ones by using the same first letter of the name (as opposed to the same exact name). So, is Hart for Heath? I’m sure we the public will never get that private answer, but I’d like to think so.
Photo note by CB: Top image is from the 2006 BAFTA Awards credit: Marc Larkin/Avalon. Photo of Michelle and Heath out with baby Matilda is from May, 2006 credit: PacificCoastNews.com/Avalon. Other event photos from 2006 and credit: Jacqui Wong/Avalon, Christina Radish/Avalon. Photos of Michelle and Thomas Kail credit: Tatiana/Backgrid, MediaPunch/INSTARimages,
I do not know how you managed Dying for Sex three times. It was really good but I was full-on sobbing through most of the last episode — I feel like I would struggle to get through something so emotional a second time.
why was heath ledger,chester bennington and chris cornell bodies burned….
to hide foul play
To this say, that mustard-colored dress she wore to the oscars remains one of my favorites.
Same! It is a close second for me behind Nicole’s chartreuse Dior.
@Jais: It’s my favorite of all-time. There’s just something about it, that mustard/marigold shade with that gunmetal jewelry and her red lips and casual-but-intentional hair… it was just perfect. There have been more beautiful garments before or since then, I’m sure, but that one imprinted on me.
I remember exactly where I was when I heard, and it was like experiencing the loss of River Phoenix all over again. I think a lot in my generation who mourned hard for River felt that way. Not to deny what was unique about Health, but the comparison is intended as high praise. I miss them both and what they both would have continued to contribute artistically to our world.
No denying Heath was special, and so is Michelle. She is a very gifted actress.
Im glad dax shepard brought up Heath to her…coz she never gets asked about him even after Matilda got his oscar in 2023 she didnt…and she never spoke about his amazing joker performance how he transformed his voice and everything..or on why she left him and why she wasnt in his 2017 documentary….anyway i think michelle loved heath more than his mom…
as for naming her 2nd child ”hart” the name choice came from me..she shouldve revealed the name when she gave birth so that i wouldnt be able to control it..she also wont reveal the names of her 2 youngest..and why she used a surrogate when she had her 2nd and 3rd by herself..anyway even though it wasnt their choice i like how its h-name like his and she was broken -HEARTED over losing heath despite them breaking up and dating other people..she was dating spike jonze in 2008
thomas being jewish is cool their the modern hebrews/prince of egypt
Heath Ledger was going BALD in his 20s…which is got from his bald dad…..and Thomas is pushing 50 yet has great thick hair….
and Heaths arms,shoulders,legs were shaped and connected differently..he got that cool genetic anamoly through his mom …sadly his only child Matilda didnt inherit it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEekfmSdFfs
heath ledger was a great man,son and brother yet only his older sis seem sad
also this vid below shows why the tragedy happened to Heath and why the Olsen twin wanted auminity ,like most celebs and hollywood celebs he did 1-eye symbolism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgykYynnIhI