INTERVIEW: Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams is on the cover of Wonderland magazine. She gave the interview before the death of Heath Ledger.

Did you go to 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.

How has becoming a mother changed you?:
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.


Would you describe yourself as vain?:
I have insecurity masquerading as vanity. I don’t think I’m vain as an actress but I’m probably more so as a person. Again, it goes back to that thing about when I’m working is the only time when I don’t judge myself. I feel totally open to exploring all the sides of my physical self in my work. While I’m working I really don’t give a f— how I look. Afterwards, if I have to watch it, I might have some problems.

What’s the day ahead hold for you?:
I’m going to pick Matilda up from school at 11:30 and she’ll take a nap. I might join her because tonight I’m doing hospital rounds in preparation for the film Mammoth. It’s Lukas Moodysson’s first English language film. I play a New York City trauma surgeon so I’ve been trailing a doctor for a few months. We’re going to step it up tonight and go to Elmhurst hospital in Queens, which is a top-level trauma hospital. The whole experience has been such an eye-opener. The first time I did it, I had this weird sensation where I thought, ‘Oh f—, I’ve missed my calling’. The sense of purpose made me wish I’d become a doctor.