Michelle Williams, 36, got real in her cover interview for the latest issue of Porter magazine. Discussing parenthood, life after her late ex-boyfriend Heath Ledger, and raising their 11-year-old daughter Matilda on her own, the actress gave fans a candid view of her life, revealing it still hurts that Matilda doesn’t have a living father.
“In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I’m a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you’ve been. In pretty much all senses but one, I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not having her dad,” Michelle told the publication. “You know, that’s just something that doesn’t… I mean, it just won’t ever be right.”
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And while the Manchester By the Sea star admitted that she never expected to be a single parent at her age, she’s not planning on settling down anytime soon. ”Talk about a learning process,” she said of dating. “I think, God, what would I say about it? I feel really sensitive about it and certainly did not expect to still be dating at 36 with an 11-year-old. This is not what I imagine.”
At the same time though, Michelle is thankful that Matilda, who lost her dad when she was only two years old, is able to live a relatively normal life. “I watched [Matilda] warm in the sun, in her swimsuit, get on her bicycle and smile and wave as she rode off to go meet her friends. I went back into the house and sobbed because of this incredibly simple moment ― common everyday happiness,” Michelle revealed.
“I really felt like in that moment, like ‘wow, we’ve done it. Not only are we OK, she’s happy.’ Life has brought us to a place that’s not just surviving, but thriving.” Michelle and the late Academy-award-winning actor began dating back in 2004 after meeting on the set of their film Brokeback Mountain. Matilda was born a year later in 2005, but the couple split in September of 2007.
Just a few months later, in January 2008, Heath was found dead after he accidentally mixed his prescription drugs at just 28 years old. Despite it all though, Michelle is intent on waiting until the right guy comes along to settle down for good.
“I’m like a cat, I’m a very domestic creature,” the Golden Globe winner explained. “I just want to stay home and take care of people. But I’m also happy with myself and just because I might have a desire to be with someone… that won’t lead me to marry the wrong person.”
Tell us, HollywoodLifers — do you think Michelle will eventually find another love?