I first heard of Michelle Williams (or rather saw her) in one of my favorite shows growing up, Dawson’s Creek. While I wasn’t a fan of her character swooping in on Dawson, I always thought she was a great actress. So, I was delighted to see her cast as Glinda, The Good Witch, in the upcoming film “Oz The Great & Powerful” (In theaters on 3/8).
It was one thing to see her on screen but getting the opportunity to see her up close and personal as 24 other mom bloggers and I interviewed her was quite amazing. Especially after having her seen her 2 days before at the red carpet premiere (I actually found a photo of me walking behind her).
As soon as she walked in to the room she looked just as stunning as she does on screen (if only I looked camera ready at all times…actually, I’d settle for some of the time) and she won us all over immediately. Why you wonder? Well, she walked in and said “Mommy Bloggers. My people. I have probably read all your blogs” oh yeah…she said it.
The fact that she reads blogs, is a mom and actually loads the dishwasher herself made me realize that she is so down to earth and no different than you and I (well except for having fame & fortune). You’ll see why after reading the interview…so here we go.
Q: Are you prepared to have legions of little girls flocking around you?
She told us about a time when some of the little girls on set (extras in the movie for the Quadling children) saw her in full costume and they would get all shy, wave and say “Awww” & “Oohh”
Michelle: I was thinking about delighting one young child, and I didn’t realize there would be more than one. What feels better in this whole world than making a kid smile? So, it’s fine with me.
Q: How do you balance your career with motherhood?
*This is the question that made me aware of how important her role as a mother is and how she is like every other working mom.
Michelle: I was afraid you might ask something like that. I mean, how does anybody do it. It is, like an Olympian undertaking. (I love how open and honest she is when answering this question)
She then takes a deep breath and goes on to say what she’s learned about finding that balance…
It’s just not what you think it’s gonna be, and nobody really prepares you for it, and nobody really tells you the truth, which is that it’s not possible. It’s not possible to do both things well at the same time, especially not if you are … really critical, and ask a lot of yourself. But I think, … every mother that I know asks a lot of themselves. So, what I’m trying to wrap my head around is to get comfortable with the moments, to get comfortable with the fact that it’s gonna feel like a scale, and that I’m never gonna arrive at a perfect balance, and it’s always gonna be a give and take.
Something’s always gonna feel like it’s suffering, like it’s underserved. And that’s really hard on your heart, to feel like you’re not being the best parent that you could be, or you’re not being the best at your job that you could be, but I’m really trying to get peaceful with the fact that I’m always going to feel like that and that’s the equation for as long as I choose to or have to stay in this position where I work and where I parent. It’s so hard.
It’s just so hard, [LAUGHS]. It’s really overwhelming. I’d be more apt to ask you guys, What have you figured out? What works for you? What doesn’t? What are the tricks, What are the hints? What do you give up?
She then went on to tell us about her big Epiphany…are you ready for it?
Me? It’s a lot of work to clean a house! So I was like, I am not gonna wash my dishes before I put them in the dishwasher. I find it so hard to make some time for myself, I am not gonna spend fifteen minutes pre-washing. Why would I do that? I’m looking for time everywhere, in every corner, every day, and here I am pre-washing my dishes. Not any more. Silverware, going in there. Knives, going in there.
It seems like such a small thing but it’s so true! I also was fascinated by the fact that she does her own dishes (It’s the small details like this that amaze me). What she said next was also eye-opening…
A friend of mine said something to me once: Everybody thinks that you should spend your time making money, but I think you should spend your money making time.
That was deep!!!!
Q: You were amazing (in this role). What was your inspiration?
Michelle: Thank you. I thought a lot about her and I’ve watched that movie passively for years, and watched it with my daughter and I thought a lot about her.
Sam (The director…interview with him will be posted tomorrow) said something really interesting to me in the beginning. He said there’s a reason that Glinda, the Good Witch doesn’t go down the Yellow Brick Road, and that she’s not on the journey, because she’s one dimensional. She doesn’t have any thing that she needs to learn about herself, and thus she’s like the least relatable character. And I thought, that’s a good point. We want people to feel like they’re on a journey with Glinda, too, and that she isn’t this sort of crystalized version who knew it all along. We want her to have struggle, we want her to be human…How can she still be good, and innocent, and believe the best in people, but still have a struggle?
She’s struggling for the freedom of these people, and she’s struggling with her own self doubt. I thought a lot about transformation and how Glinda transforms these dark and dire situations. I thought about her as somebody who transforms tears into bubbles, that she makes the best out of a rotten situation because of a way that she chooses to look at it. That takes a lot of energy and it’s not entirely human. It is a super-human quality.
In some ways, I was also inspired by thinking a lot about my daughter and Sam, Joan of Ark and, you know, heroes.
Before she left she went on to say…
Well, you guys, thank you. I mean, I feel like mommy blogs are definitely a place to turn to. I get information from them. I never really posted anything on a blog because I don’t really know how to, but I think that every mother has the same question that we were all asking. How do you do it? How do you be a mom, and be a parent, and maybe even try and be in a relationship, and the end be yourself? Not a mom, or a worker. You’re providing this kind of conversation about it, and access to it that is awesome. So thank you guys for doing it.
Michelle if you happen to read this, please know that you are truly incredible and that it was a real pleasure to interview you. I wish you ll of the luck in your career and finding that balance. Oh yeah, and if you figure it our, please share…LOL.
Movie Synopsis:
When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.
Make sure your following Disney Oz Movie on Twitter and “Like” the Oz the Great & Powerful Fan Page. You can also check out their website.
Thanks for the great pics Jeanne from Insideoutmotherhood.com
Disclosure: This post was facilitated as a result of a press trip. As always, ALL opinions are my own.
