When Recess interviewed "Dawson's Creek" alumnus and independent movie veteran Michelle Williams, we had lots of burning questions. How was deflowering Dawson? Why does she always play the role of the pregnant slut? We're tactless, but not tacky. Here are the highlights as told to Katie Somers:
How did you become involved with The Station Agent to begin with?
I think Tom McCarthy, the director, saw the play that I was in and sent me the script, and it took me a little while to read it, but then I got a call from Mary Beth [Peil, who plays Grams on "Dawson's Creek"], and she said that I must, must, must read it at the earliest chance. I think she said that he was a genius, and that I would be so lucky to work with him.... and I trust her, and I respect her, so I read it and signed up.
What was it like working with Peter Dinklage? [read: What was it like making out with a dwarf? Unfortunately Michelle didn't take the bait.]
I'm trying to recall scenes together. It was fun. He encouraged me to be loose and improvisational and helped me to feel comfortable with the whole group because they'd all known each other for a long time and then I came into their circle. He put me at ease. And it's just fun to react to him.
Any amusing anecdotes from filming The Station Agent?
There was a little bit of drinking going on--not on-set but off-set. We were all staying at this hotel, this Howard Johnson in the middle of New Jersey, so there was a little bit of knocking on people's doors at strange hours.
Do you prefer doing independent movies like The Station Agent over more mainstream movies and TV shows?
Yes, I don't intend to be snobby about my choices, but I like the scripts better, and I like the people involved with indies better. Being on "Dawson's Creek" for seven years was like doing a giant blockbuster, so now I have that totally out of my system. I've done my big movie for the rest of my life.
Did you date Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes?
No, I wouldn't call it that.
Would any of his songs be about you?
[laughs] I didn't write them; you'd have to ask him.
What actors do you want to work with?
Philip Seymour Hoffman. I love him.
How was filming "Dawson's Creek" at Duke?
Filming at Duke was really exciting to me since we'd been sequestered in Wilmington for so long. We got to go on these big buses and stay overnight at hotels in Raleigh or Durham and go out exploring in a new town. And the campus is so beautiful.... I didn't really get to work a lot at Duke since my character went to a community college and not a good college, but it was always like a vacation up there.
How did you feel about the way Dawson's Creek ended with your character dying and having a baby?
My feelings were really hurt at first that they were killing me. I thought that meant they didn't like me. I had some reservations about a girl who went through hard times, sexually speaking, having a baby and then dying. So I thought it sent a bad message --to kill the slut once she's redeemed herself with a child.
Do you have any contact with the Dawson's Creek cast now?
I went to James'[Van der Beek] wedding, and I saw Katie [Holmes] yesterday, and I see Mary Beth [Peil] regularly because we both live in New York. Busy [Phillips] I see when I go to LA--so yeah, we keep in contact.
Do you ever watch the Creek reruns when they come on?
I did that once and it embarrassed the pants off me, so never again. It's just too easy to lacerate myself.
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