Charles Esther
Michelle Williams knows how challenging it is to be a working mother.
She described balancing her career and motherhood as figuring out “which master you’re going to serve.”
“Because the truth is, if work is going well, somebody else is taking care of the kids,” she explained.
Juggling Motherhood and Acting
During an appearance on the “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” podcast, Williams, 44, shared how she manages life as a mother of four while maintaining her acting career.
She said, “Kids are such great life checkers. They force you to put your best self in front of them.”
Williams noted that it is important not to abdicate your life, work, and desires, but to put them in check and decide which takes priority at any moment.
A Life of Give and Take
Williams welcomed her first child, Matilda, in 2005 with her then-boyfriend, the late actor Heath Ledger.
In 2020, she married director Thomas Kail, with whom she shares three children.
For Williams, being a working mom means never letting her kids or career go unattended for too long.
She said, “If work is going well, somebody else is taking care of the kids. And if you’re in a high point with your kids, the work is shoved to the side.”
She acknowledged that it is impossible to be equally good at both simultaneously, so a balance of give and take is necessary.
Williams emphasized the need to replenish neglected areas, saying if you spend a long time at home, you should return to your work with fresh energy.
Setting an Example for Her Children
Williams also wants her children to grow up seeing their mother work.
This makes it difficult for her to step away from her career for too long.
However, she admitted that the pull of motherhood is strong.
“My best day with my children is better than my best day at work. I am more thrilled with that high than I am with a work high,” she said.
The Ongoing Struggle of Working Moms in Hollywood
This is not the first time Williams has discussed the challenges of balancing work and family.
In a 2023 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she expressed the desire to have both a career and be a mother, despite the difficulties.
Other Hollywood stars have also shared similar experiences.
Naomi Watts revealed she froze her eggs in her early 30s to focus on her career.
She said she was advised to “work, work, work because it’ll all be dried up at 40.”
Cameron Diaz took a decade-long break from acting to focus on motherhood.
At Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit 2024, Diaz explained her choice by saying, “What are you passionate about? For me, it was to build my family.”
Conclusion
Michelle Williams’s story highlights the complex and emotional balancing act working mothers face.
Her determination to succeed in both her career and motherhood shows the sacrifices and decisions many women make daily.
Williams hopes her children will see the value of hard work and dedication while enjoying the joys of family life.
