Michelle Williams’s Intense Preparation for Manchester by the Sea

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“Manchester by the Sea” actress Michelle Williams is no stranger to the Oscars.

In 2023, Michelle Williams was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film, The Fabelmans. This was her fifth Oscar nomination, but she lost again, this time to Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

After kicking off her acting career with a love-to-hate character in “Dawson’s Creek,” Michelle has grown leaps and bounds in terms of her depth as an actress.

Michelle Williams donned a stunning strapless dress from the Louis Vuitton Spring 2017 collection, which perfectly accentuated her elegance and sophistication at the London Film Festival screening of "Manchester by the Sea"Michelle Williams donned a stunning strapless dress from the Louis Vuitton Spring 2017 collection, which perfectly accentuated her elegance and sophistication at the London Film Festival screening of “Manchester by the Sea” at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, on October 8, 2016 (Credit: Mario Mitsis / WENN)

At the 2016 London Film Festival in October 2016, the then-36-year-old opened up about preparing for her short-but-deep role in Kenneth Lonergan’s 2016 American drama film Manchester by the Sea.

Manchester by the Sea was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its acting, writing, directing, and cinematography. The film won several awards, including two Oscars, two Golden Globes, and six BAFTA Awards.

At the 89th Academy Awards, Manchester by the Sea won awards for Best Actor for Casey Affleck and Best Original Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Hedges), and Best Supporting Actress (Williams).

Michelle Williams shows off her feet in yellow reptile print-embossed leather sandals by Louis VuittonMichelle Williams shows off her feet in yellow reptile print-embossed leather sandals by Louis Vuitton (Credit: Mario Mitsis / WENN)

As one of Louis Vuitton’s endorsers, it would only follow that the high-end fashion brand would clothe her in its finest items — and lucky for us, they did.

The Prozac Nation actress stepped out on the London red carpet in head-to-toe Louis Vuitton, including a multi-colored gradient dress with a sweetheart bustier and an A-line skirt.

Michelle finished her look with the petite “Malle” clutch and reptile print-embossed sandals.

Perks of the job: Louis Vuitton endorser Michelle Williams shows off the brand's finest items from head-to-toePerks of the job: Louis Vuitton endorser Michelle Williams shows off the brand’s finest items from head-to-toe (Credit: Mario Mitsis / WENN)

Michelle is the type of actress who boldly goes into dark places to connect to her character. The actress said she was free when she shot “Manchester by the Sea,” so she often visited the story’s location to observe the people and culture.

Michelle Williams understood the significance of every moment she had on screen in Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea.” Although the film’s production schedule was not unusually rushed, Williams recognized the importance of maximizing the impact of her limited screen time in Lonergan’s poignant and beautiful tragedy.

Casey Affleck played Lee Chandler, a janitor in Boston who is called to his hometown of Manchester-by-the-Sea to take care of his teenage nephew Patrick, while Michelle Williams played his former wife RandiCasey Affleck played Lee Chandler, a janitor in Boston who is called to his hometown of Manchester-by-the-Sea to take care of his teenage nephew Patrick, while Michelle Williams played his former wife Randi (Credit: Amazon Studios / Roadside Attractions)

Portraying a complex character involved in a warm yet contentious relationship, Williams’s character only had a few scattered scenes throughout the film to fully develop.

Furthermore, she had to convey the struggles of a woman grappling with an immense loss. Williams acknowledged that in this particular role, she couldn’t rely on gradually unfolding her character’s story throughout the movie. Instead, she had to make each moment count and leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Michelle Williams’s dedication to her role in Manchester by the Sea is truly inspiring. She spent months preparing for the role, even before being sure she would be cast. She visited Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, to get a sense of the place and the people. She also sat in malls and observed people, trying to get a feel for their mannerisms and speech patterns.

Michelle Williams extensively prepared for her role in Manchester by the Sea by observing people in malls while the crew filmed scenes with Casey AffleckMichelle Williams extensively prepared for her role in Manchester by the Sea by observing people in malls while the crew filmed scenes with Casey Affleck (Credit: Amazon Studios / Roadside Attractions)

On the first day of filming, Williams only wore a nightgown in the 30-degree weather. This was a deliberate choice, as she wanted to feel the cold and the discomfort that her character would be feeling.

It was a bold move, but it paid off. Williams’s performance in Manchester by the Sea is one of the most heartbreaking and powerful performances in recent memory.

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