Speaking with WSJ. Magazine for their February issue, the Aussie actress said, “At that time, I was inconsolable, because I felt, ‘How will he be able to find us?'”
The three-time Oscar nominee added, “This is where we lived, and he won’t know where we are. And now I can’t believe I thought that. Maybe that’s what’s making me cry is I feel sad for the person who thought he won’t be able to locate [us].”
Tragically, Aussie actor Heath Ledger died at the age of 28 from acute intoxication as a result of an accidental mixture of prescription drugs.
Heath left behind a daughter, Matilda, now 11, whom he shared with Michelle.
Talking about her little girl, Michelle touched on her emotional struggles that have followed in the wake of Heath’s death. She also revealed that daughter Matilda will always come before any relationship.
She said, “It’s hard to romanticise romance when you’re 36.”
“When you’ve been a parent for 11 years and you’ve done it alone, you don’t have romantic ideals, because you have a practical understanding that you can do it by yourself. The romantic idea of meeting your person and having a storybook family life that looks like the model you grew up with – that doesn’t really exist for me.”
While the Dawson’s Creek starlet has been in many high-profile relationships, including romances with Jason Segal, Dustin Yellin and Cary Joji Fukunaga, for now she’s happy with life as mum, and is in no rush to head to the alter.
She said, “I’ve not gotten married because I have not had a person to whom I would — so I have not let my sense of conformity or duty override my instincts.”
Michelle with her beautiful daughter, Matilda, in 2013.
Many have begun to notice just how much little Matilda resembles her later father.
Heath and Michelle really were Hollywood’s golden couple in the early naughties.
Revealing that life as an actress and as a parent involves a difficult day-to-day balancing act, the Manchester By the Sea star said, “I worry about the next job and when it’s coming and will I be able to get it, but when you’re looking at something, there’s also the criteria of timing, the school calendar, the location, the duration, and just where we’re at as a family.”
She added, “Everyone told me to travel while [Matilda’s] young, but they hit a certain age, and they want a life.”
“So we’re stuck – in a good place. There’s a lot of constancy. She’s in such a good place that I don’t worry about the stability of our unit when I have to go back to work.”
