Washington [US], May 22: Oscar-nominated actor Michelle Williams has reflected on the intense method acting experience she shared with co-star Ryan Gosling while filming the 2010 romantic drama Blue Valentine.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Williams revealed that she and Gosling lived together during a break in filming, as part of director Derek Cianfrance’s unconventional approach to helping them embody a couple on the brink of emotional collapse.
“We took a break in filming, and [then] we lived together, office hours style, like 9 to 5,” Williams recalled.
The purpose of the exercise was to simulate domestic life and encourage conflict, so the actors could shed the romantic chemistry developed during the film’s earlier, more loving scenes. The goal, Williams said, was to “destroy” that connection to reflect the disintegration of their on-screen marriage.
Despite her initial reluctance, the approach worked — albeit painfully.
“I didn’t want to give [Gosling] reasons to hate me,” she admitted. “It was horrible.”
Director Cianfrance pushed the pair into emotionally raw territory, including a symbolic burning of their wedding photo, marking their transformation from lovers to adversaries in the story.
“Derek was like, ‘We got to mess this up, and we need to burn it down,’” Williams shared.
While she acknowledged the effectiveness of the method in crafting authentic performances, Williams expressed skepticism about whether such intensive preparation could be replicated in today’s industry.
“I don’t know if anyone could work like that again,” she noted, citing logistical and financial limitations.
Blue Valentine, praised for its unflinching portrayal of a failing relationship, earned both Gosling and Williams widespread acclaim and cemented the film’s place as one of the most emotionally charged dramas of the 2010s.