Michelle Williams explores vulnerability and personal growth in Dying for Sex, a limited series where she portrays Molly Kochan, a young woman navigating her final years after a Stage 4 terminal cancer diagnosis. Williams’ decision to take on this transformative role followed a significant period in her life, balancing her passion for the project with family commitments.
Williams’ Personal Journey to the Role
Michelle Williams first discovered her connection with Molly Kochan’s story while she was expecting her third child. The actress recognized the toll such an emotionally raw project might take while she was pregnant.
“I couldn’t do this job and have a baby in my stomach,”
Williams shared with Gold Derby. Choosing family first, Williams paused her career to spend a two-and-a-half year hiatus with her family before revisiting the idea of depicting Kochan’s story.
While she is no stranger to critically acclaimed roles, the story of Molly lingered in Williams’ mind during her break from acting. Ultimately, she learned that the role was still open, feeling an unmistakable pull towards the character.
“This was for me, this must be for me,”
she said.
“I had such a strong connection with the material originally. That all this time had passed and it had gone unmade reinforced my magical feeling, my belief that this part and I were meant for each other.”
Her return aligned naturally with the casting process for Dying for Sex, reaffirming her belief that the role was meant to be hers.
The Team Bringing Dying for Sex to Life
Alongside Williams, the series features Jenny Slate, who plays Nikki Boyer, Molly’s real-life best friend. At the panel following a screening of Dying for Sex at Disney FYC Fest, the presence of key cast and creators such as Rob Delaney, writers and cocreators Kim Rosenstock and Liz Meriwether, underscored the collaborative effort driving the adaptation. The series, inspired by the Wondery podcast hosted by Kochan and Boyer, set a frank and sometimes provocative tone in its approach to sensitive subjects.
Challenging Boundaries in Storytelling
Diving into often taboo areas, Dying for Sex did not shy away from explicit explorations of sexuality. The source podcast had already paved the way, but the scripts continued to surprise the cast. Each episode pushed the boundaries by covering topics like BDSM, role play, and unconventional experiences, often leaving Williams questioning what new scenarios she might encounter.
“What situations am I going to find myself in?”
she often wondered when reading new scripts.
Despite the audacious situations depicted, Williams approached the material with enthusiasm and openness.
“There’s no ‘Oh gosh, I don’t want to do that,’ or ‘I feel uncomfortable.’ It’s just, I cannot believe that I get to do this crazy mash up of experiences and emotions,”
she admitted, embracing each challenge for its emotional and narrative depth.
Deeper Emotional Exploration Beyond Physical Boundaries
While the visual themes in Dying for Sex may seem bold, the cast emphasized the deeper, emotional storytelling at play. Rob Delaney, who portrayed a supporting character, articulated the importance of honesty in approaching these roles.
“The emotional stuff you’ve really got to strip away and be honest and open. I’ll speak for myself but I found that a lot harder than getting [literally] kicked in the balls.”
This reflection highlights the vulnerability required of the actors, extending well beyond the surface-level shock value.
Expanding Conversations on Pleasure, Shame, and Growth
Through the process of embodying Molly Kochan’s experience, Williams found herself examining her own beliefs around sexuality, shame, and pleasure.
“Can you feel pleasure without shame?”
she pondered aloud during her conversation with Gold Derby. She continued,
“Can you accept what you want and try and leave shame, which seems to be some sort of cultural inheritance as women, but can you leave shame at the door?”
Williams’ willingness to face these conversations underscored the personal growth and self-discovery woven throughout her performance, even as she joked about the ongoing nature of this journey: “Working on it!”
The Impact of Dying for Sex
Dying for Sex invites viewers to consider vulnerability, empowerment, and the complexities of personal pleasure, all while challenging societal expectations. The collaboration among cast members like Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, and Rob Delaney, as well as the guiding influence of cocreators Kim Rosenstock and Liz Meriwether, sets the stage for a series that promises to spark conversation and reflection around intimacy and authenticity.
