Michelle Williams explores female friendship in Dying for Sex, a limited series on FX, alongside Jenny Slate, as they portray the deeply intertwined bond between Molly Kochan and Nikki Boyer. During recent interviews, the actresses reflected on their intensive on-screen partnership and the significance of representing authentic female relationships amid the story’s themes of illness, self-discovery, and intimacy.
Forging a Genuine Connection Through Challenging Roles
When Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate discussed their work on FX’s Dying for Sex, their affection for each other was unmistakable—mirroring the close relationship of the characters they play. Although their real-life friendship did not emerge from similarly tragic circumstances as Molly’s cancer diagnosis within the series, working together drew the pair into a sincere bond. Created by Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock, the drama follows Molly’s intentional exploration of life, pleasure, and connection, while facing a terminal diagnosis, with her best friend Nikki loyally at her side.
Filming something so emotionally charged brought new intensity for both actresses. Jenny Slate described the outpouring of positive feedback about the limited series and its impact on everyone involved:
“I feel very glowy about it. I feel happy. I feel happy for every single person who worked on it. I feel happy for Nikki and Molly, the real people. And also relief. When you do something you really care about that’s a little bit of a tightrope, it’s a big relief.”
—Jenny Slate, Actress
Michelle Williams echoed that sense of uncertainty and responsibility to those who worked on the set, sharing,
“Relief first. You truly have no idea how it’s going to be received. And your experience of making it doesn’t always correlate to an audience’s desire to see it. Which is why you have to really have your own goals for yourself in mind, because you can’t control or predict or even plan for an outcome, and so you really have to be comfortable with what you personally take away from it and your personal experience of making it. Because you can’t control how it’s received, but what you can try and pay attention to is the experience of 120 people that are united for a finite period of time towards a common goal. You can try and have some safeguards in that experience. So in order to control my anxiety about how it’s going to be received, I really just try and focus on how is this workplace for 120 people? Do they feel safe? Do they feel respected? Do they feel like their voices are heard? Do they feel included? Are they well-fed? Are they rested? Are they getting their needs met? So that’s where I focus, and then when something like this happens, I just breathe a huge sigh of relief, and then just walk in gratitude.”
—Michelle Williams, Actress
Translating On-Screen Chemistry to Off-Camera Friendship
When asked about the palpable authenticity of their friendship, Slate explained how working so closely blurred the lines between acting and real life. She credited their quick connection and mutual respect as essential to the depth they brought to their characters, admitting,
“It did bleed. It did roll over into real life. We luckily do enjoy each other very much, and became real friends. It’s weird to say it, because of course, we had to learn about each other and learn our lines and prepare our scenes, but that crackle of connection was there, which is really exciting and wonderful. It’s everything.”
—Jenny Slate, Actress
Williams described their initial encounter as an immediate spark. Both actresses commented on how working on Dying for Sex helped forge a partnership that extended into their daily lives, keeping their relationship alive well beyond the camera’s eye. They playfully imagined their families continuing to connect, reinforcing how their fictional dynamic brought about real bonds.
The Power of Female Friendship Depicted on Screen
At its heart, Dying for Sex prioritizes the story of close female friendship, treating Molly and Nikki’s relationship as central, profound, and sustaining. Williams articulated that the series elevates the notion of friendship beyond mere companionship, explaining,
“What it really speaks to is how passionate female friendship really is, and that it’s much more of a love relationship than a friend relationship. It’s not a casual thing. It’s a life-sustaining thing. We both come to it from our own best friendships, and we know what those have meant to us over the years. And so to see this brought out and made central in a storyline was something that we had both had experience with, and both wanted to make larger.”
—Michelle Williams, Actress
Slate elaborated on the emotional rewards of this type of connection and expressed hope that showing deep intimacy outside romantic love — particularly between women — expands how audiences perceive relationships, both on and off screen. Their genuine comfort with each other modeled the kind of attentive, sustaining presence that many find in their closest companions.
Translating the Podcast’s Emotional Resonance
Both actresses listened to the original podcast that inspired FX’s limited series, sharing how profoundly the material moved them. Williams recounted her powerful reaction to the real-life dynamic between the two women at the story’s core, attributing the desire to create the show to the intense emotional spell the podcast cast. She said,
“Well, maybe we’re just a handful of weirdos that think this is right on.”
—Michelle Williams, Actress
Williams and Slate both noticed that the story was having a wide-reaching impact, and as more people became involved in the production, the more they realized that the depth of the friendship and the journey it documents resonated with a broad audience.
Engaging with the Real-Life Inspirations
Portraying real people brought additional responsibility. Slate reflected on her conversations with the real Nikki, who openly shared her grief and memories, even as she protected herself and the actresses from unnecessary sadness:
“I don’t want to say something sad to you, in case it will make you sad.”
—Nikki Boyer, Inspiration for Nikki Character (as recounted by Jenny Slate)
Williams described the collaborative, respectful environment that shaped the filming, recognizing the rarity of such an opportunity. She emphasized how the cast and crew, mainly women, felt honored to celebrate the friendship at the heart of the series, working together at a studio invested in highlighting female leadership and narrative complexity. Williams reflected on the unique, supportive atmosphere that let everyone involved deliver their best work and authentically honor Molly and Nikki’s story:
“Here’s how it was, sit down and let me tell you a story, listen to me and do as I say.”
—(contextual mention as part of a quote)
Discovering the Tone with Creators Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock
Working with Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock was a collaborative experience that shaped the series’ unique feeling. Williams repeatedly asked the creators about the emotional register and tone she was inhabiting, eventually determining that the tone was derived from Meriwether herself:
“What’s the tone? What’s the world I am inhabiting? How do I fit into this?”
—Michelle Williams, Actress;
“Oh, the tone is Liz. It’s Liz’s tone.”
—Michelle Williams, Actress
Slate pointed out how both writers brought theatrical backgrounds that allowed the show to balance humor, sentiment, and surreal moments. As the narrative progressed, especially in later episodes, the writers’ experimental style shone through, infusing the series with both sharp jokes and deep explorations of character psychology. The result is a show that is unafraid to depict all facets of human experience, sometimes abruptly shifting from comedic to tragic, and embracing the contradictions of life.
Williams described how receiving new scripts kept her on her toes and brought continued surprises:
“Wow, I wonder what’s gonna happen next.”
—Michelle Williams, Actress;
“This is the right show for me!”
—Michelle Williams, Actress
Highlighting Memorable and Difficult Scenes
Both actresses found filming Dying for Sex to be emotionally and physically demanding. Slate described feeling particularly vulnerable during a hospital scene with Molly intubated, revealing the challenge of balancing discomfort as both actor and character. Reciting Molly’s notebook in a bathroom was also a deeply affecting and nuanced moment for Slate, requiring subtlety and strength amidst tightly held emotion.
Williams explained that, for her, every scene felt weighty and significant, with few truly easy days during production. The emotional stakes remained high from start to finish, stemming from the profound subject matter: terminal illness, friendship, love, and personal transformation.
Despite grueling days, the actresses also experienced moments of joy and satisfaction, delighting in each other’s performances and the artistic risks taken throughout the series. Such camaraderie enriched their creative process and allowed them to support one another through the series’ most difficult turns.
Appreciating Each Other’s Work and Bold Choices
When allowed the chance to compliment one another, Williams refused to single out a specific moment of Slate’s, instead praising her scene partner’s unwavering talent and total immersion in their scenes. Slate, on the other hand, spotlighted Williams’ comedic and emotional performance during Molly’s journey of self-awareness and pleasure:
“It is like a master class in orgasms.”
—Jenny Slate, Actress
Slate noted how Williams consistently surprised her and the audience, making each performance fresh, honest, and powerfully funny—a testament to Williams’ unique ability to breathe new life into her roles.
Confronting Mortality, Intimacy, and Change
Dying for Sex, while focused on the specific story of Molly and Nikki, also grapples with universal themes: mortality, trauma, the search for meaning, and the power of connection. Slate described how working on the show led her to contemplate her own fears of standing still and missing out on growth in the face of life’s challenges. She hoped the series would inspire viewers to recognize and move through their own stopping points, rather than remain blocked by grief, trauma, or joy:
“I want people to be excited about identifying what might be a stopping point or a definition that is entombing them in a way, and to decide to bust out if they want to.”
—Jenny Slate, Actress
The show’s creators, cast, and the real people whose stories inspired it, all collaborated to craft a drama where feelings are vibrant, emotions run deep, and honesty remains at the center. Williams and Slate demonstrated how actively exploring female friendship onscreen has the power to resonate far beyond television, opening doors to conversations and understanding about intimacy, love, and personal freedom—just as Michelle Williams explores female friendship in Dying for Sex.
The Lasting Impact of an Honest Portrayal
Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, and the creative team behind Dying for Sex achieved an unusually frank and energetic depiction of female friendship, bound by the joys and hardships of life. By bringing Molly Kochan and Nikki Boyer’s story to television, they contributed to expanding the range of emotional intimacy seen on screen and deepening how audiences understand the transformative power of connection. The process forged lasting professional and personal relationships, set a new standard for honest portrayals, and sparked reflections on change, resilience, and the essential role of friends in facing both life’s triumphs and tragedies.
