It’s been more than a year since Heath Ledger’s tragic death, and Michelle Williams is still dealing with the loss. “After the first year, the pain is less intense; it’s less immediate,” the actress tells the October issue of Vogue. “But the magical thinking goes away too. And that’s a whole new reckoning.” For some time after the death, Williams, 29, says she didn’t know what her boundaries were in regards to speaking about her former boyfriend, who died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 28 in January 2008. “I can talk about grief because that’s mine, about single parenting, about trying to balance work and kids,” she said. “But what I don’t have to talk about is what happened between Heath and me in our relationship.” Williams and Ledger, who first met when they filmed “Brokeback Mountain,” had daughter Matilda Rose, now 3, during their three-year relationship. The couple amicably split in August 2007. “‘Brokeback Mountain’ was an unrepeatable moment in time, a very charmed time in my life,” she shared. “I was in love. I was in a movie I was proud to be a part of, and with a beautiful brand-new baby. Everything was good in that moment.” Sadly, the actress’ good times turned dark when Ledger passed. “I was holding it together by a string and a paper clip in the fall and winter,” she reveals. “I didn’t know if I could keep it all together… You console yourself by saying it’s all a deepening process. But it’s wired.” Williams says it is the couple’s daughter that has helped her through the grieving process. “Every time I really miss him and wonder where he’s gone, I just look at her,” she says. Another source of strength – and love – came to the actress last year when she began dating director Spike Jonze. “I thought falling in love again was the only thing that was going to save me from the pain,” she says. “This erroneous idea: It just makes things more complicated.” As for her future, Williams is looking forward to raising Matilda. “I feel hopeful and grateful,” she says. “For a while I thought we had lost everything. It makes you want to love better and live better.”

While I’m happy to hear that Michelle has gotten to a better coping space since Heath’s death, I don’t imagine that the pain of loss will ever be entirely gone. On the positive side, Matilda Rose will be a constant reminder of Heath’s incredible impact on the world and thru her, the best of him will live on. It’s great to see Michelle back in the swing of things … she looks pretty fantastic with this Mia Farrow short hair’do. After the jump, check out a few photos from Michelle’s Vogue magazine photospread …

If you would like to read more of this Vogue coverstory on Michelle Williams you can read the edited version online HERE or read the full version in the actual magazine.

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Awww … they are so cute! Matilda looks so much like her father, it’s uncanny. While the sad loss of Heath is still very much palpable (at least, for me … I suspect it is for many of you, too), it’s so nice to see that his legacy will carry on in his beautiful daughter. Whether or not she grows up to be an actress is beside the point … Heath’s spirit will live on in Matilda no matter what she ends up doing when she grows up. For now, her schedule is filled with playdates … in that endeavor, she seems to be excelling quite nicely.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Generally, I enjoy seeing photos of Ryan Gosling at work … whether he’s moving furniture, lookin’ all beat up & bruised or just smiling in between shooting scenes he is always fun to look at. That said, I’m not too keen on seeing photos of him smoochin’ up on Ms. Williams. It seems … unfair, no? I can’t say that I place the blame on her, tho. Can you imagine if YOU were offered a hefty paycheck to play tonsil hockey with Ryan Gosling? Get it, girl. I know I would.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

It is really great seeing Matilda (and her mom) looking so happy … especially in the wake of the tragic loss of Heath Ledger last year. I realize that one cannot mourn forever and Matilda is still very young, so seeing her look this happy and content is really heartwarming. I remember getting swung like that when I was a kid … it’s too bad we grow out of things like that.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Mickey Rourke and “The Wrestler” have won top honors at the Spirit Awards, the annual eve-of-Oscars salute to the best of independent cinema. Rourke, a nominee at Sunday’s Academy Awards, won the best actor for his performance as a washed-up prizefighter in director Darren Aronofsky’s moving drama, which later scooped the ceremony’s best picture prize. Rourke’s award was the latest in a series of honors that have gone to the 56-year-old, who has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after his career suffered a prolonged slump through the 1990s. In a typically profanity-laced acceptance speech, Rourke dedicated the win to “Wrestler” director Aronofsky — and his pet chihuahua, who died last week. “I’ve just gotten thousands of letters from strangers and people that know me about my dog that died six days ago, Loki. This is for you baby,” he said. “Thank you Darren Aronofsky for believing in me. Directors like Darren come around every 25 years,” added Rourke. Aronofksy said he had been drawn to the “The Wrestler” because of its subject matter. “Wrestling was a world no one had tackled in a serious way, and the more we looked into that world, the more complex it seemed,” he said. In other awards Saturday, Oscar nominee Melissa Leo won the best actress award for her performance in the human-trafficking drama “Frozen River.” Tom McCarthy meanwhile took best director honors for “The Visitor,” which is notable for helping journeyman Richard Jenkins earn a best actor nomination at Sunday’s Oscars. In the supporting actor and actress categories, Spanish siren Penelope Cruz won for her performance in Woody Allen’s steamy comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Cruz will be seeking to emulate the success at the Oscars, where she is nominated in the best supporting actress category. “I didn’t expect this,” Cruz said. “I go to all awards like this, not expecting anything, so it’s always a surprise when I win.” Meanwhile James Franco picked up the best supporting actor award for his portrayal of gay politician Harvey Milk’s long-time lover Scott Smith in the Gus Van Sant biopic “Milk,” which also earned best first screenplay for writer Dustin Lance Black. Black later paid tribute to Sean Penn’s portrayal of Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official. “Sean’s performance really captured Harvey,” Black said. “That’s why this film has such a connection beyond gay and lesbian audiences. We need to continue building the coalitions that Harvey was so good at.” In other notable awards Saturday, France’s “The Class (Entre Les Murs)” won the best foreign film, while the best documentary went to “Man on Wire,” director James Marsh’s exhilarating account of Frenchman Philippe Petit’s tight-rope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. “What Philippe did was to stop time, it was a little miracle,” Marsh told reporters.

Altho the Film Indepedent’s Spirit Awards are only 25 years old, I love that there is a place for Indie films to get their due when, overwhelmingly, the Motion Picture Academy tends to overlook many amazing performances due to, well, their indieness. True, some Independent Films and actors get honored at the Academy Awards but, for the most part, name recognition plays a huge part in the voting process. I’m sure many of you have never even heard of the film Frozen River and yet, it was one of the year’s strongest films. After the jump, check out a couple photos from the show itself and some pics of a few winners posing with their Indie trophies in the press room afterward …

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that James Franco took home the award for Best Supporting Male. He turned in such an amazing performance in Milk, I’m thrilled for his win. I’m also happy that Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler took home the top prize. I have been a HUGE Aronofsky fan since his movies Pi and Requiem for a Dream changed the way I viewed movies (ie. as an art form and not merely as entertainment). If you have not seen either of those films GO SEE THEM NOW! They are amazing. While I don’t think that The Wrestler will win Best Picture at the Oscars tonight, my money is on Rourke to win the Best Actor trophy tonight. In any event, much congrats goes out to the winners at this year’s Film Indepedent’s Spirit Awards.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

After months of low-key dating, it seems Michelle Williams and Spike Jonze are finally ready to take their romance public. After attending a Cinema Society screening of their new film, Synecdoche, New York in Manhattan Wednesday night, the couple walked out of the auditorium with Jonze caressing Williams’ back and wrapping his arm around her waist. The pair held hands as they walked through the lobby, where they met up with Synecdoche costar Catherine Keener. While the two women chatted and munched on popcorn, Jonze snaked his arm around Williams’ waist again. “He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her,” said an onlooker. “It was very cute.” But the sparks really started to fly later that night, when they headed to the Gramercy Hotel’s rooftop club for the Mulberry-sponsored afterparty. While the two – who have been romantically linked since this summer – talked with friends, they stood so close they were “practically spooning,” said one fellow guest. And later, when they decided to leave the bash at around 1 a.m., Williams and Jonze shared a mini makeout session – on their way to the elevator.

I am thrilled that Michelle Williams appears to have found a new person to get romantical with. Whether it’s fair or not, I tend to consider Michelle a very sad person … I’m glad to know that she’s getting some nookie at least. Hopefully it’ll help her demeanor. The pics of Michelle with Matilda are just too cute. That little girl’s adorableness just kills me. It looks like she is getting the start on the Halloween fun with that purple princess/fairy dress. It looks like life is very good for the Williams women these days.

[Photo credit: INFdaily, Splash News; Source]