Fresh Air: Best Of — Michelle Williams & Sarah Snook Released May 10, 2025 | Hosted by NPR’s Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley
Overview
In this special "Best Of" episode of Fresh Air Weekend, hosts Terry Gross and Tonya Moseley delve into the captivating works and personal insights of two acclaimed actresses: Michelle Williams and Sarah Snook. Michelle Williams stars in the darkly humorous FX series Dying for Sex, while Sarah Snook shines on Broadway in her Tony-nominated one-person adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. This episode offers intimate conversations that explore themes of sexuality, friendship, artistic integrity, and personal growth.
Michelle Williams on “Dying for Sex” and Personal Reflections
Exploring “Dying for Sex”
Michelle Williams discusses her role in Dying for Sex, a series that blends dark humor with poignant storytelling about a woman confronting terminal breast cancer. The show, based on a true story and adapted from a Wondery podcast, follows Molly (Williams) as she navigates her final days by seeking out sexual pleasure, a topic she admits she hadn’t fully considered until recently.
“The consideration of one's own pleasure was not in the conversation when I was coming of age. It was, first of all, you shouldn't do it if you have to. You'll probably suffer a tragedy, get sick or die.”
— Michelle Williams (04:33)
Themes of Pleasure and Societal Norms
Williams reflects on societal expectations surrounding female sexuality and pleasure, emphasizing how these themes are central to Molly’s journey in the series. She discusses the importance of reclaiming pleasure even in the face of mortality.
“It's about reclaiming pleasure, even after we've been told that it doesn't belong to us.”
— Michelle Williams (09:51)
The Power of Friendship
The show also highlights the profound friendship between Molly and her caretaker, Nikki, played by Jenny Slate. Williams speaks passionately about the significance of female friendships, likening them to soulmates.
“I think it's possible to be both scared and brave at the same time. And that's what moved me so much about Molly's journey and this best friendship.”
— Michelle Williams (07:04)
Personal Life and Community
Williams shares intimate details about her personal life, including her close-knit friendships that resemble a communal living environment. She credits her friend Jeremy Strong for being a strong presence in her life, especially after significant personal losses.
“There was a period of my life where we had room to share and my friends came to make our house feel like a home... Jeremy was there, my sister was there.”
— Michelle Williams (09:35)
Reflections on Activism and Future Generations
Williams expresses concerns about the current socio-political climate, referencing movements like MeToo and Black Lives Matter. However, she remains optimistic about the future, particularly in regards to her daughter’s generation.
“I just think, oh, she's just light years ahead of where I maybe even am. She teaches me. She is proud of me and accepting of me.”
— Michelle Williams (12:26)
2019 Emmy Award Speech
Williams revisits her profound 2019 Emmy acceptance speech for her role in Fosse/Verdon. She highlights her commitment to supporting female empowerment in the arts and stresses the importance of equitable treatment in the workplace.
“The next time a woman, and especially a woman of color... tells you what she needs in order to do her job, listen to her, believe her.”
— Michelle Williams (21:33)
Final Thoughts: Humor and Pleasure as Resilience
Concluding her discussion, Williams emphasizes the role of humor and the reclamation of pleasure as essential tools for resilience and healing.
“The reclamation of humor... is a way to remember something better. ... the insistence on continuing to find the humor, but most of all the pleasure, because they can't take that away from us.”
— Michelle Williams (25:31)
Maureen Corrigan Reviews Daniel Kellman’s “The Director”
In a compelling book review, Maureen Corrigan delves into Daniel Kellman's novel The Director. The novel reimagines the life of G.W. Pabst, an influential film director who navigates the treacherous waters of Nazi Germany's film industry. Corrigan praises Kellman's nuanced portrayal of art versus morality, highlighting how Pabst's compromises reflect broader societal conflicts.
“When do compromises turn into full blown capitulation? How many accommodations can someone make with evil before they themselves become part of the evil?”
— Maureen Corrigan (25:00)
Corrigan commends Kellman's ability to raise profound ethical questions through tightly woven dialogues and vivid historical settings, making The Director a thought-provoking read that intertwines commercial fiction with deep moral inquiries.
Sarah Snook on “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and Balancing Multiple Roles
Innovative Broadway Performance
Sarah Snook discusses her groundbreaking performance in the one-person Broadway adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Portraying all 26 characters, Snook explores the challenges and creative processes involved in such a multifaceted role.
“It's very much a physical sensation of each character sits somewhere differently in my body.”
— Sarah Snook (37:22)
Developing Unique Characters
Snook elaborates on how she differentiates each character through distinct vocal tones, physical movements, and emotional expressions. This meticulous approach allows her to bring each persona to life seamlessly.
“Each character had, and accent, as well as what physicality came from that. It's very much a physical sensation of each character sits somewhere differently in my body.”
— Sarah Snook (38:33)
Performing Opposite Herself
A unique aspect of the production is Snook acting opposite pre-recorded performances of herself, requiring intense focus and imaginative engagement.
“I can't interact with it in that way. It really forces you to listen to what the person is saying, to what I'm saying, and forces you to be really imaginative.”
— Sarah Snook (41:28)
Balancing Multiple Roles with “Succession”
Snook draws parallels between her role in Succession as Shiv Roy and her performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray. She discusses how her experiences in Succession, which involves complex character interactions and camera dynamics, informed her approach to her solo performance.
“The proximity of cameras and the kind of subtextual or subconscious awareness of them as a character in both Succession and Dorian has been really useful.”
— Sarah Snook (47:22)
Character Development: Shiv Roy
Snook delves into the nuances of her character Shiv Roy, an astute observer within a tumultuous family dynamic. She explains how Shiv's contemplative nature and strategic mindset are portrayed through subtle acting choices.
“There's a cunningness and, like, a cunning quality to Shiv, and a part of that is just being the observer and waiting her turn.”
— Sarah Snook (50:34)
Final Reflections
Concluding her interview, Snook reflects on the interplay between her performances and the importance of versatility and dedication in her craft.
“It was such a strange, strange, like, thing to have as a reference, like a real body reference, really, from my childhood...”
— Sarah Snook (40:33)
Production Credits
Fresh Air Weekend is produced by Teresa Madden, with executive producer Danny Miller and managing producer Sam Brigger. Technical direction and engineering are handled by Audrey Bentham, alongside host Terry Gross and Tonya Moseley.
Listen to the full episode here.