Michelle Williams opens up about being a single mother

The actress said raising her daughter without a father 'won't ever be right'

In a recent interview with Porter magazine, Michelle Williams opened up about her dating life, and what it's like to raise her daughter, Matilda, without Heath Ledger. The actor tragically died in 2008 at just 28 years old.

In the candid interview, the 36-year-old actress, who is set to play Janis Joplin in a new biopic, explained how she's learning to navigate the dating world.

'Talk about a learning process' she said. 'I think, God, what would I say about it? I feel really sensitive about it and certainly did not expect to still be dating at 36 with an 11-year-old. This is not what I imagined.

'I'm like a cat, I'm a very domestic creature. I just want to stay home and take care of people. But I'm also happy with myself and just because I might have a desire to be with someone... That won't lead me to marry the wrong person.'

Michelle also discussed her new film Manchester by the Sea, which hits UK cinemas on 13th January next year. The film follows Joe, who returns to his former home town after his brother's death and has to deal with his ex-wife, Randi, played by Michelle. She described how the film really struck a chord with her.

'In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I'm a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you've been. In pretty much all sense but one, I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not having her dad. You know, that's just something that doesn't... I mean, it just won't ever be right.'

Despite Matilda's father's tragic death, Michelle is clearly focused on giving her daughter the best life possible, and in a truly relatable moment, explains how it's the simple things in life that equate to 'everyday happiness' for her.

'I watched [Matilda] warm in the sun, in her swimsuit, get on her bicycle and smile and wave as she rode off to go meet her friends. I went back into the house and sobbed because of this incredibly simple moment – common everyday happiness.

'I really felt like in that moment, like wow, we've done it. Not only are we OK, she's happy. Life has brought us to a place that's not just surviving, but thriving.'