Entertainment
A Minute With Michelle Williams playing Steven Spielberg’s mother
Michelle Williams won critical acclaim for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical coming-of-age drama, “The Fabelmans”, and her portrayal of the director’s mother secured her the best actress Oscar nomination on Tuesday.
Co-written by Spielberg and Tony Kushner, the movie is set in the 1950s and 60s and follows the fictional character Sammy Fabelman, based on Spielberg as a young man, as he falls in love with the moving pictures and discovers a family secret that changes the way he views the world.
Williams and Paul Dano play Sammy’s mother Mitzi and father Burt, inspired by Spielberg’s parents, the late Leah Adler and Arnold Spielberg.
In an interview with Reuters earlier this month, Williams spoke about the role, seeing an emotional Spielberg on set and during awards season.
Below are excerpts, edited for length and clarity.
Q: What was it like to essentially play Steven Spielberg’s mother and take on this high-energy role?
Williams: “Very high energy! Honestly, it was a beautiful thing to inhabit for a period of time. I loved being her. I loved burning that brightly and having that much to give, to the point I really missed her… when it was all over.”
Q: As a mother and artist, how much did your character Mitzi and Spielberg’s mother Leah Adler resonate with you?
Williams: “She really did and she continues to honestly, the way that she was an artist. She was an incredible pianist, could have been a concert pianist, and could have travelled the world. But she used all of that energy and she put it into her family and she made her family this huge creative act. She made their childhoods so full of imagination and whimsy and play and joy and fun.”
Q: I understand Spielberg got quite emotional when she saw you and Paul Dano on set in character as his parents?
Williams: “It’s such an interesting moment because here’s this man in front of you weeping because he’s so moved to see the presence of his parents again, which is really why he made the movie because he loved them so much and he wanted to bring them back and honour them and tell their story.
So your heart goes out to him because he’s emotional, but also inside, as an actor, you’re thinking: ‘Oh, thank God, like, it’s working. We’re on the right track.”
Q: There’s a lot of excitement over your performance. How do you approach awards season at this stage of your career?
Williams: “You make your work because you want people to see it and you want them to connect to it and so when something connects like this, it’s really rewarding.”
Kareena Kapoor paid a special tribute to her grandfather Raj Kapoor during IIFA 2025 with an incredible performance on his popular song ‘Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua’ from his film, “Shree 420”.
In addition to this, Kareena also gave a memorable performance on another one of Raj Kapoor’s songs from “Shree 420, “Mera Joota Hai Japani”.
From the costumes to the expressions, Kareena’s performance is everything we hoped for.
Both these performances have been dropped by IIFA on their official IG account.
Previously, talking about her IIFA performance, the ‘Jab We Met’ actress called it “especially close to my heart”.
Elated to return to the IIFA stage, Kareena released a statement that read, “Celebrating Indian Cinema’s Global Triumph in the Heart of Jaipur, I’m excited to be returning to the IIFA stage after many years, and what better time than for their Silver Jubilee Edition.
“In a sense, IIFA’s journey and mine have almost run parallel – we’re celebrating 25 years together in the cinema.
“This performance is especially close to my heart as it pays tribute to my legendary grandfather, Raj Kapoor, whose 100th birth anniversary was recently celebrated across the country with so much love.
“It’s a surreal moment for me to be able to connect these dots and be a part of this celebration of legacy, family, and the enduring power of cinema.”
Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, will host a new weekly podcast series starting this month featuring a special guest pulled from the world of entertainment, sports, health and business.
“IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson” will address “everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us,” according to a press release. IMO is slang for “in my opinion.”
Some of the guests slated to speak to the former first lady and Robinson, the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, include the actors Issa Rae and Keke Palmer and psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik.
Other guests include filmmakers Seth and Lauren Rogan; soccer star Abby Wambach; authors Jay Shetty, Glennon Doyle and Logan Ury; editor Elaine Welteroth; radio personality Angie Martinez; media mogul Tyler Perry; actor Tracee Ellis Ross; husband-and-wife athlete and actor Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union; and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky.
The first two episodes — the first is an introductory one and the second features Rae — will premiere on March 12. New episodes will be released weekly and will be available on all audio platforms and YouTube.’
“With everything going on in the world, we’re all looking for answers and people to turn to,” Obama said in a statement. “There is no single way to deal with the challenges we may be facing — whether it’s family, faith, or our personal relationships — but taking the time to open up and talk about these issues can provide hope.”
Obama has had two other podcasts — “The Michelle Obama Podcast” in 2020 and another in 2023, “The Light We Carry.” Her husband, Barack Obama, offered a series of conversations about American life between him and Bruce Springsteen.
The new podcast is a production of Higher Ground, the media company founded in 2018 by the former president and first lady.
International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA 2025), which was held in Jaipur, concluded on a magical note courtesy of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
He showed up on the stage in style and left everyone awestruck with his performance on tracks ranging from Chaiyya Chaiyya and Lungi Dance to Jhoome Jo Pathaan, and Shava Shava among others.
To make the night more memorable and nostalgic for the audience in Jaipur, he also shook a leg with his Dil To Pagal Hai co-star Madhuri Dixit Nene.
The duo relived their old days by grooving to Koi Ladki Hai from the 1997 hit Dil To Pagal Hai, evoking cheers from the crowd.
His entry was as grand as ever. Right before he appeared on the stage, several drones lit up the sky in Jaipur, taking the shape of Shah Rukh Khan’s name, his signature pose, and a crown.
Before hitting the stage, Shah Rukh made an appearance on the green carpet.
Dressed in a sleek all-black outfit, he was seen greeting paparazzi and fans.
While walking the green carpet, he also bumped into singer Shreya Ghoshal. The two shared a hug and posed for the cameras.
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