If you’ve spent any time scrolling through red carpet photos from the Oscars or the Golden Globes over the last twenty years, you’ve seen them. Two women, usually holding hands or whispering into each other’s ears, looking like they’re having a much better time than anyone else in the room. One is Michelle Williams, the critically acclaimed, somewhat reserved indie darling. The other is Busy Philipps, the loud, vibrantly honest actress and host known for her unfiltered social media presence.
They are, quite simply, the blueprint.
In a town where friendships are often "transactional" or last exactly as long as a press tour, Michelle Williams best friend status isn't just a fun fact. It’s a career-spanning, life-saving constant. Most people assume they’ve just been friends forever. That’s basically true, but the way they met is actually way more "teen drama" than you might think.
A Chemical Reaction in Wilmington
It started on a pier. Or near a market. Specifically in Wilmington, North Carolina, back in 2001.
Michelle had been on Dawson’s Creek since the beginning, playing the troubled Jen Lindley. Busy was the "new girl," cast in season five as Audrey Liddell, the wild college roommate to Katie Holmes’ Joey Potter. Before they even shook hands, people on set were already whispering about them. Michelle recently recalled being told, “When you two meet, there is going to be a chemical reaction.”
That sounds like a line from a bad screenplay. But it was right.
Busy remembers seeing Michelle for the first time as she was crossing a street, carrying a sleeve of Fig Newtons. No joke. Just a girl and her snacks. Busy was terrified to join such an established cast, but Michelle saw her and just... got it. It was love at first sight, but the platonic kind that hits you in the chest.
They spent their early twenties in North Carolina drinking boxed wine and crying. Honestly, who didn't? But their bond was forged in the fire of early fame and the weirdness of being young and televised.
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Why the World Obsesses Over "Willipps"
Why do we care?
Maybe it’s because Hollywood is usually so fake. Seeing these two at the 2017 Academy Awards—Michelle nominated for Manchester by the Sea—looking at each other with pure, unadulterated pride is refreshing. Michelle famously told reporters on the red carpet, “She’s proof that the love of your life does not have to be a man! That’s the love of my life right there.”
That quote went viral for a reason.
It shifted the narrative. It wasn't about who Michelle was dating or her tragic past (though we’ll get to that). It was about the radical idea that a female friendship can be the primary relationship in a person’s life. Busy has been Michelle’s date to more awards shows than most husbands have attended with their wives. They have a routine. They look at each other before the cameras start flashing and remind themselves how lucky they are.
It’s their "touchstone for reality."
The Secret of the Delicate Under-Eye Area
In a hilarious 2025 interview on Busy’s show Busy This Week, the two got emotional talking about their 25-year history. They started to tear up, then immediately stopped themselves. Why? Because of "the delicate under-eye area."
They have a rule. No ruining the makeup. No puffiness.
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It’s a funny bit of banter, but it masks a deeper truth. These two have seen each other through the "absolute overwhelming grief of being human," as Busy once put it. They’ve moved past the stage of "crying together" and into the stage of "protecting each other."
Through the Darkest Days
You can't talk about Michelle Williams best friend without mentioning the year 2008.
When Heath Ledger passed away, the world was watching Michelle. She was 27, with a two-year-old daughter, Matilda, and a swarm of paparazzi outside her door. During that time, her circle tightened. Busy was there, obviously. She was the one shielding Michelle from the worst of it.
But there’s another name that often gets lost in the "best friend" conversation: Jeremy Strong.
Before he was the Emmy-winning star of Succession, Jeremy was a struggling actor and a close friend of Michelle's. After Heath died, Jeremy actually moved into Michelle's home. He spent the better part of three years there, helping her raise Matilda. He would play ponies with a toddler so Michelle could have a moment to breathe.
While Busy is the public-facing soulmate, people like Jeremy represent the quiet, sturdy infrastructure of Michelle’s life. It takes a village, especially when that village is under siege by TMZ.
Red Carpets and Portable Toilets
The "Willipps" legend isn't just about tragedy; it’s about the absurdity of being a celebrity.
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Take the 2016 Critics' Choice Awards. They took a photo together in a porta-potty because they liked the lighting better than the actual red carpet. That’s the vibe. They aren't there to "see and be seen." They are there to hang out with their best friend and maybe get a free steak dinner.
- The 2006 Oscars: This was the beginning. Michelle was nominated for Brokeback Mountain. Busy was there.
- The 2011/2012 Circuit: For Blue Valentine and My Week with Marilyn, Busy was the constant plus-one.
- The 2018 Golden Globes: Michelle actually brought Tarana Burke (founder of #MeToo) as her date, but Busy was right there at the after-party.
They even share awards. Busy once revealed she has one of Michelle’s Golden Globes at her house. She’s literally the keeper of the trophies.
How to Build a "Michelle and Busy" Style Friendship
Honestly, looking at them makes most people feel a little bit of "friendship envy."
But their bond isn't magic. It’s work. They live on opposite coasts—Michelle in New York, Busy in Los Angeles—yet they manage to stay more connected than people who live in the same zip code.
The Takeaway Lessons:
- Prioritize the "Check-In": Busy has talked about how they make an effort to talk every day, even if it's just about a couch they don't like or a poem they read.
- Be the "Safe Space": In your 20s, drama is exhausting. By your 30s and 40s, you need a friend who is a "touchstone for reality," not a source of stress.
- Show Up (Literally): When one is nominated for an Oscar, the other is on the plane. No questions asked.
- Protect the Under-Eye: Sometimes, you have to be the one to tell your friend to stop crying and start moving forward.
What’s Next for the Duo?
There are constant rumors of a Dawson’s Creek reunion. Busy has said she, Michelle, and Katie Holmes talk about it. But even if Jen Lindley stays in the TV graveyard, the real-life version of that story is still being written.
Whether they are posing in a bathroom or holding hands on a stage, the message is clear. Men come and go. Careers wax and wane. But a "chemical reaction" that started over a sleeve of Fig Newtons can last a lifetime.
If you want to apply this kind of loyalty to your own life, start by identifying the person who "gets it" without you having to explain. Then, make sure you're their "touchstone" too. True friendship isn't just about the highlight reel; it's about who's standing in the porta-potty with you when the rest of the world is watching the red carpet.
Next Steps for Long-Term Bonds: Audit your inner circle. If you don't have a "Busy" to your "Michelle," look for people who share your values in the small things—books, poetry, or even just a mutual love for boxed wine. Real connection is built in the "boring" moments between the big events.