10 Subtle Instances Of Method Acting You Didn't Even Know About

9. Michelle Williams Tied A Belt Around Her Knees To Walk Like Marilyn Monroe

My Week With Marilyn
BBC Films

Michelle Williams is a star in her own right, but she took on the part of a true Hollywood icon in My Week With Marilyn, playing the titular character. As with playing any real-life figure, there's an element of research and really nailing the person's persona and characteristics, but Williams took this a step further. Literally.

One of the challenges with playing Monroe, for Williams at least, was how to walk like her. Admittedly most people wouldn't have blinked twice had she just walked normally, but Williams wanted to nail that Marilyn wiggle.

In order to do so, she tied a belt around her knees, forcing her to adopt a strange walking position that meant she could perfect it. She did, of course, but you'd never know from watching the lengths she had to go to first.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.