Michelle Williams made one of her first public outings since revealing she quietly welcomed a baby girl earlier this year, appearing Friday at the reopening of W New York—Union Square in a black asymmetrical gown with gold chain straps.
The 45-year-old actress, who disclosed the birth during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last month, arrived at the star-studded event looking radiant as guests dined at Seahorse, the new seafood restaurant and raw bar from restaurateur John McDonald, before moving to a cocktail party in the hotel’s Living Room.
Williams told guest host Tiffany Haddish on Jimmy Kimmel Live that the latest child was born via surrogate, thanking the woman by name. "Then I've got to give a big shout out to Christine, 'cuz this last baby did not come through my body," Williams said on the program. "Thanks to Christine, I have three under 5 at home." She later described the challenge of balancing a career and young children, saying, "Everything's good and under control. I'm the adult. I'm trying to figure out the sort of life-work balance...I hear a lot of people are talking about self-care, and I'm just wondering when. Because I'm a working mom. Like, I already have the guilt, and I don't want to take more time away from them, but I understand, like, I need to fill up the tank."
Williams and her husband, director Thomas Kail, who is known for staging productions of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton and In the Heights, share three young children: a five-year-old son, Hart; a two-year-old whose sex and name have not been disclosed; and the newborn daughter. Williams is also the mother of a 19-year-old daughter, Matilda, from a previous relationship with the late actor Heath Ledger.
The reopened W New York—Union Square event drew a diverse guest list that included actress Jane Krakowski, model and designer Richie Shazam, musician Moses Sumney, actor Lucien Laviscount, model Ella Emhoff, and socialites Sophia and Aurora Culpo. The evening featured DJ sets by Toro y Moi and Desiree.
Williams, known for her work in films including My Week With Marilyn and Manchester by the Sea, has been noted in recent years for balancing acting projects with parenting. She and Kail were married in 2020. The couple have kept many personal details private, and Williams' announcement on late-night television was the first public confirmation this year of the newest addition to their family.
At the W event, Williams posed for photographs inside the newly transformed hotel and appeared at ease among other celebrities and industry figures. Attendees began the evening with dinner at Seahorse before moving to a higher-energy reception in the hotel's common spaces.
Williams' public remarks on Kimmel underscored the growing public conversation about working parenthood in entertainment, with her comments reflecting the logistics and emotional trade-offs many performers navigate while raising young children. She has continued to work intermittently in film and television while maintaining a largely private family life.
No further details about the newborn’s name or the couple’s plans for public appearances were disclosed at the event.