From costars to BFFs! Dawson’s Creek’s love triangle between Joey, Pacey and Dawson still has fans talking decades later, but many viewers are even bigger fans of Busy Philipps and Michelle Williams’ friendship, which all started on the teen drama.
Williams played Jen Lindley on the WB series for three seasons before Philipps joined the cast as Joey’s (Katie Holmes) college roommate, Audrey Liddell, during season 4. Their chemistry was instant, and more than 20 years later, the women are still a big part of each other’s lives.
Over the years, the Busy Tonight alum has accompanied her best friend on the red carpet and often gushes about how proud she is of the Oscar nominee.
“We met 20 years ago, which makes no sense because we’re still 27,” Philipps joked via Instagram in September 2020 while paying tribute to Williams on her 40th birthday. “I really wish I could be with my friend tonight celebrating how special and incredible and brilliant she is. And to tell her in person how I’m eternally grateful that we met all those years ago because there’s no one I’d rather weather all the storms with and celebrate all the wonderful things with and cry and cry and laugh and laugh and drink and not drink with.”
The Cougar Town alum added: “I can’t wait to be old someday with my friend and go to farmers markets in the countryside with [Michelle] — my long grey hair parted in the middle and pulled tightly back in a bun and she in some giant sun hat, protecting her still perfect porcelain skin.”
In January 2021, Philipps exclusively told Us Weekly about her and Williams’ favorite awards season ritual, the post-show breakdown.
“Post any awards show, which of course everybody was like, ‘Oh, we love seeing you at the award shows together.’ We always end up back at her hotel room, you know, because she doesn’t live in Los Angeles, and we just get undone together,” the Girls5Eva star said.
Philipps noted that the ladies take out their extensions, put on sweats and get cozy before going to eat Jon & Vinny’s. “[We are] a little bit like old lady glamour, without the cigarettes, because we don’t smoke,” she joked.
Four months later, the “Busy Philipps Is Doing Her Best” podcast host told Us that she wouldn’t rule out working with Williams again soon. The dynamic duo last appeared together in Amy Schumer‘s I Feel Pretty in 2018.
“It fell into place because my then-husband [Marc Silverstein] was directing it,” she said in May 2021. “I guess now that Michelle — that Tommy [Kail]’s a director too, maybe we can get him to direct something for the two of us.”
Scroll to see the friends’ cutest joint appearances of all time:
From costars to BFFs! Dawson’s Creek’s love triangle between Joey, Pacey and Dawson still has fans talking decades later, but many viewers are even bigger fans of Busy Philipps and Michelle Williams’ friendship, which all started on the teen drama.
Williams played Jen Lindley on the WB series for three seasons before Philipps joined the cast as Joey’s (Katie Holmes) college roommate, Audrey Liddell, during season 4. Their chemistry was instant, and more than 20 years later, the women are still a big part of each other’s lives.
Over the years, the Busy Tonight alum has accompanied her best friend on the red carpet and often gushes about how proud she is of the Oscar nominee.
“We met 20 years ago, which makes no sense because we’re still 27,” Philipps joked via Instagram in September 2020 while paying tribute to Williams on her 40th birthday. “I really wish I could be with my friend tonight celebrating how special and incredible and brilliant she is. And to tell her in person how I’m eternally grateful that we met all those years ago because there’s no one I’d rather weather all the storms with and celebrate all the wonderful things with and cry and cry and laugh and laugh and drink and not drink with.”
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The Cougar Town alum added: “I can’t wait to be old someday with my friend and go to farmers markets in the countryside with [Michelle] — my long grey hair parted in the middle and pulled tightly back in a bun and she in some giant sun hat, protecting her still perfect porcelain skin.”
In January 2021, Philipps exclusively told Us Weekly about her and Williams’ favorite awards season ritual, the post-show breakdown.
“Post any awards show, which of course everybody was like, ‘Oh, we love seeing you at the award shows together.’ We always end up back at her hotel room, you know, because she doesn’t live in Los Angeles, and we just get undone together,” the Girls5Eva star said.
Philipps noted that the ladies take out their extensions, put on sweats and get cozy before going to eat Jon & Vinny’s. “[We are] a little bit like old lady glamour, without the cigarettes, because we don’t smoke,” she joked.
Four months later, the “Busy Philipps Is Doing Her Best” podcast host told Us that she wouldn’t rule out working with Williams again soon. The dynamic duo last appeared together in Amy Schumer‘s I Feel Pretty in 2018.
“It fell into place because my then-husband [Marc Silverstein] was directing it,” she said in May 2021. “I guess now that Michelle — that Tommy [Kail]’s a director too, maybe we can get him to direct something for the two of us.”
Scroll to see the friends’ cutest joint appearances of all time:
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Credit: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
Jen and Audrey
Philipps was by Williams’ side at the Gotham Awards in November 2022, watching as the Fabelmans star paid tribute to their former costar Mary Beth Peil in her speech.
“My bff was honored at the Gotham Awards last night with the Artist Tribute and I was so honored, as always, to be her date. Paul Dano (now officially one of my favorite people) gave such a thoughtful and beautiful speech to Michelle about her work as an artist and a person and a mother and obviously I cried,” Philipps wrote via Instagram at the time. “And Michelle, in true Michelle form, took the opportunity of being honored to pay tribute and honor the great Mary Beth Peil (aka Gramz from Dawsons Creek) and to talk about how working with Mary Beth changed Michelle’s life and career. 😭❤️ Anyway, it was really beautiful and I wish Mary Beth had been there with us (she was supposed to be but she didn’t feel well ☹️).”
Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock; David Fisher/Shutterstock
Perfect Project
In May 2021, three years after the duo shared the screen in I Feel Pretty, Philipps joked that there was one thing that could get her to team up with Williams again in the future.
“It fell into place because my then-husband [Marc Silverstein] was directing it,” she told Us exclusively before joking that Williams’ husband, Thomas Kail, could take on their next project. “Tommy’s a director too, maybe we can get him to direct something for the two of us.”
Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Pandemic Pros
The Freaks and Geeks alum exclusively told Us in May 2021 how her relationship with the Blue Valentine star shifted amid the coronavirus pandemic. “It has been a little bit tricky because while we’re sort of so much closer in some way, we haven’t been able to, like, really cuddle and spend as much time together as we would love,” Philipps said, noting she moved from L.A. to New York amid COVID-19 to film Girls5Eva, which put her in the same city as Williams.
The duo were able to see one another toward the end of 2020 after social distancing apart for a little bit. “Both of our families quarantined and then ended up spending some time over the holiday break together. And that was, like, really, really wonderful,” Philipps explained. “And I am so thrilled to be close to her now.”
Credit: Courtesy of Busy Philipps/Instagram
Awards Season Ritual
“Post any awards show, which of course everybody was like, ‘Oh, we love seeing you at the award shows together.’ We always end up back at her hotel room, you know, because she doesn’t live in Los Angeles, and we just get undone together,” Philipps exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2021, referencing her awards season ritual with Williams. “We’re just, like, taking out extensions, taking off eyelashes, washing our faces, putting on sweats, putting on cozy outfits,” she said. “And then we go eat at Jon & Vinny’s or go get food. [We are] a little bit like old lady glamour, without the cigarettes, because we don’t smoke.”
Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Golden Friendship
The former Busy Tonight host attended the 2020 Golden Globes in January alongside her BFF, who was nominated for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV for Fosse/Verdon. Williams also brought her fiancé, Thomas Kail, with whom she is expecting a child.
Credit: Courtesy Busy Philipps/Instagram
NYC Reunions
Have friends, will travel! “Love a mirror selfie with a friend.❤️,” Philipps captioned this sweet shot in December 2019 after reuniting with her BFF in New York City for the night.
Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety/Shutterstock
Support System
Philipps arrived as Williams’ date at the 2019 Emmy Awards in September. Williams was nominated for Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Fosse/Verdon.
Credit: Busy Philipps/Instagram
Liquid Courage
In a series of Instagram Stories, Busy Philipps and Michelle Williams popped a bottle of white wine in October 2017, and began to document Philipps dyeing Williams hair to get the perfect shade of pink!
Credit: Busy Philipps/Instagram
Sleeping Beauties
The duo snapped a photo of themselves laying on pillows, which Philipps captioned, “We’re tired. Thank you Paris for an exhausting and exhilarating four days. I would say I’m going to now sleep for four days but I have kids so that’s OBVIOUSLY not gonna happen.” in October 2017.
Credit: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty
Fashion For Two
Philipps and Williams attend the Louis Vuitton show together during Paris Fashion Week in October 2017.
Credit: Busy Philipps/Instagram
Where My Ladies At?
Philipps and Williams took the Fashion Week party to the ladies room in October 2017 where Williams is seen getting a touchup, while Philipps snaps a mirror selfie of the group.
Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
The Yin To Her Yang
The duo brought the perfect balance of colors to the opening of the Louis Vuitton Boutique in Paris during Paris Fashion Week in October 2017.
Credit: Courtesy Busy Philipps/Instagram
Jen and Audrey Forever!
The friends reminisced about their Dawson’s Creek days in September 2017. “We found a dock. WHERE YOU AT DAWSON? #wedontwanttowaitforourlivestobeover,” the Cougar Town alum captioned an Instagram pic of them at the time.
Credit: Busy Philipps/Instagram
Best Friends Forever
Philipps posted a photo of herself and Williams in best friend leather jackets onto her Instagram account in September 2017. She accompanied the photo with a sweet birthday shoutout, “Found her. Happy birthday to my better half. I love you, M. You make everything better.”
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty
These Two!
Williams brought Philipps as her plus one to the 89th Academy Awards in February 2017, when she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for Manchester by the Sea.
Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty
Busy Bees
The former Dawson’s Creek costars shined at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards in L.A. in January 2017.
Credit: Neilson Barnard/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Golden Girls
In Louis Vuitton (Williams) and Stella McCartney (Philipps) at the Golden Globes in January 2017.
Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty
By Her Side
At the Louis Vuitton–hosted screening of Manchester by the Sea on December 2016.
Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Ladies in Lace
At the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in December 2016.
Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty
Case of the Giggles
In a slitted Louis Vuitton dress (Williams) and floral Ingie Paris (Philipps) at the Tony Awards in June 2016.
Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Hand in Hand
At the Oscars in February 2012 (the year Williams, in Louis Vuitton, was nominated for Best Actress for My Week With Marilyn).
Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage
Babes in Blue
At the Film Independent Spirit Awards in February 2012.
Credit: Jeff Vespa/Getty
Say Cheese!
In blue velvet Jason Wu (Williams) and fringed Temperley London (Philipps) at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards in January 2012.
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Heart Eyes
In beaded Chanel (Williams) and Douglas Hannant (Philipps) at the 2011 Oscars in February 2011.
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty
Printed Pals
At the Weinstein Company’s 2011 Golden Globes afterparty in January 2011.
Credit: J. Vespa/WireImage
Oscars Mugging
With Williams, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Brokeback Mountain, in her iconic marigold Vera Wang gown at the Academy Awards in March 2006.
