Michelle Williams and Thomas Kail built their relationship from a professional partnership to a romantic one. Since working together on the award-winning television miniseries Fosse/Verdon in 2018, the couple has quietly expanded their family to include four children.
Key Takeaways
- Michelle Williams and Thomas Kail met in 2018 while Williams played Gwen Verdon in Fosse/Verdon, which Kail directed.
- News of Williams' divorce from Phil Elverum broke in October 2018, months before reports of her engagement to Kail emerged.
- The couple made their official red carpet debut at the Golden Globe Awards on January 5, 2020.
- They welcomed three children together in 2020, 2022, and 2025, bringing their blended family to four children, including Williams' eldest daughter, Matilda Ledger.
Profile Summary
Full Name: Michelle Ingrid Williams / Thomas M. Kail
Common Name: Michelle Williams / Thomas Kail
Nickname: Chelle / Tommy Kail
Gender: Female / Male
Date of Birth: September 9, 1980 / January 20, 1977
Age: 45 years as of May 2026 / 49 years as of 2026
Zodiac Sign: Virgo / Capricorn
Place of Birth: Kalispell, Montana, United States / Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Nationality: American / American
Ethnicity: White / White
Hair Color: Blonde / Brown
Eye Color: Green / Brown
Height in Feet: 5'9" / -
Height in Centimeters: 163 / -
Father: Larry Richard Williams / Floyd Michael 'Mike' Kail
Mother: Carla Ingrid Williams (née Swenson) / Wendy Kail (née Green)
Siblings: 4 / 2
Children: 4 / 3
Profession: Actress / Actor
Education: Santa Fe Christian Schools / Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., Wesleyan University
Net Worth: $30 million / $30 million–$38 million
Michelle Williams and Thomas Kail's Full Relationship Timeline
Hollywood actress Michelle Williams and her husband, Thomas Kail, share a seven-year relationship that began as a working partnership in 2018. Williams is an American actress, while Kail is the executive producer of the 2026 live-action Moana film featuring Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga'aia. Since then, the couple has built a blended family of six as of May 2026. Here are the details of their relationship timeline.
October 2018: Where It All Began
The production of the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon began in October 2018. Michelle Williams played the role of actress and dancer Gwen Verdon. Her now-husband, Thomas Kail, served as executive producer and directed episodes 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8. Much like the protagonists of Fosse/Verdon, Williams and Kail's romance grew from a working relationship. Production wrapped up in late March 2019, ahead of the premiere on April 9, 2019.
April 2019: Michelle Williams Separates from Phil Elverum
On April 19, 2019, news of Michelle Williams' separation from her former husband, Phil Elverum, hit the tabloids. According to an insider source reported by People, Williams, who had been spotted without her wedding band on several occasions, had quietly finalized their divorce at the start of the year.
December 2019: Rumors of Engagement
On December 30, 2019, sources confirmed to People that Michelle Williams and Thomas Kail were engaged and expecting. The couple was spotted shopping for baby clothes at Seraphine's maternity boutique in Kensington, London, where Williams was filming Venom: Let There Be Carnage. The source also revealed that Williams' eldest daughter, Matilda Ledger, had played matchmaker in the relationship. Days later, Williams was spotted wearing a silver and white pearl engagement ring at JFK International Airport in New York City.
January 2020: Red Carpet Debut
An expectant Michelle Williams and her fiancé, Kail, made their red carpet debut at the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5, 2020. After receiving the Best Actress award for her performance in Fosse/Verdon, Williams gave a highly discussed acceptance speech advocating for reproductive freedom and women's voting rights, while also giving shout-outs to Tommy and Matilda. A day later, Busy Phillips and Marc Silverstein posted Instagram photos of the couple in a relaxed setting at Jon & Vinny's restaurant. Later that month, Williams and Kail appeared at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards. After receiving the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for Fosse/Verdon, Williams mentioned Kail in her acceptance speech, saying, "Tommy, like everything else in our life, I share this with you." On January 28, 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that the couple had purchased a $10.8 million, 3,000-square-foot townhouse in Brooklyn Heights.
March 2020: Rumors of a Secret Wedding
News of a secret wedding emerged in March 2020 after Kail was spotted wearing a ring on his wedding finger during an outing with Williams in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of New York City.
June 2020: Michelle Williams Welcomes Her Second Child
In June 2020, the couple welcomed their second child, a son named Hart. The highly private family kept details of the birth and their son's name out of the spotlight, only revealing them in 2022 during an interview with Variety. Williams told the publication that she gave birth to Hart during lockdown, and raising him helped put the dark headlines from the pandemic era in perspective. She added, "It was a reminder that life goes on. The world we brought a baby into is not the world we thought we were bringing a baby into, but the baby is ignorant of that. He experiences the unmitigated joy of discovery and the happiness of a loving home."
August 2021: Marriage Status Confirmed
A friend close to the couple confirmed their marital status to OK! Magazine, stating that after years of heartbreak, Williams had found her happily ever after. The insider said, "She's never been this joyful and content before. It hasn't been easy being a single mom, plus her relationships have all gone nowhere."
May 2022: Announcing a Third Child
In a May 2022 interview with Variety, Williams announced that she was expecting her third child and Kail's second. She told the outlet, "It's totally joyous. As the years go on, you sort of wonder what they might hold for you or not hold for you. It's exciting to discover that something you want again and again is available one more time. That good fortune is not lost on me or my family."
October 2022: Stepping Out with Newborn
On October 29, 2022, Thomas Kail and Michelle Williams were photographed by the Daily Mail on a stroll with their toddler and newborn child in a black BabyBjörn baby carrier. Their toddler son, Hart, raced in front of them playing with a red toy car. This was the first time since giving birth that Williams had been seen out in public. The publication also reported that the couple had welcomed their son sometime in September.
June 2023: Date Night at the Tony Awards
Thomas Kail and Michelle Williams attended the 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theatre on June 11, 2023, in New York City, to celebrate Kail's production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In March 2023, the couple also walked the Academy Awards red carpet during the 95th annual celebration in Hollywood, California.
August 2025: Fourth Child via Surrogate
Williams confirmed the birth of her and Kail's third child together via a surrogate during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! She told guest host Tiffany Haddish, "This last baby did not come out of my body. The miracle of our little girl is thanks to Christine... I have, thanks to Christine, three under 5 at home. Everything's good and under control. I'm the adult."
Early 2026: Red Carpet Appearances
On March 1, 2026, Thomas Kail and Michelle Williams attended the Actor Awards, where Williams won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series. The following month, the couple made a joint appearance at the opening night of the revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof at the Booth Theatre in New York City. Kail directed the production, which featured Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How did Michelle Williams and Thomas Kail meet? They met in October 2018 during the production of Fosse/Verdon.
- How many children does Thomas Kail have? He has four children in total: one stepdaughter from Williams' relationship with Heath Ledger and three biological children.
- Who was Thomas Kail's first wife? He was married to theatre actress and singer Angela Christian between 2006 and 2019.
- Is Michelle Williams married to Thomas Kail? They are believed to have secretly tied the knot in March 2020.
- How many times has Michelle Williams been married? She has been married twice: first to Phil Elverum and later to Thomas Kail.
- Did Michelle Williams give birth to all her children? She gave birth to her first three children and welcomed her fourth via a surrogate.
- Was Michelle Williams married to Heath Ledger? Although they did not marry, Williams and Ledger shared a three-year relationship and a daughter, Matilda Ledger.
Michelle Williams and Thomas Kail share a seven-year love story that grew from a professional relationship. The pair have since grown their family to include three more children born between 2020 and 2025.
