Ashley Williams’s new Hallmark film, Falling Collectively, didn’t begin as an homage to her mother, Linda, who died from dementia in 2016; it started with a failed condo building-wide chili get together she threw years in the past.
“We moved to New York in order that I may do The Jim Gaffigan Present, and we purchased this condo on the Higher West Facet, the place I would all the time needed to dwell. I believed it would be all these artistic instances who’ve households who’re on Broadway,” she remembers. “However there was this unusual vitality even within the elevator. I simply stored saying to my husband [Neal Dodson, who is an executive producer on the film alongside Williams], ‘As soon as these individuals get to know us, they’re simply going to like us.’ Lastly, I made a decision I will throw a giant chili get together. I put indicators all around the constructing, within the elevators, all over the place.”
However just one neighbor confirmed up all night time, she says, “so I obtained to pondering, ‘What if the one person who got here was the good-looking tremendous within the constructing, however it turned out he was simply coming to repair a damaged pipe?’”
The story’s subsequent problem was determining the right way to carry the disparate tenants within the constructing collectively, and Williams, 45, landed on a fundraiser close to and pricey to her coronary heart: The Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
As quickly because the story was green-lit, Williams started working with the Alzheimer’s Association to assist ensure the language across the illness was applicable and to “make it possible for we had been representing the expertise of somebody residing with it,” she says. “That was actually essential.”
Williams was additionally decided to point out the enjoyment that comes with the Stroll and the neighborhood it creates. She ensured that the symbolic pinwheels had been included into the story and that it was nonetheless stuffed with humor, romance and enjoyable.
“My first Stroll to Finish Alzheimer’s will need to have been eight or 9 years in the past in New York,” she remembers. “The primary time I went, I used to be simply so struck with how a lot enjoyable individuals had been having regardless of the darkness of the illness. It is really a joyous event. It is form of this second once you look Alzheimer’s within the face and say, ‘You are not going to take our pleasure.'”
Since that point, Williams has emceed the Stroll alongside fellow Hallmark actor Nikki DeLoach and the pair of them have additionally taken over the annual Dance Get together to Finish ALZ fundraiser started by Williams’ sister, Kimberly Williams-Paisley. (The following Dance Get together to Finish ALZ occasion is on Oct. 27 in Los Angeles; click here for tickets and extra data.) That occasion funds the Alzheimer’s Affiliation’s Analysis Grant Program, “so the cash simply goes on to scientists who’re engaged on numerous research,” says Williams, who will get a say on which research obtain the grants.
One other method through which Falling Collectively honors Williams’ mom is with the character of a girl working for the Alzheimer’s Affiliation, additionally named Linda. And the character is performed by actress Linda Kash.
“Linda Kash actually encapsulates who my mother is: this large smile, these shiny alive eyes which are simply continually impressed,” says Williams. “That was who my mother was, which made it all of the extra terrible when the illness actually took over her mind. It was similar to we mentioned goodbye to every a part of her slowly, together with that form of magical brightness in her eyes. So once we discovered Linda Kash and we noticed her learn, it was similar to my mother.”
Falling Collectively, which costars Paul Campbell, additionally includes a robust theme round self-care and taking time to decelerate.
“I really feel like I’ve performed characters a number of instances who’ve been attempting to decelerate and admire the little issues in life. However it has extra emotional resonance once you’re in a dialog surrounding a life-threatening illness,” Williams admits. “I believe that is why I used to be much more obsessed with it thematically than traditional as a result of Alzheimer’s took many joyful years from my household. … I want I had extra time with my mother the place we had been strolling by means of Costco and guffawing, not the hustle tradition, not the throwing the massive occasion, not the achievements, the stress that all of us face as girls to lift a household and have an incredible, profitable profession. It is the little issues. It is delighting within the coloration of a leaf. I am unable to be reminded of that sufficient personally, particularly once I take into consideration the lives and the years that this illness takes.
In her personal life, meaning making a concerted effort to understand the little issues — like making high quality time along with her two sons, Gus, 9, and Odie, 7.
“One factor I attempt to do is simply 20 minutes a day the place it is all about every of them,” she says. I am simply wanting in his eyes and specializing in what he is doing.”
Connecting with Dodson, 46, additionally helps. “It is the factor that our busy lives takes first from us, is our capability to have the ability to simply sit and chat. So we actually, he retains saying, ‘I can by no means get sufficient time speaking to you.’ It is true. And it is also, by the best way, one of many nice issues about us working collectively is with the ability to simply cling, which is my favourite factor on the planet. It’s.”
Subsequent up, Williams hosts Hallmark+’s upcoming scripted sequence, Small Town Setup, which might be premiering subsequent yr.
“I am having the best time of my complete life,” she says. “I’ve all the time had this a part of me that needed to unleash her interior Kelly Ripa, which is rather like, I am completely delighted by individuals. I really like people. I really like listening to their tales. I really like connecting with them. I really like giving them hugs and attending to do a present that’s, certain, it is a actuality present, however it’s not gotcha tv. Nobody’s being set as much as look dumb. There’s nothing salacious. We’re not attempting to steal something, any pictures of individuals in embarrassing conditions. It is about serving to individuals discover love.”
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Falling Collectively premieres on Hallmark Channel at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Saturday, Sept. 21, which additionally occurs to be World Alzheimer’s Day.