Grief affects us all, no matter what our circumstances – and Michelle Williams is no exception.

On 22 January 2008, her former partner and close friend, Heath Ledger, passed away from an accidental overdose: since then, Williams has raised their daughter, Matilda (now 11), by herself.

“In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I’m a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you’ve been,” the actress explained in an interview with Porter.

“In pretty much all senses but one, I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not having her dad. You know, that’s just something that doesn’t…I mean, it just won’t ever be right.”

Thankfully, though, she has a fantastic support group around her – particularly in best friend Busy Phillips, who is also Matilda’s godmother.

Williams and Phillips first met on the set of Dawson’s Creek way back in 2000 – and have been “forever friends” ever since.

“She’s proof that the love of your life does not have to be a man,” Williams previously said of Phillips.

So it’s unsurprising that, earlier this week, Phillips booked an airplane ticket and flew to be with Williams on the 10-year anniversary of Ledger’s death.

On Monday evening, Philipps shared a photo of her view of the sunset from an airplane with a red heart emoji. 

Hours later, she posted a follow-up selfie of her with her former Dawson’s Creek co-star.

“It’s OK,” Philipps wrote alongside the picture, which showed Williams leaning on her shoulder with her eyes closed.

Ledger and Williams fell in love after meeting on the set of their 2005 film Brokeback Mountain and welcomed daughter Matilda in October 2005.

They separated in September 2007, but remained firm friends until his death.

Images: Rex Features