Jessica Williams on Why She Wasn’t Intimidated by Harrison Ford on Shrinking
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
When it comes to working alongside one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, most actors might feel a little nervous. But Jessica Williams had a different approach when she stepped onto the set of Shrinking with Harrison Ford.
The 36-year-old actress revealed during a joint interview with the Associated Press that she deliberately avoided getting starstruck before working with the 83-year-old legend. “I actually did a blackout on him for quite a while,” Williams admitted on the red carpet ahead of their Televerse panel on August 15. “I didn’t watch any of your movies before we started working together. I mean, I’d seen them, but I just wanted it to be normal. I didn’t want to get all freaked out, so I wasn’t scared of you.”
Williams’ strategy paid off. Looking directly at Ford, she confirmed, “I’m not scared of you.” To which Ford, ever the dry wit, responded: “No, she’s not scared of me.”
A Playful On-Screen Partnership
The lighthearted banter continued during the panel when Ford was asked if he ever seeks advice from his co-stars. Without missing a beat, the Indiana Jones star quipped, “No, I go home for that s–t! That’s where I get my instruction.” Williams quickly backed him up, laughing, “Never in a million years would he do that!”
This kind of camaraderie isn’t new for the pair. Back in February at the SAG Awards, they delivered one of the evening’s most memorable unscripted moments. During the “I am an actor” segment, Williams was delivering her monologue when Ford was caught on camera in the background, casually popping a chip into his mouth. The sight had both the audience and Williams herself in stitches. Looking back at him mid-speech, she teased, “I told him to turn away! Don’t look!”
Why Their Chemistry Works
Beyond the jokes, Williams has been candid about why she and Ford click so well on-screen. Speaking to People last November, the Daily Show alum explained, “We make each other laugh. I like shooting with him, and he loves me, and he loves shooting with me.”
That ease translates seamlessly into Shrinking, where their professional partnership feels as natural as their off-camera dynamic. For Williams, treating Ford not as a cinematic legend but simply as a colleague seems to be the key—and judging by their infectious energy, it’s working.
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