Jessica Williams has a deep appreciation for her Shrinking costar Harrison Ford. The 35-year-old Emmy-nominated actress shared with PEOPLE that although Ford’s demanding schedule doesn’t leave much room for the two to hang out outside of work, they truly enjoy working together on the AppleTV+ series.
While filming for season 2 of Shrinking was nearing its end, with only a few days left of production, Ford asked her, “What’s your deal?” This moment led Williams to open up to the legendary actor, sharing some personal aspects of her life.
She laughs at how the exchange came from a place of genuine affection. “It’s funny because it’s like coming from a place of love. I know he really likes and loves me,” she says, adding, “I can tell, I can see.”
Williams appreciates Ford’s affection despite their limited off-screen time
Williams is perfectly content with their limited off-set time together. “We make each other laugh,” she says, explaining that their bond on set is strong. “I like shooting with him, and he loves me, and he loves shooting with me.”
Ford’s packed schedule often sees him working on major projects like Indiana Jones and Marvel films, something Williams playfully acknowledges. “He goes to do like a Marvel movie and Indiana Jones for seven months somewhere,” she jokes, noting Ford’s busy year that included roles in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Captain America: Brave New World, and the Yellowstone prequel 1923.
Williams also finds Ford’s personal interests endearing, mentioning his love for bird-watching and flying planes. “I love that for him,” she quips. She adds that it’s always a good time when she sees him with his wife, Calista Flockhart, at social events.
While Ford is a key part of her experience on Shrinking, Williams has great chemistry with the entire cast. She credits the show’s success to the strong bond between the ensemble, which includes Jason Segel, Ted McGinley, Michael Urie, Christa Miller, and Lukita Maxwell.
Describing the dynamic on set, Williams says, “It’s like everyone can work with each other.” The show follows Segel’s character, Jimmy Laird, as he navigates life as a grieving single dad, leaning on his friends, including Williams’ character, Gaby, and the rest of the team.
Williams also appreciates working with Segel, who is not only a costar but a co-creator of the show. She calls him “really nice,” praising his unwavering support. “He has my back no matter what,” she says.
Having watched Segel’s career grow, Williams recalls enjoying his work while in high school and middle school. “I was like, in high school and middle school watching [Judd] Apatow stuff,” she reminisces, expressing admiration for Segel’s comedic roots. “The school of Apatow is really awesome to me.”
Segel, in turn, has lauded Williams’ comedic talent, comparing her to his frequent collaborator Paul Rudd. Williams admits that the compliment makes her blush and feel “really embarrassed,” calling it the highest praise.
She adds, “I don’t know if there’s a higher compliment to get from that guy. It just doesn’t get any better.” With Segel’s extensive experience working with talented people, Williams is deeply touched by his words. “He’s been doing this for a while… So it just means a lot.”
