Michelle Williams reflects on ‘Brokeback Mountain’ losing best picture Oscar to ‘Crash’

Michelle Williams on “Brokeback Mountain” losing Best Picture to “Crash” at the 2006 Oscars and its lasting legacy.

Actress Michelle Williams recently revisited one of the most talked-about moments in Oscar history: Brokeback Mountain losing the 2006 Academy Award for Best Picture to Crash.

Speaking on Watch What Happens Live, Williams, 44, candidly responded when host Andy Cohen called the loss upsetting. “I mean, what was Crash?” she joked.

Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee, followed the emotional and romantic relationship between two men, Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal), in mid-20th-century America. The film earned eight Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Ledger, Best Supporting Actress for Williams, and Best Supporting Actor for Gyllenhaal. It ultimately won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

Williams reflected on how deeply the film resonated with audiences. “You don’t really get an opportunity to see a lot of grown men cry,” she said. “That was the moment we all knew it was going to be special.”

Beyond its cinematic impact, Brokeback Mountain also holds personal significance for Williams. She met Ledger on set, and the two later welcomed a daughter, Matilda. Ledger passed away in 2008 at the age of 28.

Jake Gyllenhaal has also spoken about the film’s lasting emotional power. In a 2022 interview, he recalled a fan telling them he had watched the movie 11 times in 10 days, underlining its enduring cultural relevance.

While Crash won Best Picture, Brokeback Mountain remains a milestone in LGBTQ cinema and a defining moment in the careers of its cast and crew.