Michelle Williams has nothing but admiration for her former Dawson's Creek co-star, Mary Beth Peil. The Oscar-winning actress fondly remembers Peil's nurturing presence while filming in North Carolina.

In an upcoming appearance on Sunday Today With Willie Geist, first shared by Entertainment Weekly, Williams, 42, reminisces about Peil, who she still affectionately calls "Grams." Williams says, "She immediately took me under her wing. I didn't have family there, I didn't have parents that were there, and she really filled that role for me."

Peil, 82, served as a beacon for the five-time Oscar nominee. Williams explains, "She told me stories about New York City and plays and playwrights. She invited me to come stay with her, she took me places." Peil encouraged Williams to envision a future in which she could have a fulfilling career and life, despite her start on a teen soap opera.

"She was the first person who took me kind of seriously, honestly," Williams remarks. She also spoke of Peil at the 32nd annual Gotham Awards last November, stating that Peil was the first artist she had ever met and had an "ineffable quality" that drew her in.

Even though Dawson's Creek concluded in 2003 after six seasons, the cast has remained close. James Van Der Beek shared that his on-screen mother, Mary-Margaret Humes, still sends him cookies for his birthday each year. He posted on Instagram, "I have the best TV momma on the planet."

Humes and John Wesley Shipp, both 68, who played Van Der Beek's on-screen father, recently attended Katie Holmes' off-Broadway show, The Wanderers. Holmes expressed her appreciation on Instagram, writing, "Thank you @thereal_margaretmaryhumes and @johnwesleyshippjr for your support and love!"