Michelle Williams may have gotten her start on a teen drama - but her time on Dawson's Creek created the stabilizing force that helped her launch her career. Williams starred on The WB hit from 1998 to 2003 as Jen Lindley, the New York City girl who moves to the small town of Capeside, Massachusetts. Williams shared that it was costar Mary Beth Peil, who portrayed Jen's Grams, that gave her the most inspiration while filming in Wilmington, North Carolina. "She told me stories about New York City and plays and playwrights.