Nurturing Family Bonds: Zelda Williams Reflects on Cherished Traditions with Robin Williams

Zelda Williams, the accomplished actress and film director, takes us on a heartfelt journey down memory lane as she shares exclusive insights into the holiday traditions of the Williams family, with a special emphasis on her late father, the iconic Robin Williams.

Nurturing Family Bonds: A Unique Family Tradition

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the 21st Annual Unforgettable Gala in Beverly Hills, Zelda fondly reminisces about the holidays of her childhood. She sheds light on how the Williams family, despite Robin’s demanding schedule, found solace and connection through the art of cooking.

Nurturing Family Bonds: A Year-Round Affair

Zelda reveals that due to her father’s bustling career, establishing yearly traditions proved challenging. However, the Williams family compensated by embracing the joy of cooking together, transcending the boundaries of set holidays. “Dad’s job made it pretty hard to keep anything like a yearly tradition really, aside from Thanksgiving or days when sets would shut down,” she shares.

Tuesday Feasts: A Weekly Ritual

The family’s commitment to togetherness manifested in a weekly ritual – Tuesday dinners. “We would eat together every Tuesday, however many family members were in town,” Zelda discloses. Despite the varying culinary skills within the family, the act of preparing and sharing a meal became a cherished cornerstone of their bond.

Nurturing Family Bonds: Culinary Collaborations

Acknowledging that not everyone in the family was a culinary maestro, Zelda humorously admits, “My brothers and my dad were not good cooks.” However, the kitchen became a hub of familial connection, with Zelda and her mother actively participating in meal preparation. “But my mom and I would take part, and it was a big part of our family,” she adds.

Prioritizing Togetherness

For the Williams family, spending quality time together was paramount. Zelda, growing up with her mother Marsha Garces Williams and brothers Cody and Zak, emphasizes the importance of being together, especially considering the challenges of their scattered work commitments. “Being together was the important thing, because otherwise, especially with people scattered to the wind with work, it became even more special to do that,” Zelda explains.

Evolving Holiday Traditions

Zelda shares that the focus of their current holiday celebrations is centered around spending quality time together and taking a break to travel. “Christmas is not a really big deal in my family. We usually use it to see each other and then just travel,” she reveals.

A Glimpse into the Future: Zelda’s Directorial Debut

Venturing into her father’s Hollywood legacy, Zelda, both an actress and director, recently directed the upcoming movie “Lisa Frankenstein,” set to grace theaters next year. The film, starring Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton, offers a zombie-themed narrative set in the late ‘80s and marks Zelda’s impressive feature-length directorial debut.

In a 2022 social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Zelda expressed her enthusiasm for the project and addressed Hollywood’s penchant for sequels and remakes. Despite the industry’s trends, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring to life a “bonkers, wonderful zombie script.”

Embracing Heritage: A Personal Journey

Zelda also delves into the significance of the event she attended, the 21st Annual Unforgettable Gala, which honors API celebrities, influencers, and leaders in entertainment, arts, and culture. She opens up about her Filipino heritage, sharing, “Interestingly, a lot of people don’t know that I’m part Filipino, and especially as I got older, I wanted to be more open about that when it was so important to my childhood.”

Acknowledging her private upbringing, Zelda expresses her desire to be more in touch with her heritage and collaborate with her peers.

In conclusion, Zelda Williams’ reflections provide a poignant glimpse into the cherished traditions and evolving dynamics of the Williams family. From shared meals to prioritizing togetherness, the essence of their bond resonates as a testament to the enduring power of family traditions.