(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Michelle Williams lived on "chocolate and frozen pizza" when she left home, and only started cooking recently.

The 30-year-old actress is mother to five-year-old Matilda, her daughter with late actor Heath Ledger. She knows it's vital the youngster has a healthy diet rich in nutrients, so has started trying out new recipes lately. It's no mean feat for Michelle, as she's always been known more for her culinary disasters than skills.

"After I moved out of home I just ate chocolate and frozen pizza. I only started cooking two years ago. At the beginning it was a complete flop. Matilda was nice about it though, she only said it wasn't that great. It took me ages to make something acceptable, but now I have some stock recipes I can do," she explained to the German edition of Glamour magazine.

Another thing Michelle's been learning of late is how to knit. She enjoys the pastime because it's so relaxing, although admits it's another thing that's taken her a while to get the hang of. Her first effort was unimpressive, but she now thinks she's got to grips with the needles.

"Don't be afraid I'm not watching TV the whole time," she replied, when asked what she likes to do on her sofa. "You can do lots of useful things on the couch - just sit there being still, reading, writing letters and knitting. That's a real challenge for me. My first project was a pullover and I failed fantastically.

"It's not easy to learn something new as a grown-up. You feel like an idiot producing c**p. I have made my first scarf though, which I'm really proud of." (C) Cover Media