Irene Williams

Irene Williams.

Irene Williams is the mother of Toby, wife of Robert Williams and the step-mother of Sarah. Irene is only named in the Return to Labyrinth series.

In the film, she is played by Shelley Thompson.

Role In The Film

Irene only appears briefly in the film, and is first seen scolding Sarah for being late home when she was meant to be baby-sitting Toby. Irene and Sarah are shown to have a very tense relationship, and Irene angers Sarah by refusing to allow her rain-soaked sheep dog Merlin into the house.

Once they are both inside, Irene further infuriates Sarah by insisting that she and Robert only go out rarely, a point Sarah protests by stating that they go out 'every weekend.'

When Sarah asks why she's never asked if she has any plans, Irene upsets her by telling her that she'd assume she'd let her know if she had a date, remarking that Sarah should have dates at her age. The comment prompts Sarah to storm upstairs to her room, slamming her door behind her.

With Sarah gone, Irene tells Robert that Sarah "treats me like an evil stepmother in a fairy story no matter what I say." Generally, Irene appears frustrated by Sarah's attitude towards her.

Appearances In Other Media

The Novelization

The novelization of the film expands Irene's character slightly, and offers additional insights into Sarah's perception of her. Sarah is shown to feel extremely bitter and resentful of her step-mother, and is constantly thinking of put-downs to describe her and how she could go against her wishes. Sarah is highly critical of Irene's fashion sense, considering her both vulgar and tacky. Sarah actively compares her dull, ordinary step-mother detrimentally with her birth mother.

Irene is depicted slightly more sympathetically in the novel, which emphasises the fact that she is primarily painted in a negative light because that is how Sarah perceives her.

When Irene and Robert and discussing Sarah in the entrance hall, Irene notes that she knows how hard things must be for Sarah as her mother walked out on her, demonstrating that she feels some level of understanding of how Sarah feels.

In a significant shift, Sarah also tells her father and Irene 'welcome back' when they return home at the end of the novel. The provokes a disbeliving cry of 'what' from Irene, who appears not to believe what Sarah had said.

Return To Labyrinth

Irene in Return to Labyrinth, Vol. I

Irene is only named in the Return to Labyrinth series, being referred to as such by Sarah who is shown to continue to have a low opinion of her step-mother. She only appears briefly at the start of the first volume.

Irene is shown to be an excessively strict parent, and in a flashback she becomes angry with Toby when he asks for a new bike. When Jareth gives Toby a new bike by magical means, Irene assumes Toby stole it and spanks him as punishment.

Irene is a cold and disinterested parent to Toby, and when on an evening out with Robert leaves him a note not to touch any food in the fridge, telling him to eat cold leftovers instead. Later in the manga Irene expresses no interest in Toby's school-life when his school contact her over his poor behaviour, dismissively telling him 'it's your life.'