Michelle Williams Honored For Portraying Marilyn Monroe
Michelle Williams delivered a characteristically captivating performance as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn", and the awards circuit are taking notice.
The pixie-haired beauty will be honored at the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) awards gala, along with fellow honorees George Clooney and Glenn Close.
She will be the recipient of the Desert Palm Achievement Actress Award.
In an official statement, PSIFF chairman Harold Matzner explains the decision to present Williams with the award.
"Every generation, the cinema has a few performers who mesmerize audiences with an exceptional blend of talent, versatility and grace," Matzner says in the press release.
"Michelle Williams epitomizes these qualities as she continues to accept challenging role after challenging role," he adds.
Indeed, playing the legend presents a variety of obstacles for the waifish actress.
Physically, Williams' petite frame needed to be modified to be more similar to Monroe's famous curves. When gaining weight proved ineffective, the former Dawson's Creek actress opted to wear padding on her hips instead.
"I miss those hips," Williams admits.
"There were many little victories along the way. One was getting her walk, which combined finding the right heel height, practicing by tying a belt around my knees, keeping my torso up and realizing she moved in a kind of undulation," she reveals.
Another "victory" came when Williams figured out what she calls the bombshell's "real voice".
Despite mastering Monroe's persona onscreen and an onslaught of positive critical reviews, Williams was in a constant state of self-doubt over her performance. She calls herself "more dependent on people than I have in the past."
"I lived on people's compliments, kind words. An approving glance would last me for days," she confesses to Washington Post.
Perhaps the insecurity is a side effect of embodying the famously
Williams appears on the Simon Curtis film "My Week with Marilyn" in the starring role, alongside Kenneth Branagh and Eddie Redmayne. It is based on the journals of third assistant director Colin Clark, who spent seven days with Monroe touring the English countryside.