Michelle Williams sparked concern that her former Dawson’s Creek co-star Mary Beth Peil died when she gave a moving speech honoring the actress at the Gotham Awards in New York on Monday.
Michelle, 42, who played Jen Lindley on the show from 1998 to 2003 alongside Peil, 82, as Evelyn ‘Grams’ Ryan, baffled fans with her speech, with many convinced that Peil – who is alive and well – had died.
The Marilyn actress, accepting the Film Tribute Award, said: “Every time something good happens to me in my life, I can draw a straight line to someone who was supposed to be here tonight but, be a New Yorker, means living in a reality that you certainly don’t control – so she’s not in the room, but she’s in my heart.
Oh my goodness: Michelle Williams sparked concern that her former Dawson’s Creek co-star Mary Beth Peil had died when she gave a moving speech honoring the actress at the Gotham Awards in New York on Monday
Michelle added that she was an ’emancipated minor’ when she met Peil, saying: ‘I was 16 and totally on my own.
“Mary Beth Peil was the first artist I met in my life.
She wasn’t called that, but there was something different about her. It was the way she asked questions, the way she leaned into conversations, and how excited she seemed every moment of every day on our TV.
“And I didn’t know what that ineffable quality was, but I knew I wanted to bring my chair closer to his.”
On screen: Michelle, 42, who played Jen Lindley on the show from 1998 to 2003 alongside Peil, 82, as Evelyn ‘Grams’ Ryan (pictured center), has baffled the fans with his speech, with many convinced Peil, who is alive and well – had passed away
“I couldn’t have handled being Steven Spielberg’s mother” [in The Fabelmans] without having been Mary Beth’s granddaughter, so thank you Mary Beth and thank you Gotham Awards for that.
Acclaimed actress Peil is currently appearing in an off-Broadway show, A Man Of No Importance alongside Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons.
The moving speech quickly shocked fans who were eager to check Peil out, with one writing, “This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who is absolutely still alive and currently in a room.”
Another wrote: ‘Maybe no one would come back from this speech thinking Mary Beth Peil is still alive (she’s lmao)’ while a third typed: ‘That’s a great speech but it m freaked me out for a second, because I was pretty sure I hadn’t heard of Mary Beth Peil passing, but I guess she just meant she literally couldn’t be there .
Another wrote: “Very happy with all the tweets from Mary Beth Peil but now I’m nervous.”
Oh no: The emotional speech quickly shocked fans who were eager to check out Peil, with one writing: ‘This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who is absolutely still alive and currently in a room’
Actress: Michelle Said; “I couldn’t have handled being Steven Spielberg’s mother” [in The Fabelmans] without being Mary Beth’s granddaughter, so thank you Mary Beth, and thank you Gotham Awards for that’
Michelle’s character, Jen, was a New York party girl who moved in with her grandmother in the small town of Capeside, Massachusetts after getting into trouble.
His death in the finale was one of the most heartbreaking moments in television history.
The Gotham Awards are the first kick-off ceremony of awards season, recognizing the achievements of artists in film and television.
“We are exceptionally proud to honor Michelle Williams, whose iconic performances in collaboration with our most acclaimed directors have defined her as a top talent of her generation,” said Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of Gotham Film & Media. Institute, in a statement when the award was announced in October.
It’s all good: Acclaimed actress Peil is currently appearing on the off-Broadway show, A Man Of No Importance (pictured 2017)
“Michelle is a true New Yorker and we are thrilled to claim her as one of our own by recognizing her with a Performer Tribute at this year’s Gotham Awards,” he added.
Williams is garnering a lot of Oscar buzz for her role as Mitzi Fabelman in director Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, loosely based on her childhood.
She is set to land her fifth Oscar nomination for the role, which could ultimately land her first Oscar win.
The actress has previously been nominated for Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine, My Week With Marilyn and Manchester by the Sea.
Williams also stars in director Kelly Reichart’s new film, Showing Up, which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and toured the festival.
She’s also attached to star biopic Fever, following the personal and professional life of famed singer Peggy Lee.
Although she hasn’t confirmed the name, Williams was first seen with her newborn baby in late October.
Oscar buzz: Williams is garnering plenty of Oscar buzz for her role as Mitzi Fabelman in director Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, loosely based on her childhood