RATINGS: Cast & Crew

DOB: September 9, 1980

Background: She is a Montana native of Norwegian descent, the daughter of Larry Richard Williams, a two-time candidate for the United States Senate. She became emancipated from her parents at age fifteen in order to work around child labor work laws in her pursuit of an acting caeer.

Filmography: She guest starred on TV shows before being cast as Jen Lindley in the WB's wildly popular teen soap "Dawson's Creek," a role she played from 1998 until the show's conclusion in 2003. during her years on the show, she also appeared in the films "Dick" (1999), "But I'm a Cheerleader" (2001), and HBO's "If These Walls Could Talk 2." She appeared in "The Station Agent" in 2003 and successfully matured beyond her teen star beginnings with her supporting role in "Brokeback Mountain," which earned her the first of two Oscar nods. Since then she has continued to star in independent films, including "I'm Not There," "Wendy and Lucy," and "Synecdoche, New York." She co-starred in Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" in 2010, as well as the romantic drama "Blue Valentine," for which she received her second Oscar bid. She reunited with "Wendy and Lucy" director Kelly Reichardt for the western drama "Meek's Cutoff" and starred as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn."

Academy Awards:

Best Actress Nominations
"My Week with Marilyn" (2011); lost to Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady")
"Blue Valentine" (2010); lost to Natalie Portman ("Black Swan")

Best Supporting Actress Nomination
"Brokeback Mountain" (2005); lost to Rachel Weisz ("The Constant Gardener")

Golden Globes: Win - Best Film Comedy/Musical Actress ("My Week with Marilyn," 2012)

Best Film Drama Actress Nomination
"Blue Valentine" (2011); lost to Natalie Portman ("Black Swan")

Best Film Supporting Actress Nomination
"Brokeback Mountain" (2006); lost to Rachel Weisz ("The Constant Gardener")

SAG Awards:

Best Film Ensemble Nominations
"Brokeback Mountain" (2006); lost to "Crash"
"The Station Agent" (2004); lost to "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"

Best Film Actress Nomination
"My Week with Marilyn" (2012); lost to Viola Davis ("The Help")

Best Film Supporting Actress Nomination
"Brokeback Mountain" (2006); lost to Rachel Weisz ("The Constant Gardener")