Michelle Williams to receive Palm Springs film honour

Michelle Williams plays Marilyn Monroe in her latest film, My Week With Marilyn

Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Williams is to be honoured at the Palm Springs International Film Festival next year.

The My Week With Marilyn star will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Actress award at a ceremony in January.

Announcing the award, festival chairman Harold Matzner praised Williams as a performer with an "exceptional blend of talent, versatility and grace".

The actress stars as screen siren Monroe in Simon Curtis' new film.

It tells of the tumultuous making of The Prince and the Showgirl in 1956, during which Monroe clashed with director Laurence Olivier and escaped from the pressures of her life during a brief dalliance with young assistant Colin Clark.

"Every generation, the cinema has a few performers who mesmerise audiences," Matzner said.

"Michelle Williams epitomises these qualities as she continues to accept challenging role after challenging role."

The star was nominated for a best actress Oscar last year for her performance in Blue Valentine and also received a nomination for supporting actress in 2006's Brokeback Mountain.

Past recipients of the Desert Palm Achievement Award include Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, Halle Berry, Marion Cotillard, Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts and Kate Winslet.

It was previously announced that George Clooney would be honoured at the festival with its prestigious Chairman's award, and actress Glenn Close would also receive a career achievement award.