Michelle Williams baffles fans with Mary Beth Peil tribute

Michelle Williams sparked concern her former Dawson’s Creek co-star Mary Beth Peil had died when she gave an emotional speech in tribute to the actress at the Gotham Awards in NYC on Monday.

Michelle, 42, who played Jen Lindley in the show from 1998-2003 alongside 82-year-old Peil as Evelyn ‘Grams’ Ryan, baffled fans with her speech, with many convinced Peil – who is alive and well – had passed away. 

The Marilyn actress, accepting the Film Tribute Award, said: ‘Whenever something good happens for me in my life, I can draw a straight line back to somebody who was meant to be here tonight but, being a New Yorker, means living in a reality that you are definitely not in control of — so she’s not in the room, but she’s in my heart.

Oh dear: Michelle Williams sparked concern her former Dawson's Creek co-star Mary Beth Peil had died when she gave an emotional speech in tribute to the actress at the Gotham Awards in NYC on Monday

Oh dear: Michelle Williams sparked concern her former Dawson’s Creek co-star Mary Beth Peil had died when she gave an emotional speech in tribute to the actress at the Gotham Awards in NYC on Monday

Michelle added that she was an ’emancipated minor’ when she met Peil, saying: ‘I was 16 years old, and I was totally alone.

 ‘Mary Beth Peil was the first artist that I had ever met in my life.

‘She didn’t call herself that, but there was something different about her. It was the way she asked questions, the way that she leaned into conversations, and how excited she seemed for every moment of every day on our TV set. 

”And I didn’t know what this ineffable quality was, but I knew I wanted to pull my chair closer to hers.’ 

On-screen: Michelle, 42, who played Jen Lindley in the show from 1998-2003 alongside 82-year-old Peil as Evelyn 'Grams' Ryan (pictured center), baffled fans with her speech, with many convinced Peil, who is alive and well - had passed away

On-screen: Michelle, 42, who played Jen Lindley in the show from 1998-2003 alongside 82-year-old Peil as Evelyn 'Grams' Ryan (pictured center), baffled fans with her speech, with many convinced Peil, who is alive and well - had passed away

On-screen: Michelle, 42, who played Jen Lindley in the show from 1998-2003 alongside 82-year-old Peil as Evelyn ‘Grams’ Ryan (pictured center), baffled fans with her speech, with many convinced Peil, who is alive and well – had passed away

‘I wouldn’t have known how to handle 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 this.’

Acclaimed actress Peil is currently appearing in off-Broadway show, A Man Of No Importance alongside Big Bang Theory star, Jim Parsons.  

The emotional speech quickly shocked fans who were anxious to check up on Peil, with one writing: ‘This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who is absolutely still alive and currently in a play.’

Another wrote: ‘No-one would possibly come away from this speech thinking Mary Beth Peil is still alive (she is lmao)’ while a third typed:  ‘It is a great speech, but made me freak out for a second, as I was pretty sure I didn’t hear about Mary Beth Peil passing away, but I guess she just meant she literally physically couldn’t be there.

Another penned: ‘Very happy about all the Mary Beth Peil tweets but now I’m nervous.’

Oh no: The emotional speech quickly shocked fans who were anxious to check up on Peil, with one writing: 'This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who is absolutely still alive and currently in a play'

Oh no: The emotional speech quickly shocked fans who were anxious to check up on Peil, with one writing: 'This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who is absolutely still alive and currently in a play'

Oh no: The emotional speech quickly shocked fans who were anxious to check up on Peil, with one writing: ‘This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who is absolutely still alive and currently in a play’

Actress: Michelle said; 'I wouldn't have known how to handle 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 this'

Actress: Michelle said; 'I wouldn't have known how to handle 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 this'

Actress: Michelle said; ‘I wouldn’t have known how to handle 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 this’

Michelle’s character Jen was a party girl from New York who moved in with her grandmother in the small Massachusetts town of Capeside after getting into some trouble. 

Her death in the finale was one of the most heartbreaking moments in TV history. 

The Gotham Awards is the first ceremony to kick off awards season, recognizing achievements of performers in film and television.

‘We are exceptionally proud to honor Michelle Williams, whose iconic performances in collaboration with our most renowned directors have defined her as a leading talent of her generation,’ said Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute, in a statement when the award was announced in October.

All good: Acclaimed actress Peil is currently appearing in off-Broadway show, A Man Of No Importance (pictured 2017)

All good: Acclaimed actress Peil is currently appearing in off-Broadway show, A Man Of No Importance (pictured 2017)

All good: Acclaimed actress Peil is currently appearing in 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 his childhood.

She’s expected to land her fifth Oscar nomination for the role, which may ultimately land her first Oscar win.

The actress was previously 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 has been making the festival rounds.

She is also attached to star in the biopic Fever, following the personal and professional life of acclaimed singer Peggy Lee.

While she has not confirmed the name, Williams was first spotted with her newborn child in late October. 

Oscar buzz: Williams is garnering a lot of Oscar buzz for her role as Mitzi Fabelman in director Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans, loosely based on his childhood

Oscar buzz: Williams is garnering a lot of Oscar buzz for her role as Mitzi Fabelman in director Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans, loosely based on his childhood

Oscar buzz: Williams is garnering a lot of Oscar buzz for her role as Mitzi Fabelman in director Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, loosely based on his childhood

Source: | Dailymail.co.uk