Claim: Michelle Williams started her career with guest appearances on television.

Michelle Ingrid Williams -LRB- born September 9 , 1980 -RRB- is an American actress . She began her career with television guest appearances , and made her feature film debut in Lassie -LRB- 1994 -RRB- , which earned her a Youth in Film nomination . She gained wider recognition for her role as Jen Lindley on the The WB series Dawson 's Creek from 1998 to 2003 .   Williams received critical acclaim for the role of Alma , wife of Ennis Del Mar , in Brokeback Mountain -LRB- 2005 -RRB- , for which she won a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and was nominated for the SAG Award , BAFTA Award , Golden Globe , and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . She followed this with films such as Martin Scorsese 's Shutter Island -LRB- 2010 -RRB- . Her work in Blue Valentine -LRB- 2010 -RRB- garnered her nominations for the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress . She won a Golden Globe and an Independent Spirit Award for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn -LRB- 2011 -RRB- , which also garnered her BAFTA , SAG , and Academy Award nominations . In 2016 , she received wide acclaim for her performance in the drama Manchester by the Sea , earning her nominations from the BAFTA , SAG , and Academy Award ceremonies .   On Broadway , Williams appeared in a revival of the musical Cabaret in 2014 and a revival of the play Blackbird in 2016 . She received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play nomination for the latter .