Close, Clooney, Pitt and Williams feted with Palm Springs award
Glenn Close, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Michelle Williams were among the famous faces who picked up top prizes at California's Palm Springs International Film Festival on Saturday (07Jan12).
Close was celebrated for her longstanding contributions to Hollywood by accepting the Career Achievement Award at the 23rd annual gala, while Clooney took home the Chairman's Award for his roles in The Descendants and The Ides of March.
Angelina Jolie beamed with pride as her partner Pitt accepted the
Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award from his Moneyball co-star
Jonah Hill, while Al Pacino hailed Jessica Chastain an acting
prodigy as he handed her the Spotlight Award.
Chastain's The Help co-star Octavia Spencer teared up as she
received the Breakthrough of the Year Award and thanked her late
mother and father for guiding her career.
The actress also used her acceptance speech to scout out a
potential boyfriend, telling the eligible men in the room, "I would
be remiss if I didn't say... I'm single, gentlemen. I just had to
throw that in there."
The most emotional moment of the night came as Michelle Williams
was recognised for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week With
Marilyn, and dedicated her Desert Palm Achievement Actress Award to
the late screen legend.
Williams told the crowd, "My only wish is that Marilyn herself
could have experienced in her lifetime what I am experiencing
tonight. When she did stretch beyond her pin-up picture, she was
pushed back into her place. I accept this award on both our
behalf."
British actor Gary Oldman won the International Star Award while
the Ensemble Award was shared between Young Adult stars Charlize
Theron and Patton Oswalt, as well as their director Jason Reitman
and screenwriter Diablo Cody.