Michelle Williams is nothing short of one of the greatest actresses of her generation, but has she ever won an Oscar?
Williams has starred in a number of classic films over the years, including 2022’s The Fablemans, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. But hang on, let’s back up a bit, why are people talking about Williams’ Oscar-worthiness in this particular pop culture moment to begin with?
Strangely, the conversation surrounding Williams attaining the coveted Golden Statue has nothing to do with any kind of role that would make her eligible for an Oscar, but she could possibly be nominated and win a Grammy for it. You see, Williams is the audiobook narrator for Britney Spears’ new memoir, The Woman in Me.
In one particular excerpt of the memoir, Williams reads from a passage in which Spears recounts a story of her and Justin Timberlake running into the R&B artist Ginuwine in New York City. Timberlake then proceeds to speak in a Black affectation, saying, “Oh yeah, fo shiz, fo shiz. Ginuwine! What’s up, homey?” The cringey and totally believable story has become hugely popular online after a Twitter user, @alex_abads, shared the clip, which has gained 15 million views.
Michelle Williams’ Oscar history, explained
Even though some news outlets covering the viral clip of Williams doing an impression of Timberlake incorrectly described her as an “Oscar-winner,” that’s actually a misnomer. Williams has been nominated five times for an Academy Award but has never won one, according to IMDb.
Williams’ Oscar nominations include Best Actress for last year’s The Fabelmans (losing out to Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once), 2012’s My Week with Marilyn, and 2011’s Blue Valentine. She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for 2017’s Manchester by the Sea and 2006’s Brokeback Mountain.
Other than the Oscars, Williams has won 54 other awards, including snagging a Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television in 2020 for the FX original Fosse/Verdon. She also won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for that same role. Williams won two other Golden Globes for 2018’s All the Money in the World and 2012’s My Week with Marilyn.
