Michelle Williams acts professionally.
Michelle Ingrid Williams ( born September 9 , 1980 ) is an American actress . Williams received critical acclaim for the role of Alma , wife of Ennis Del Mar , in Brokeback Mountain ( 2005 ) , 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 ( 2010 ) . She won a Golden Globe and an Independent Spirit Award for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn ( 2011 ) , which also garnered her BAFTA , SAG , and Academy Award nominations . Michelle Williams (singer) . Williams has found success as a television , Broadway and West End theatre actress , gaining a nomination for `` Best Lead Female -- Equity '' in 2008 at the 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards .