Michelle Williams baffles fans with Mary Beth Peil tribute

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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 MondayMichelle 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'I wouldn't have known how to handle being.