Williams' riveting performance in Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" earned her a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award as well as "Best Supporting Actress" nominations from SAG, Golden Globe, BAFTA and ultimately an Academy Award® nomination.  Williams was last seen starring in Kelly Reichardt's critically acclaimed independent film " Wendy and Lucy". Williams' moving and evocative performance as "Wendy" garnered her a Toronto Film Critics Award for Best Actress and her third Independent Spirit Award Nomination.
Williams will next be seen in Martin Scorcese's "Shutter Island", opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, expected for release in February 2010. In 2004, Williams shared a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination with her fellow actors from Thomas McCarthy's "The Station Agent" for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture." In 2005, Williams was honored by the Motion Picture Club as "Female Star of Tomorrow." Williams was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award for "Best Actress" for her performance in Wim Wenders' "Land of Plenty".
Williams' other film credits include Sharon Maguire's "Incendiary", Charlie Kaufman's "Synechdoche, New York", Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There", Dan Harris' "Imaginary Heroes", Richard Ledes'"A Hole In One", Ethan Hawke's "The Hottest State", Julian Goldberger's "The Hawk is Dying", Sandra Goldbacher's "Me Without You", and Andrew Fleming's "Dick".  On television, Williams starred opposite Chloë Sevigny in Martha Coolidge's critically acclaimed HBO movie "If These Walls Could Talk 2". She also had a six-year run as "Jen Lindley" on the WB's hit television series "Dawson's Creek". The series premiered in 1998 and remained one of the WB's top-rated shows throughout its run. On stage, Williams received glowing reviews for her portrayal of Varya in Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She also achieved critical acclaim for her run in Mike Leigh's "Smelling Rat" at the Samuel Beckett Theatre and her off-Broadway debut in "Killer Joe".