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Special Olympics Board Member Vanessa Williams and the cast of “Ugly Betty” received a Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on Monday, 15 January 2007. Williams plays the role of Wilhelmina Slater in the hit comedy-drama series on ABC-TV.
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Special Olympics Board Member Vanessa Williams talks with Special Olympics Russia athlete Irina Balayeva at the 2005 World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. Balayeva won a gold medal in singles figure skating. |
“On behalf of Special Olympics, I want to offer our congratulations to Vanessa Williams and the entire cast of 'Ugly Betty' for this outstanding achievement,” said Special Olympics President and CEO Bruce Pasternack. “We are pleased that a show with such a strong message of acceptance and inclusion has received the recognition that it so richly deserves.”
“Ugly Betty” follows the daily life of Betty Suarez, a young woman working as an executive assistant at MODE fashion magazine who is determined to find success in the fashion industry despite the humiliation and insults from her more attractive co-workers.
In addition to serving on the Special Olympics Board of Directors, Williams is a Global Ambassador for the movement, helping spread the Special Olympics message of inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities to an international audience. She sang on two of the popular A Very Special Christmas holiday music compilations, sales of which have raised more than US$100 million for Special Olympics. She has participated in many other Special Olympics events and initiatives, such as helping to facilitate discussions at the Special Olympics Global Youth Forum, held during the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
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Vanessa Williams attended the 10 July 2006 "Tribute to Special Olympics" dinner at the White House with Special Olympics athletes (from left) Stacy Johnston, Ashley Lucas and Dina Galal Moussa. |
The Golden Globe was just the latest honor for the talented singer and actress. She had a top 10 hit with “Dreamin',” from her debut album, “The Right Stuff,” which reached gold status and earned Williams three Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best New Artist. Williams' biggest hit to date is “Save the Best for Last,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1992. In total, Williams has sold 6 million records and received 15 Grammy Award nominations.
Williams has also had an award-winning career as an actress. She has made guest appearances on a number of television shows, including “Saturday Night Live” and “Ally McBeal,” and now stars on “Ugly Betty.” She also had many appearances in television movies and miniseries, including starring in “The Courage to Love,” a Lifetime cable movie about the life of Henriette DeLille (the first U.S.-born Creole of whose cause for canonization has been officially opened by the Catholic Church). Williams was prominently featured in the feature film “Soul Food,” for which she won the Best Actress award at the NAACP Image Awards.
Williams is currently starring in “My Brother,” a story of two impoverished New York City boys, one of whom is developmentally disabled, and the love they have for each other. The film, which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture at the 10th Annual American Black Film Festival Awards, opens 26 January 2007. |
