As if it weren't hurtful enough that she lost her onscreen husband to a man, Brokeback Mountain's Michelle Williams has suffered another indignity. When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 120 people invited to become members last week, on the list were Williams' costars Heath Ledger (also her real-life partner) and Jake Gyllenhaal. But Williams herself was nowhere to be found, despite earning a Best Supporting Actress nod for her performance. Even worse, her category's two other first-time nominees, Amy Adams and Rachel Weisz, both made the cut. (The Academy also tapped the never-nominated Dakota Fanning, for Pete's sake.) So what's behind the snub? Is it some sort of punishment for Williams' Dawson's Creek days? ''For the last couple years, there has been an effort to make sure the members coming in are of the highest possible quality,'' says the Academy's executive administrator, Ric Robertson. ''They're really looking at the top people. Not to suggest that anyone not coming in isn't top, but what they're looking at are the credits, the body of work, and the quality of the work.'' Robertson adds that Williams, whose reps wouldn't comment for this article, could still become an Academy member down the road. But for now, she'll have to help Ledger fill out his ballot.
MEMBERS ONLY
Some of those asked to join the Academy this year include:
MARIA BELLO
A History of Violence
ERIC BANA
Munich
DAKOTA FANNING
War of the Worlds
BARRY PEPPER
Saving Private Ryan
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