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Video: Spirit Winner Shailene Woodley Credits The Descendants For Shaping "My Young Adult Life"

Karli Bulnes — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:55:00 PST

Shailene Woodley picked up the best supporting actress honor at the Independent Film Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday. Hear the rising star refer to her four months of filming The Descendants as the four months that shaped her "young adult life" in this excerpt from her acceptance speech, and be sure to tune in to the show for more.

Video: Spirit Winner Michelle Williams Thanks "Dreamers" and "Dropouts Just Like Me"

Karli Bulnes — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:45:00 PST

Michelle Williams picked up her first Independent Spirit award for her leading role in My Week With Marilyn. Hear her thank her fellow "dreamers" and "dropouts" and tune in to the rest of the show now!

Stars Hit the Stage at the Spirit Awards Where Michelle Williams and The Artist Win Big

Lauren Turner — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:07:07 PST

Seth Rogen hosted the star-studded 2012 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica this afternoon. The Descendants's Shailene Woodley got the winning started when she picked up a statue for best supporting actress. Michelle Williams, who won for My Week With Marilyn and is also up for best actress at the Oscars, hung out with pal Busy Philipps inside the event and talked about prepping for the iconic role in the press room. The Artist was the big winner of the night, taking home four honors, including best picture and best actor for Jean Dujardin. Zac Efron joined the fun wearing Lanvin, while presenter Elizabeth Banks paused backstage for a photo op with Rashida Jones, and nominee Jessica Chastain chatted with Rosario Dawson. Check out the full list of 2012 Spirit Award winners and make sure to tune in right here on PopSugar for tomorrow's Oscars at 5:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. PST!

Michelle Williams on No Longer Being the Susan Lucci of the Spirit Awards

Becky Kirsch — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:08:20 PST

Michelle Williams took home her very first Spirit Award today for My Week With Marilyn. She was very excited about her statuette as she headed back to the press room to talk to reporters about her prep work for the film, and how she feels about her rise to fame.

On winning her first Spirit Award after being nominated four times: My friend said earlier, "You're like the Susan Lucci of the Independent Spirit Awards!"

On how she prepared to play Marilyn: You have to put the idea of her as an icon out of your mind, you have to think of her as a girl, as an ordinary girl, which is how she wanted people to think of her ultimately.

On how she approached the role: I took my time, you watch all the movies, you read all the books, you go on YouTube. You become a really good student.

On how far she's come since growing up in Montana: I just do some work. I just keep my head down, which is actually a very Montana attitude. There's this Quaker thing that I like, "Eyes to the ground and heart to the sky." I just keep focused.

On her favorite quote from the script: I do have one but I don't want to tell you what it is!

The Artist Leads the Way For the 2012 Spirit Award Winners

Becky Kirsch — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:06:40 PST

We're in the home stretch of award season, but before the Oscars close things out, Hollywood honored some of the best in independent films with the Spirit Awards. Christopher Plummer continued to sweep the best supporting actor category for Beginners, while Shailene Woodley got her first win for her work in The Descendants. Oscar nominees Jean Dujardin and Michelle Williams both got an early boost from Spirit wins as well. The Artist was the biggest winner of the night, taking home four awards including best feature.

To see the full list of the winners, just

BEST FEATURE
The Artist

BEST DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
Margin Call

BEST MALE LEAD
Jean Dujardin, The Artist

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

BEST SCREENPLAY
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash, The Descendants

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Will Reiser, 50/50

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Gui-omme Shiffman, The Artist

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)
Pariah

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Interrupters

FOREIGN FILM
A Separation

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD (Given to one film’s director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)
Margin Call

See the Stars on the Independent Spirit Awards Red Carpet

Allie Merriam — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:30:35 PST

The purple carpet at this afternoon's Independent Spirit Awards in LA was star-studded. Celebs gathered to honor the year's best in independent movie-making, just one day before the culmination of award season at the Oscars - make sure to come back to PopSugar tomorrow to see our live report from the Academy Awards at 5:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. PST!

Many of the ladies chose simple outfits for today's event. Michelle Williams went with a Louis Vuitton shorts suit, while Jessica Chastain, nominated for her work in Take Shelter, wore a similar Armani dress. Elizabeth Olsen wore white Antonio Berardi, and Kirsten Dunst, representing Melancholia, wore a Dolce & Gabbana LBD with a white blazer. Shailene Woodley, an early winner, went casual in jeans and a patterned top.

Others like Olivia Wilde and Elizabeth Banks opted for colorful prints. Zoe Saldana showed leg in a floral Balmain dress, while Busy Philipps was retro in baby blue and Kate Beckinsale rocked a jumpsuit. Many handsome men also showed their faces, including Zac Efron, Matthew Bomer, and Chris Pine. Ian Somerhalder and Alexander Skarsgard also suited up to pose for photos. Stay tuned to find out who the big winners were!

Who Suited Up Best at the Independent Spirit Awards?

Noria Morales — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:59:27 PST

The dominant trend at the Independent Spirit Awards may have been the blazer. Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, and Jessica Chastain suited up in three very different ways. Kirsten was short and flirty with her Dolce and Gabbana black minidress and white blazer, while Michelle went for a crisp boys look in her Louis Vuitton shorts suit and buttoned up white shirt. Jessica appeared in a black skirtsuit, which seems to be making a comeback for Spring. What's your favorite rendition of a dressed-up blazer look?

Elizabeth Olsen Brightly Steps Out For the Independent Spirit Awards

Allie Merriam — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:53:31 PST

Elizabeth Olsen hit the purple carpet at this afternoon's Independent Spirit Awards in LA. She's made the award show rounds so far this year on behalf of her breakout role in Martha Marcy May Marlene. Elizabeth is up for the best female lead honor at today's ceremony, which will be hosted by Seth Rogen. Her movie is also up for best first feature for director Sean Durkin. We'll see if Elizabeth takes home a big honor today - and make sure to tell us what you think of her white dress from designer Antonio Berardi!

Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps Hit the Independent Spirits Carpet Together

Allie Merriam — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:45:50 PST

Michelle Williams, in a Louis Vuitton shorts suit, had her BFF Busy Philipps by her side for this afternoon's Independent Spirit Awards in LA. Busy has been by Michelle's side on red carpets throughout this award season, including at the SAG Awards and Golden Globes. Michelle's in the running to take home a best actress statue today, as well as at tomorrow's Oscars. Her work in My Week With Marilyn has earned all sorts of acclaim, and tomorrow will be the final event in a busy two months. We'll be LIVE on the Academy Awards red carpet, so come back to PopSugar tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. PST to see all the action.

Shailene Woodley on Winning a Spirit Award and "Superhuman" George Clooney

Becky Kirsch — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:44:30 PST

Shailene Woodley may have been snubbed by the Oscars, but she was a big winner at the Spirit Awards for best supporting actress. After accepting her award, Woodley headed to the press room where talked about how she grew up on the set of The Descendants, thanks in large part to costar George Clooney, whom she called a "dynamite human being."

On how the film changed her: I'm so grateful. I don't know if surprised is the right word, it's been such a beautiful experience in my life. It transformed me as a human being. Every person in the film had such gentle, kind souls. And being on the set as an 18-year-old, it was a catalyst for coming into my own.

On working with George Clooney: George Clooney, he was the head of all the happiness. Him and Alexander Payne. They both just embody such graciousness toward human beings. George is so incredibly philanthropic, and he taught me so much about helping others. He's such a dynamite human being. He's superhuman.

On how the cast of The Secret Life of the American Teenager has responded to her success: Everyone at Secret Life is super stoked for me, just as I'm stoked for them. We've all been given the opportunity to go out and do other things apart from the show.

On how her life has changed: My life has changed only in one way, and that is that I need to do laundry. I haven't had time to do laundry in a few months but after tomorrow there will be lots of time to do that!

On what she'd like to do next: I would love to do something dark, and small. I love independent films. I love emotional scenes. I love people who are struggling with something. I think it's the perfect juxtaposition to my happy, positive, demeanor.