Melissa McCarthy to receive Spotlight Award at Palm Springs Film Festival

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Melissa McCarthy will be honored with the Spotlight Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan. 3.

McCarthy is receiving the prestigious award in recognition of her role as real-life author Lee Israel in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

McCarthy's co-star in the film, Richard E. Grant, will be presenting the actress with the award during the Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Glenn Close and Rami Malek are also set to be honored during the event.

Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Andrew Garfield, Helen Hunt, Allison Janney, Rooney Mara, Julia Roberts and J.K. Simmons have previously won the Spotlight Award and have all received Academy Award nominations after receiving the honor.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?, from director Marielle Heller, follows McCarthy's Israel as she sells to collectors fake letters by dead authors that she forged.

"Melissa McCarthy delivers a heartbreaking performance as author Lee Israel, perfectly portraying Israel's loneliness as she struggles with her own relevance in society," festival chairman Harold Matzner said in a statement. "McCarthy's dramatic turn is truly captivating and deserving of awards recognition."