For her gritty performance in the new American indie film TRUCKER, the rising actress Michelle Monaghan is getting the best reviews of her career and percolating some Oscar buzz in the bargain. She has become one of the most sought-after actresses of her generation in Hollywood. Michelle Monaghan will receive The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival’s Star On The Horizon Award on Friday evening and will attend a screening of TRUCKER on Saturday night.

Monaghan made her film debut in PERFUME, which she followed up with feature roles in UNFAITHFUL, opposite Richard Gere, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY with Michael Douglas and WINTER SOLSTICE opposite Anthony LaPaglia. It was her performance with co-star Matt Damon in THE BOURNE SUPREMACY that really got critics noticing her mix of raw beauty and gritty toughness. She followed up with standout turns in MR. & MRS. SMITH, co-starring with Mr. and Mrs. Brad Pitt, and her ravishing performance as the woman in the middle of a triangle between Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in the piquant KISS KISS BANG BANG.

More recently, Monaghan starred opposite fellow female thespians Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, and Sissy Spacek in NORTH COUNTRY for director Niki Caro. She then starred in the award-winning urban drama GONE BABY GONE, with a powerful cast that included Casey Affleck and Morgan Freeman. She was the femme fatale in THE HEARTBREAK KID (starring Ben Stiller) and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III, opposite megastar Tom Cruise.

She has also made waves in such fiilms as the romantic comedy MADE OF HONOR (opposite Greys Anatomy hunk Patrick Dempsey) and the box office thriller EAGLE EYE, alongside fellow rising star Shia LaBeouf. Coming next from the versatile star is a lead in SOMEWHERE, the newest film from Sofia Coppola, and a comedic turn in DUE DATE, starring with Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis. She is definitely a star on the rise and well deserving of the FLIFF honors.

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor