Michelle Williams sparked concern her former Dawson's Creek co-star Mary Beth Peil had died when she gave an emotional speech in tribute to the actress at the Gotham Awards in NYC on Monday.

Oh dear: Michelle Williams sparked concern her former Dawson's Creek co-star Mary Beth Peil had died when she gave an emotional speech in tribute to the actress at the Gotham Awards in NYC on Monday.

'I wouldn't have known how to handle being Steven Spielberg's mother [in The Fabelmans] without having been Mary Beth's granddaughter, so thank you Mary Beth, and thank you Gotham Awards for this.'

The emotional speech quickly shocked fans who were anxious to check up on Peil, with one writing: 'This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who is absolutely still alive and currently in a play.'

Another wrote: 'No-one would possibly come away from this speech thinking Mary Beth Peil is still alive (she is lmao)' while a third typed:  'It is a great speech, but made me freak out for a second, as I was pretty sure I didn't hear about Mary Beth Peil passing away, but I guess she just meant she literally physically couldn't be there

Oh no: The emotional speech quickly shocked fans who were anxious to check up on Peil, with one writing: 'This is a beautiful eulogy for someone who is absolutely still alive and currently in a play'

Actress: Michelle said; 'I wouldn't have known how to handle being Steven Spielberg's mother [in The Fabelmans] without having been Mary Beth's granddaughter, so thank you Mary Beth, and thank you Gotham Awards for this'