Mccarthy Falls Ill Ahead of Film Awards

Actress MELISSA McCARTHY was forced to pull out of an award ceremony at California's Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday (03Feb12)after falling ill.

She was due to pick up a Virtuosos Award for her performance in Bridesmaids at the festival, but missed out after coming down with laryngitis.

The Virtuosos Award, recognising the year's stand-out performers, was also handed out to Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Young Adult's Patton Oswalt, A Better Life actor Demian Bichir, Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Andy Serkis and The Descendants actress Shailene Woodley.

Festival Director Roger Durling says, "I'm ecstatic about this strong line-up of Virtuosos. They all gave us indelible performances".

Last year's (11) winners were Lesley Manville, John Hawkes, Jacki Weaver and Hailee Steinfeld.