Sandra Bullock to receive Desert Palm Achievement Award

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With an Oscar win and many feature films on her resume, actress Sandra Bullock has only stepped up the ladder of success since her TV movie days. Here’s a look at the career highlights of one of Hollywood’s biggest female stars.

By Andrea Wang / Los Angeles Times

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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Bullock first staked a spot under the Hollywood spotlight playing Annie Porter, a civilian turned hero, in this critically acclaimed action-thriller. When costar Keanu Reeves boards the bus to address a bomb threat, Bullock finds herself essential in the capture of a rogue ex-police officer. (Richard Foreman / Handout)

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Bullock joined forces with comedy actress Melissa McCarthy to revamp the buddy cop genre with “The Heat.” In the critically acclaimed movie, Bullock again displays her tomboyish charm as uptight FBI agent Sarah Ashburn. (Gemma La Mana / Associated Press)

By Mark Olsen

Nov. 15, 2013 4:37 PM PT

As part of what is shaping up to be a busy awards season for the actress, Sandra Bullock will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January. The Oscar winner has been receiving strong reviews for her role in “Gravity” and is considered a top contender in this year’s lead actress race.

Matthew McConaughey was also recently announced as a recipient of the Desert Palm award at the Palm Springs festival’s Jan. 4 awards gala. Past recipients of the actress prize include Halle Berry, Marion Cotillard, Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts and Michelle Williams.

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Bullock’s turn in the sci-fi survival adventure “Gravity,” which has been a surprise smash at the box office, comes hot on the heels of her role in the summer female buddy cop comedy “The Heat.” Between the two releases, Bullock’s films have brought in nearly $400 million at the U.S. box office in 2013.

In his review of Bullock’s performance in “Gravity,” Times critic Kenneth Turan noted, “through it all her gift for connecting with an audience, so essential for this kind of film, never fails her.”

Also:

Matthew McConaughey to receive Desert Palm prize

‘Gravity’: Sandra Bullock space saga attracts stellar reviews

Toronto International Film Festival 2013: Sandra Bullock calls making ‘Gravity’ ‘lonely’

Folow Mark Olsen on Twitter: @IndieFocus