williams' first film acting role was as the co-star of the arnold schwarzenegger feature film "eraser" in 1996. she has also been in movies "soul food", "dance with me", "the adventures of elmo in grouchland", "shaft" and "johnson family vacation". from 2006 to 2010, she played the role of the scheming, self-absorbed diva and former supermodel wilhelmina slater in the abc comedy series "ugly betty", for which she got three emmy awards nominations. in 2009, williams released her eighth studio album, "the real thing". from 2010 to 2012, she starred in "desperate housewives" as spoiled rich woman renee perry. she currently stars in the supernatural drama series "666 park avenue".