Mariah Carey picks up first acting award

Hero hitmaker and popstar Mariah Carey had sacrificed glamour to play a dowdy social worker in Precious and the effort is paying rich dividends as she picked up her first acting award and may be in line for more.

Popstar Mariah Carey had sacrificed glamour to play a dowdy social worker in

Precious

and the effort is paying rich dividends as she picked up her first acting award and may be in line for more.

The 40-year-old enjoyed a glamorous night in Capri at the town's annual Hollywood International Film Festival where she was honoured with the prize for Supporting Actress of the Year, reported

Daily Mai

l online.

The

Hero

hitmaker played social worker Mrs. Weiss in the Lee Daniels film where she stars opposite Mo' Nique and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe.

Carey who was accompanied by husband Nick Cannon, 29, looked every inch the movie star in a sequined gown and fur shrug.

Big screen success has eluded the singer since she was widely panned by the critics for her role in film

Glitter

(2001) for which she won the Razzie Award for Worst Actress.

However, this time it's a different story as

Precious

is tipped for awards glory, and the singer has been nominated along the rest of the cast for Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Award.

Precious

is about an overweight girl in '80s-era Harlem who is living with an abusive mother while carrying her father's child.