Desperate housewife Felicity Huffman stars in Transamerica as Bree.

Now Huffman, 42, is taking on her first meaty big-screen role. In “Transamerica,” she plays a closeted transsexual one week away from the operation to become a woman. It’s the kind of role that catapulted Hilary Swank to Oscar stardom and proved Charlize Theron was more than a leggy beauty.

On her journey, she meets the son she never knew she had and embarks on a cross-country road trip where emotional transformations truly prepare her for the physical one. The film is less about transsexuality than it is about family dynamics, and acceptance.

“Transamerica” screened Oct. 9 to a sold-out crowd at the Mill Valley Film Festival, where Huffman was honored at the festival’s prestigious Spotlight event. Last year’s honoree was Laura Linney.

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Check the release dates for Transamerica here.