Quvenzhané Wallis

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Quvenzhané Wallis
Born (2003-08-28) August 28, 2003 (age 20)
Houma, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation Actress, model, singer
Years active 2011–present

Quvenzhané Wallis (/kwə.ˈvɛn.ʒə.n/; kwuh-VEN-zhuh-nay;[1] born August 28, 2003)[2][3] is an American actress. She is known for her role as Hushpuppy in the drama film Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012),[4] for which she became the youngest actress ever and the first person born in the 21st century to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.[5][6]

She is also well-known for starring in the 2014 Annie remake, receiving a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for her work in the movie.

Early life

Wallis was born in Houma, Louisiana, to Qulyndreia Wallis, a teacher, and Venjie Wallis, Sr., a truck driver.[7] She has two brothers, Vejon and Venjie, Jr..[2][8][9] "Quven", the first part of her name, combines the first syllables of her parents' first names.

Career

Wallis, at age five, lied about her age to audition for her very first acting job, the starring role in Beasts of the Southern Wild, because the minimum age to be considered was six. She eventually beat out 4,000 others for the role of Hushpuppy, the indomitable child prodigy and survivalist who lives with her dying father in the backwoods bayou squalor of Louisiana.[10] Director Benh Zeitlin told The Daily Beast that when he auditioned Wallis, he immediately realized he had discovered what he was looking for, and changed the Beasts script to accommodate her strong-willed personality. Her reading ability, loud scream, and the skill of burping on command impressed the director and won her the part.[9] Zeitlin has also stated that "it was just the feeling behind her eyes".[11]

The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January 2012 to rave reviews, winning the Grand Jury Prize. In May 2012, Wallis flew to France for the premiere of the film at the Cannes Film Festival. The film received much acclaim and praise for Wallis' outstanding performance and it went on to win the prestigious Caméra d'Or award for Best first Feature Film. On January 10, 2013, at age nine, Wallis became the Academy Awards' youngest nominee for Best Actress and third youngest in all categories.[12] However, she was just six during the filming.[13] Wallis is the first African-American child actor to earn an Oscar nomination. She is also the first person born in the 21st century to receive an Academy Award nomination.

Wallis had a role in the film 12 Years a Slave (2013), and collaborated with Sundance for the second time on a short film called Boneshaker. In 2014, she played the title character in a remake of the musical Annie.[14] For this, she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and received praise from most reviewers, despite the film being considered a poor adaption of the classic Broadway show.[15] In May 2014, Wallis was named the face of Armani Junior, Giorgio Armani's line for children and teens. This makes her the first major child celebrity to be the face of a luxury brand.[16]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Beasts of the Southern Wild Hushpuppy
2013 Boneshaker Blessing Short film
2013 12 Years a Slave Margaret Northup
2014 Annie Annie Bennett
2014 Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet Almitra Voice
2015 Fathers and Daughters Lucy
2016 Lemonade Herself Musical film

Awards and nominations

Year Award Work Result
2013 Academy Award for Best Actress[5][6] Beasts of the Southern Wild Nominated
African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Won
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Won
Austin Film Critics Association for Breakthrough Artist Award Won
Black Reel Award for Best Actress Won
Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Performer Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Performer Won
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated
Denver Film Critics Society for Best Actress Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Breakout Performance Won
Gotham Award for Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Hollywood Film Festival New Hollywood Award Won
Houston Film Critics Society for Best Actress Nominated
Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Nominated
MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Actress Won
New York Film Critics Online Award for Breakthrough Performance Won
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Youth Performance in a Lead or Supporting Role – Female Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Breakthrough Performance Won
Santa Barbara International Film Festival — Virtuoso Award Won
Satellite Award for Best Breakthrough Actress Won
Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor Nominated
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated
Utah Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Won
Women Film Critics for Best Youth Performance Won
Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress[17] Won
2015 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress Annie Won
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical Nominated
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Performer Nominated
Black Reel Award for Best Actress Nominated
Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Young Actress Nominated

See also

References

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External links