Quvenzhané Wallis (/kwəˈvɛnʒəneɪ/ kwə-VEN-zhə-nay;[1] born August 28, 2003)[2][3] is an American actress and author. In 2012, she starred as Hushpuppy in the drama film Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the youngest actress to be nominated in the category, as well as the first (and as of 2024 only) actor born in the 21st century nominated for an Oscar.[4][5][a] She went on to appear in the Steve McQueen film 12 Years a Slave (2013). Wallis starred as Annie Bennett in the 2014 adaptation of Annie, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical.[6]
Quvenzhané Wallis | |
|---|---|
 Wallis at the 6th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood in 2013 | |
| Born | August 28, 2003 Houma, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
Wallis is also known for voicing the character Harper in the animated film Trolls (2016); as well as her role as Kyra in the television sitcom Black-ish (2019).
As an author, she has published four children's books, Shai & Emmie Star in Break an Egg!, A Night Out with Mama, Shai & Emmie Star in Dancy Pants! and Shai & Emmie Star in To the Rescue![7]
Early life
editWallis was born in Houma, Louisiana, to Qulyndreia Wallis (née Jackson), a teacher, and Venjie Wallis Sr., a truck driver.[8] She has one sister, Qunyquekya, and two brothers, Vejon and Venjie Jr.[2][9][10] Her name "Quvenzhané" combines the first syllables of her parents' first names in "Quven", and an alteration of the Swahili word jini meaning 'sprite' or 'fairy'.[11]
Career
editAt age five, Wallis lied about her age to audition for Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), which had a minimum tryout age of 6. She was chosen out of 4,000 to play Hushpuppy, an indomitable child prodigy and survivalist who lives with her dying father in the backwoods bayou squalor of Louisiana.[12] 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 of the Southern Wild script to accommodate her strong-willed personality. Her reading prowess, loud screaming voice, and ability to burp on command impressed the director and won her the part.[10] Zeitlin has stated that "it was just the feeling behind her eyes".[13]
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 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Wallis's performance drew widespread acclaim and Zeitlin won the Caméra d'Or, the festival's award for best first feature film. On January 10, 2013, at age nine, Wallis was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Wallis, who was 6 when she filmed Beasts of the Southern Wild, is the all-time youngest nominee for Best Actress and the third-youngest nominee in any category.[14][15] Wallis is the first African-American child actor and the first person born in the 21st century to earn an Oscar nomination.
Wallis had a role in the film 12 Years a Slave (2013), and collaborated with the Sundance Film Festival on a short film called Boneshaker. In 2014, she played the title character in Annie, the first African American to do so.[16] For this, she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical but the film was panned by critics.[citation needed] In May 2014, Wallis became the first child celebrity to be named the face of a luxury brand when she was signed by Armani Junior, Giorgio Armani's fashion line for children and teens.[17]
Wallis appeared in Beyoncé's 2016 music video for "All Night".[18] In October 2017, she released two children's books: the friendship-centric Shai & Emmie Star in Break an Egg! and A Night Out With Mama, which is about her night at the Oscars with her mother.[19][20] She published two more books, Shai & Emmie Star in To the Rescue! and Shai & Emmie Star in Dancy Pants!, in 2018.[7][21]
She became a member of the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018.[22]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Beasts of the Southern Wild | Hushpuppy | |
| 2013 | 12 Years a Slave | Margaret Northup | |
| 2014 | Annie | Annie Bennett | |
| The Prophet | Almitra (voice) | ||
| 2015 | Fathers and Daughters | Lucy | |
| 2016 | Lemonade | Herself | |
| Trolls | Harper (voice) | ||
| 2024 | Breathe | Zora | [23] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Black-ish | Kyra | Recurring role (season 5) |
| 2021–2023 | Swagger | Crystal | Main role |
| 2022 | American Horror Stories | Bianca | Episode: "Bloody Mary" |
Awards and nominations
editSee also
editNotes
edit- ^ As the only person born in the 21st century to be nominated for an acting Oscar, Wallis holds the additional distinction of being the youngest living Oscar nominee by present age, as of 2024.
References
edit- ^ "11 Celeb Names You're Totally Pronouncing Wrong". Seventeen. July 31, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
- ^ a b "Beasts of the Southern Wild press kit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 8, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1274. August 30, 2013. p. 20.
- ^ Blakely, Rhys (January 10, 2013). "Youngest v oldest actress vie for Oscar as Lincoln leads the pack". The Times. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ Walker, Tim (January 10, 2013). "Quvenzhané Wallis v Emmanuelle Riva: Best actress Oscar contested by oldest and youngest ever nominees". The Independent. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ Nicholson, Amy (June 29, 2012). "Quvenzhané Conquers Hollywood: 20 Questions for the 8-year-old star of Beasts of the Southern Wild)". Boxoffice.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
- ^ a b A Shai & Emmie Story. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- ^ The Deadline Team (November 24, 2012). "OSCARS Interview: Quvenzhané Wallis". Deadline. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ McKnight, Laura (May 13, 2010). "Houma girl to star in independent film". The Daily Comet. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Ebert, Roger (June 22, 2012). "Quvenzhané. A small force of nature". Roger Ebert's Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
- ^ Ward, Kate (February 20, 2013). "How to Pronounce 25 Difficult Celebrity Names". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
The first name of the Oscar-nominated Beasts of Southern Wild star is, fittingly, a beast. But it has a lovely backstory: "Quven" combines her parents' first names (Qulyndreia and Venjie) and "zhane" is Swahili for "fairy".
- ^ Truitt, Brian (June 26, 2012). "Quvenzhane Wallis makes 'Southern Wild' sing". USA Today. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
- ^ Haramis, Nicholas (December 3, 2014). "There's Something About Quvenzhané Wallis". The New York Times Company. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- ^ Day, Patrick Kevin (January 10, 2013). "Oscar nominations: Quvenzhane Wallis is young but not youngest ever". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Alexander, Bryan (January 10, 2013). "History-making Quvenzhane Wallis: 'This is special'". USA Today.
- ^ Rottenberg, Josh (February 24, 2013). "Beasts of the Southern Wild' breakout Quvenzhané Wallis to star in new big-screen 'Annie'". EW.com.
- ^ Merle Ginsberg (May 22, 2014). "Quvenzhane Wallis Named Face of Armani Junior (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
- ^ Vincenty, Samantha (November 30, 2016). "Watch Beyonce's 'All Night' Video from 'Lemonade'". PopCrush. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ "Actress Quvenzhane Wallis Pens and Releases Two Children's Books". October 5, 2017.
- ^ Chevel Johnson (October 2, 2017). "Actress Quvenzhane Wallis taking new on a new role of author". Associated Press. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- ^ Rebecca Sun (November 12, 2017). "Rep Sheet Roundup: WME Signs Trio of Hit Rock Bands From CAA". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ Khatchatourian, Maane (June 25, 2018). "Academy Invites Record 928 New Members". Variety.
- ^ Lodderhose, Diana (May 10, 2022). "Sam Worthington, Jennifer Hudson, Milla Jovovich, Quvenzhané Wallis & Common Set For Stefon Bristol's Action-Thriller 'Breathe' From Thunder Road & Capstone – Cannes Market". Deadline. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "Winners and Nominees for the 85th Academy Awards". Academy Awards. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "2012 EDA Award Winners". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- ^ "2012 Awards". Austin Film Critics Association. December 18, 2012. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ "Awards Circuit Community Awards - 2012 Awards". IMDb. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ "Awards 2012". Central Ohio Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "2012 Chicago Film Critics Awards". Chicago Film Critics Association. December 17, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "2013, 19th Annual Awards". Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ "18th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards (2013) - Best Picture: Argo". Critics' Choice Movie Awards. November 24, 2013. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
- ^ "DFW Film Critics Name "Lincoln" as Best Film of 2012". Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ "2013 DFCS Awards". Denver Film Critics Society. January 7, 2013. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "2012 FFCC Award Winners". Florida Film Critics Circle. November 17, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "2012 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- ^ "2012 Gold Derby Film Awards". Gold Derby. March 7, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Nominees Announced for IFP's 22nd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards". Gotham Independent Film Awards. October 18, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ Feinberg, Scott (September 12, 2012). "Hollywood Film Awards to Honor Judd Apatow and 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' Actress (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ Knegt, Peter (January 6, 2013). "Argo Leads Houston Film Critics' Society Awards". IndieWire. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "2013 Spirit Award Nominees Announced". Independent Spirit Awards. November 27, 2012. Archived from the original on December 2, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ "Indiewire 2012 Year-End Critics Poll - Best Performance". IndieWire. Archived from the original on March 10, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ "International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA) - 2013 Awards". IMDb. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ "2012 Award Winners". National Board of Review. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (December 9, 2012). "New York Film Critics Online Hail 'Zero Dark Thirty'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "North Carolina Film Critics Association Best in Cinema 2012". North Carolina Film Critics Association. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "2012 Awards (16th Annual)". Online Film Critics Society. December 24, 2012. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "17th Annual Film Awards (2012)". Online Film and Television Association. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ "Phoenix Film Critics Society 2012 Award Nominations". Phoenix Film Critics Society. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
- ^ "Satellite Awards Nominates 10 Films for Best Motion Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. December 3, 2012. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ "St. Louis Film Critics Awards Nominees For 2012 Announced". St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association. December 12, 2012. Archived from the original on December 15, 2012.
- ^ "Utah Film Critics Association Awards - 2012 Awards". IMDb. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ "The 2012 Village Voice Film Poll - Actress". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- ^ "The 2012 Village Voice Film Poll - Breakthrough". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- ^ "The 2012 WAFCA Awards". Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association. December 10, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "Women Film Critics Circle Awards 2012". Women Film Critics Circle. January 1, 2013. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2018.