14 Things You Need To Know About Oscar Nominee Quvenzhané Wallis

The 9-year-old actress has great chops, great confidence, and great shoes.

1. She was just nominated for Best Actress for her role in “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”

She plays Hushpuppy, a tough and imaginative little girl who has to fend for herself when her dad falls ill.

Image by Lionel Hahn/Abaca Press/MCT

2. At 9, she’s the youngest Best Actress nominee ever.

The runner-up is Keisha Castle-Hughes, who was 13 when she was nominated for Whale Rider.

Image by Skip Bolen / Getty Images

3. She lied about her age to get the part.

In an interview with Roger Ebert, she explained, “my Mom got a call from one of her friends and it was for a six to nine year old. So my Mom said I couldn’t go ‘cause I was only five. But we just went and we act like we’re having nothin’ to do; we had done nothin’ wrong. And we just sneaked in because I was like one year younger so we just sneaked in and we walked out like we ain’t done nothin’.”

She added, “they only have found me because the character who is Hushpuppy, she does what is right and she is fearless and that’s what I did at the audition.”

That’s her mom Qulyndreia with her above.

Image by Chris Heller / AP

4. She got rave reviews.

The New York Times said she “holds the camera’s attention with a charismatic poise that might make grown-up movie stars weep in envy.” The LA Times said, “When she pounds a table and yells ‘I am ‘da man’ it comes from such an authentic place that it’s clear this is a serious talent to be reckoned with.”

Via: mikeely.files.wordpress.com

5. She has great style.

Check out her matching leopard flats.

Image by Theo Wargo / Getty Images

6.

She makes a fedora look cool.

Image by Valerie Macon / Getty Images

7.

Again with the rad accessories.

Image by Jason Merritt / Getty Images

8.

That bag up close — the dog has a bow to match her belt. Also note her nail art.

Image by Jason Merritt / Getty Images

9.

Ruffles and pigtails.

Image by Yves Herman / Reuters

10.

Rocking leggings and ballet flats.

Image by Tim Whitby / Getty Images

11. She also gives great interviews.

Via Chicago Tribune.

Image by Valerie Macon / Getty Images

12. On her new fame:

Via Huffington Post.

Image by Tim Whitby / Getty Images

13. On herself:

Via Chicago Tribune.

Image by Skip Bolen / Getty Images

14. You’ll be seeing more of her soon.

She’s appearing in the movie Twelve Years A Slave, with Paul Giamatti and Brad Pitt. It comes out this year.

Image by Valerie Macon / Getty Images