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After watching her in “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” audiences everywhere wondered where Quvenzhané Wallis is from.

The 9-year-old child actress was born in Houma, Louisiana on August 28, 2003 to teacher Qulyndreia and truck driver Venjie Wallis, Sr. Houma is the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish and has a population of over 33,700. In fact, Quvenzhané Wallis didn’t have to go very far to film “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” The movie was shot in Montegut, Louisiana, just 15 miles from Houma!

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Her hometown is rich in Cajun culture, a mix of Native American, Acadian, and African traditions. Quvenzhané Wallis herself is a lover of the region’s seafood.

But the success of “Beasts of the Southern Wild” has taken her far from her hometown, though.  Wallis told USA Today that she’ll wake up on airplanes, “Wondering, ‘How in the heck did I get here?’ It’s something you don’t expect, to be all over the world. You’re little — why would you be all over the world?”

MUST READ: The Onion Uses Derogatory Term To Refer To Oscar Nominee Quvenzhane Wallis

Quvenzhané Wallis said she expects to act in school musicals at Honduras Elementary School, though we have a feeling her career will take her away from home again. She’s already signed on to “Twelve Years a Slave” with Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender, and has been rumored for a new version of the classic “Annie.”

MUST READ: Quvenzhané Wallis Is The Youngest Oscar Nominee For Best Actress In A Leading Role Ever! 

2013 Oscar Nominations We Care About
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For 2024’s iteration of MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful’s annual series Women to Know, we knew we wanted to celebrate the people who help make the joys of film and television possible. To create art is to create magic. This year, we spotlight Hollywood Executive’s changing the face of cinema.