9. Quvenzhane Wallis For Best Actress
It is impossible not to be charmed by the raw power of Quvenzhane Wallis' performance in Beasts of the Southern Wild, and the Academy
has nominated young actresses in the Best Lead Actress category before (most recently Keisha Castle-Hughes for Whale Rider in 2002), but at the tender young age of 8 and having failed to garner a SAG nomination, the odds were against Wallis in this case. Luckily, once again the Academy voters proved that they know something good when they see it, and while it is a shame that Wallis's equally talented co-star Dwight Henry failed to garner a much deserved Best Supporting Actor nomination, it was still quite heartwarming and reassuring to see this raw talent recognized.