When young Quvenzhané Wallis was cast as the lead role of Hushpuppy by an unknown filmmaker in Lousiana, her mother, Qulyndreia, had few expectations beyond it being a life experience for her daughter. She tells USA Today:

"We were under the impression that they would show the movie and after Sundance that would be it...we had no idea in a million years that we would be where we are today."

From Utah to the south of France and now, just maybe, a place amongst the Oscar nominated elite, Quvenzhané Wallis has had a pretty memorable 2012.

Check out this USA Today slide show of Quvenzhané's best year ever.