Quvenzhane Wallis

This young girl who plays the lead character Hushpuppy in Beasts of the Southern Wild was only five years old when she was chosen for the role. And she turns out an incredible performance in this surreal film based on the lives of the residents of a bayou community in Louisiana.

Also, worthy of a mention is Dwight Henry, who plays her father in the film. Also a first time actor, Henry seems so convincing in his role. It's good to see that both of them have already started working on their next film, Twelve Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen.