Keisha Castle-Hughes was awakened by her mom this morning at 3 AM New Zealand time. "You've just been nominated."
Keisha thought she was still sleeping. "I'll be happy in the morning," she thought. But soon afterword she received a call from the film's US distributor. It was at this moment that reality hit. She was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar, becoming the youngest star to win such an honor in this category.
She sensed her life would forever change.
Keisha is nominated for her role as Paikea in Whale Rider, a girl who fights tradition to become the leader of her Maori tribe. One aspect of playing Paikea is not well known. Keisha had to do her own stunts, which included riding a life-sized replica of a whale 12 miles off the shore of Auckland; she had to hang onto the whale even while it was being pulled under by the tow boat it was attached to, despite the fact that she was terrified for her life.
This nomination surprised most everyone: 1) Even though she has won kudos from a few of the critic awards, she wasn't nominated for a Golden Globe; and 2) her US Distributers who were pushing her for a supporting actress nomination. This nomination, from these aspects, is a fitting and worthy awknowledgement for truly one of the best, heart-warming performances this year.
Some critics are saying her chances are slim because of Charlize Theron's incredible performance as the real-life prostitute serial-killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster.
They may be right. However, I like to think that Keisha's presence in this list is backed by supporters who have fallen in love with a performance that captivated the hearts of hundreds of critics and film festival goers at Sundance and Toronto (where it won the Audience Awards). Once your heart is won over, it is hard to vote against it. This might just be her winning ticket Oscar night. Don't count this battle over until the envelope is open.
But forget that. Keisha is just thrilled being in the same company as Diane Keaton, Charlize Theron, and Renee Zellwegger. "It's amazing."
Notes:
Excerpts taken from the New Zealand Stuff article "Castle-Hughes Stunned by Best Actress Nominee." Read the article here.
Another New Zealand actress, Anna Paquin, won the supporting actress award for Jane Campion's 1992 film The Piano. Anna was also 11 years old.
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