Keisha Castle-Hughes as "Paikea" is shown in a scene from "Whale Rider" in this undated promotional photo. Castle-Hughes, who plays a New Zealand girl who bucks tradition to become leader of her Maori tribe, was nominated for best actress when the 76th annual Academy Award nominations were announced Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The thirteen-year-old is the youngest nominee ever in that category. Special

Young New Zealand actress' nomination a surprise

SYDNEY, Australia -- New Zealand anticipated Oscar success Tuesday for homegrown director Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" finale. But a best-actress nomination for 13-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes - the youngest-ever nominee in that category - was a surprise to the "Whale Rider" star.

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The film's distributor was pushing Castle-Hughes in the supporting category.

Instead, the New Zealand teenager will be up against Diane Keaton, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton and Australia's Naomi Watts for best actress.

Castle-Hughes's performance as a New Zealand girl who defies tradition to lead a tribe of Maori, New Zealand's indigenous people, was praised at film festivals around the world.

Castle-Hughes was plucked from obscurity at 11 to play Paikea in what was her first acting experience. After the whirl of international travel and publicity, she told The Associated Press last year she was not sure acting would be her lifelong pursuit.

"I've always wanted to be an actress, but now that I've had the chance I don't know if I really want to," she said. "It's really hard."

The Academy Awards ceremony will be held Feb. 29 in Hollywood.

--From the Wednesday, January 28, 2004 online edition of the Augusta Chronicle