Ex-Child Actress In Oscar-Nominated ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ Shot Dead In Louisiana

A former child actress who appeared in the Oscar-nominated film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" was killed in a shooting in Louisiana on Saturday, Nov. 27, in a case that is currently still being investigated by the local police.

Jonshel Alexander, 22, was reportedly shot dead while inside a car with an unnamed man. Alexander was pronounced dead on the scene, while the man drove to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for the shooting, according to the New York Daily News.

Alexander was 12 years old when she played Joy Strong in the 2012 drama film "Beasts of the Southern Wild," which was the story of a Louisiana bayou community built outside the levee system and the children who are attempting to survive living in the area, Deadline reported.

Auditioning with over 4,000 other child actors, the film’s director Benh Zeitlin recalls being charmed by the tenacity of Alexander and created a supporting role specially made for her due to the fact that she was too old to play the lead role Hushpuppy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“We incorporated a part into the film that was very much inspired by her,” Zeitlin said about Alexander’s character in the film. “A lot of the lines were written by her, and so much of the character grew out of who Jonshel was.”

The film went on to be nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Quvenzhané Wallis, who was six years old at the time, went on to be nominated for Best Actress for playing the role of Hushpuppy.

Zeitlin is devastated about Alexander’s death and is currently in touch with her family.

Alexander has largely avoided the spotlight after her role in the film. She graduated high school and has been working as a hostess in different restaurants while caring for her one-year-old daughter De-vynne Robinson.

Louisiana police are currently investigating the case and looking for the shooter who killed Alexander and injured her male companion. Her family is grieving her death, and many remember her for being feisty and strong, always pushing for what she wanted to achieve.

“Her character in the film is named Joy Strong, which always seemed like a perfect description of Jonshel. She was a really bright burning light,” Zeitlin said about her.

“Jonshel was feisty, jazzy, spoiled. It was her way or no way. Jonshel was like, ‘It’s going to be me,’” Shelley Alexander said about the actress.