AnnaSophia Robb has been acting for more than half her life. You might recognize her from the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, featuring Johnny Depp, although she's appeared in various films since then. "Ever since I can remember I have wanted to act," she writes on her website.

This weekend, the 17-year-old Denverite received an Emerging Maverick Award for her portrayal of Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who lost her arm during a shark attack in 2003 (San Jose Mercury News). Soul Surfer, which also stars Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt, screened last week during Denver's Women + Film Voices Film Festival, where Robb walked the red carpet (see trailers here). "I am always very critical of my performance, but Bethany said she was happy with it, and that's all that really matters," Robb says (Denver Post).