Jena Malone, who is 11 years old, stunned television audiences this fall with her mature and thoughtful portrayal of an abused child named Bone in the film adaptation of Dorothy Allison’s Bastard Out of Carolina, directed by Anjelica Huston for Showtime.

Jena is no stranger to such intense projects. Her next project is the Hallmark Hall of Fame CBS movie of the week Ellen Foster. Malone stars as Ellen Foster, a girl confronted with such hardships as family alcoholism, death, racial prejudice and abandonment. When asked why she chooses to do such reality-based projects, she explains, “My personal life is normally filled with happiness and fun. When I’m considering a project, I like to portray real life situations and experience new things, because I find it to be a challenge.”

Jena has recently completed filming Martin Bell’s Hidden in America for Showtime. She portrays a daughter in a family racked with poverty and hunger. As a result of this film, the production company decided to start the Hunger Corps, an organization that will help feed the hungry in America.

Acting seems to come naturally to this Nevada-born actress. She also appeared in a critically acclaimed guest-starring role in the television drama Chicago Hope. Not bad for an actress who has been in the business for only a little over a year. As this seventh-grader exclaims, “Dreams really do come true!”