<P> After ... 17 - year - old and seven months pregnant Novalee Nation ( Natalie Portman ) is abandoned by boyfriend Willy Jack Pickens ( Dylan Bruno ) at the local Walmart in Sequoyah when she uses the restroom and buys new shoes , she meets Thelma `` Sister '' Husband ( Stockard Channing ) who presents her with a buckeye tree , and Moses Whitecotton ( Keith David ) , a local photographer who advises her to give her baby a strong name . A sickly and homeless Novalee is forced to live in the Walmart , undetected . Novalee is also acquainted with surly librarian Forney Hull ( James Frain ) who looks after his alcoholic sister Mary Elizabeth ( Margaret Hoard ) . During a thunderstorm Novalee , alone at Walmart , goes into labor . Forney , who is now in awe of Novalee , smashes through the Walmart window to help deliver her child whom she names Americus . Novalee instantly becomes a media darling , and in hospital is befriended by Nurse Lexie Coop ( Ashley Judd ) . Her estranged mother Mama Lil ( Sally Field ) , visits after seeing her daughter on television , and disappears with the money donated by well - wishers . Sister Husband arrives and offers to take in Novalee and Americus . Three years later , Novalee becomes a photographer with the help of Moses . When a tornado blows through Sequoyah , Sister Husband is killed . In her memory , Novalee shoots a picture of Americus and the still - standing buckeye tree amidst the damage from the storm . After the funeral , Novalee finds out that she is the beneficiary of Sister 's estate , totaling around $40,000 . Novalee builds a new home for herself and Americus on Sister 's land . </P>
<P> After ... 17 - year - old and seven months pregnant Novalee Nation ( Natalie Portman ) is abandoned by boyfriend Willy Jack Pickens ( Dylan Bruno ) at the local Walmart in Sequoyah when she uses the restroom and buys new shoes , she meets Thelma `` Sister '' Husband ( Stockard Channing ) who presents her with a buckeye tree , and Moses Whitecotton ( Keith David ) , a local photographer who advises her to give her baby a strong name . A sickly and homeless Novalee is forced to live in the Walmart , undetected . Novalee is also acquainted with surly librarian Forney Hull ( James Frain ) who looks after his alcoholic sister Mary Elizabeth ( Margaret Hoard ) . During a thunderstorm Novalee , alone at Walmart , goes into labor . Forney , who is now in awe of Novalee , smashes through the Walmart window to help deliver her child whom she names Americus . Novalee instantly becomes a media darling , and in hospital is befriended by Nurse Lexie Coop ( Ashley Judd ) . Her estranged mother Mama Lil ( Sally Field ) , visits after seeing her daughter on television , and disappears with the money donated by well - wishers . Sister Husband arrives and offers to take in Novalee and Americus . Three years later , Novalee becomes a photographer with the help of Moses . When a tornado blows through Sequoyah , Sister Husband is killed . In her memory , Novalee shoots a picture of Americus and the still - standing buckeye tree amidst the damage from the storm . After the funeral , Novalee finds out that she is the beneficiary of Sister 's estate , totaling around $40,000 . Novalee builds a new home for herself and Americus on Sister 's land . </P>
who played forney 's sister in where the heart is
who played forney 's sister in where the heart is
Margaret Hoard
Margaret Hoard