How a Local Baker Became the Leading Man

While casting Beasts of the Southern Wild in their New Orleans office, Benh and his team often satisfied their sweet tooth across the street at the Buttermilk Drop Bakery and Café, an establishment owned by Dwight Henry. Eventually, Benh realized the perfect man to play Wink, a dying father preparing his daughter for life without him, was right in front of him the whole time. Benh and his team convinced Dwight to take on the role despite the fact he had no previous acting experience.

What Dwight did have experience with is fatherhood. He and his wife have five children. Since filming Beasts of Southern Wild, Dwight has been cast in another local New Orleans production—Twelve Years a Slave, starring Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Paul Giamatti.