Natalie Portman as Novalee Nation

Ashley Judd as Lexie Coop

Stockard Channing as Thelma 'Sister' Husband

Joan Cusack as Ruth Meyers

Sally Field as Mama Lil

James Frain as Forney Hull

Dylan Bruno as Willy Jack Pickens

Keith David as Moses Whitecotten

Ray Prewitt as Tim

Laura House as Nicki

Mary Ashleigh Green as Girl in Bathroom

Kinna McInroe as Wal-Mart Clerk

Linda Wakeman as Hospital Receptionist

David Alvarado as Cellmate

Mark Voges as Religious Man

Todd Lowe as Troy

Margaret Hoard as Mary Elizabeth Hull

Rodger Boyce as Officer Harry

Gabriel Folse as Policeman #2

Sue McCormick as Cake Supplier

Karey Green as Rhonda

Laura Auldridge as Wal-Mart Assistant Manager

Alicia Godwin as Jolene

Dennis Letts as Sheriff

Richard Andrew Jones as Mr. Sprock

Kathryn Esquivel as Mrs. Ortiz

Mark Mathis as Reporter

J.D. Evermore as Orderly

Angee Hughes as Religious Woman

Mackenzie Fitzgerald as Americus Nation

Nataly Peña as Angela Ortiz

Yvette Diaz as Rosanna Ortiz

T.J. McFarland as Ray

Richard Nance as Johnny DeSoto

Tony Mann as M.C. of Banquet

John Swasey as Jerry

Scarlett McAlister as Kitty

Kylie Harmon as Praline

Cody Linley as Brownie

Bob Coonrod as Ernie

Heather Kafka as Delphia

Angelina Fiordellisi as Nurse

Cheyenne Rushing as Co-Ed

Deborah Abbott as Bar Girl

Alecia Batson as Girl in Bar / Girl on the Street

Stacy Bellew as Wal-Mart Girl

Jeff Cooper as Nightclub Customer / Pedestrian

Rebecca Davis as Photo Finalist

Lisa Del Dotto as Wedding Guest

Jeremy Denzlinger as Reporter

Dan Eggleston as Truck Driver

Adrian Garza as Young Brownie

Jim Henry as Bar Room Fighter (uncredited)

Molly Howe as Lynne (uncredited)

K. Todd Lytle as Customer at Gas Station

Erica Mincks as Miss Sequoyah

Trevor Doyle Nelson as Partygoer

Bobby Shue as Wal-Mart Customer

Cassandra L. Small as Birthday Party Guest / Wedding Guest

Russell Towery as Bass Player

Chris Warner as Wal-Mart Employee

Gena West as Hospital Visitor

Jerry Wu as Bar Patron

Jason C. Young as Professor