<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $40 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Where the Heart Is is a 2000 American romantic drama film directed by Matt Williams in his film directing debut . The film stars Natalie Portman, Stockard Channing, Ashley Judd, and Joan Cusack with supporting roles performed by James Frain, Dylan Bruno, Keith David, and Sally Field . The screenplay, written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, is based on the best - selling 1995 novel of the same name by Billie Letts . The film follows five years in the life of Novalee Nation, a pregnant 17 - year - old, who is abandoned by her boyfriend at a Walmart in a small Oklahoma town . She secretly moves into the store, where she eventually gives birth to her baby, which attracts media attention . With the help of friends, she makes a new life for herself in the town . </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> <P> Meanwhile, after a spell in prison and travelling to Nashville, Willy Jack becomes a one - hit - wonder after a slow start with Beat Of A Heart, a song he wrote in jail . He teams with cranky music agent Ruth Meyers (Joan Cusack), who gives him a makeover and the stage name "Billy Shadow ." At the same time, Novalee arrives Las Vegas to accept an award in a photo contest she has won, narrowly missing Willy Jack who happens to be in the same hotel where Ruth breaks into his hotel room to inform Willy Jack his old cellmate Tommy Reynolds is suing him for plagiarism and drops him as a client for disloyalty . Upon her return to Sequoyah, Novalee discovers Lexie has been attacked by a new love interest who molested her two eldest children, nearly beating her to death as she attempted to protect them . Lexie's injuries hinder her nursing job, and she and her children have to move in with Novalee and Americus . A guilty Lexie breaks down feeling guilty and angry, tearfully regretting her choice in men . </P>

Who played forney's sister in where the heart is