Natalie Canerday, born on March 9, 1962, in Russellville, Arkansas, is an American actress known for her supporting roles in numerous film productions. Her career gained international visibility with the role of Linda Wheatley in Billy Bob Thornton's film *Sling Blade* (1996). For this performance, she shared a prestigious Screen Actors Guild Award nomination with the rest of the cast for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Specializing in strong female characters rooted in the American South, she has delivered other memorable performances. Notable among these are her portrayal of Elsie Hickam, the protagonist's mother, in *October Sky* (1999) and her role in the neo-noir thriller *One False Move* (1992). Her filmography also includes appearances in films such as *Walk the Line* (2005) and *Shotgun Stories* (2007), consolidating her reputation as a versatile and acclaimed character actress.