Passing on the baton: Youngest nominee Quvenzhane Wallis, nine, rocks the red carpet with previous winner Halle Berry

PUBLISHED: 01:35, 25 February 2013 | UPDATED: 06:59, 25 February 2013

It was a lovely sight to behold.

Halle Berry, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001 for Monster's Ball, arrived at the 85th Academy Awards with Quvenzhane Wallis, the youngest ever nominee in the same category.

The nine-year-old looked delighted to be with the stunning and accomplished star - who was the first African American women to win the award.

A new generation: Academy Award winner Halle Berry arrived with the youngest ever nominee in the best actress category, Best Actress nominee Quvenzhane Wallis

Both actresses literally sparkled as they walked the maroon carpet together.

Halle. 46, opted for a stunning black and gold column dress that plunged enough to dazzle.

While little Quvenzhane was a vision in ruffly blue.

Inspiration: Halle led the way for younger actresses

'Sparkly and fluffy': Actress Quvenzhane Wallis arrived at the Oscars in Hollywood wearing an Armani Junior gown

The Beasts of the Southern Wild star told People.com about her navy number: ‘I liked it because it was sparkly and fluffy.’

She looked her most styled yet of all the events she has attended in the lead up to the 85th Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The layered floor-length number by Armani Junior featured puffy shoulders and a black mesh overlay with jewels attached.

Cute and comfortable: She teamed it with flat pumps and donned a bag in the style of a dog

Excited about the stars: She reached across the shake hands with Channing Tatum

She teamed it with comfortable flat pumps and donned a bracelet on her wrist plus drop earrings.

Her hair was tied up in a bun and she held back some curls from her face with a glitzy hair slide.

The youngster held on to a bag in the shape of a dog, a look she had made her own by toting them at some recent ceremonies.

Crunch time: The nine-year-old waited to hear who would be taking home the Best Actress trophy

Don't mind if I do: Quvenzhane tucked into some popcorn which was given out during the ceremony to hungry guests

Although Wallis maintained her cool at the Oscars for the photographers eager to take her picture, she would have no doubt been excited to meet with some top stars.

She ran into the likes of Step Up star Channing Tatum, who reached over to shake her hand.