Thora Birch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thora Birch
Birch at the Los Angeles Mission's 2024 Thanksgiving Event
Born	(1982-03-11) March 11, 1982 (age 43) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1988–present
Spouse(s)	Michael Benton Adler ​ (m. 2018)​
Parent(s)	Jack Birch (father) Carol Connors (mother)
Signature

Thora Birch (born March 11, 1982) is an American actress. She started acting when she was very young. Thora became well-known as a child star in the 1990s. She appeared in many popular films like Hocus Pocus and Now and Then.

As she grew up, Thora took on more mature roles. She earned praise for her part in American Beauty and was nominated for a BAFTA Award. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in the movie Ghost World. More recently, Thora has appeared in TV shows like The Walking Dead. In 2022, she began directing films, starting with a TV movie.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Thora Birch was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents are Jack Birch and Carol Connors. Her first name, Thora, comes from the Norse god of thunder, Thor. If she had been born a boy, that would have been her name. She also has a younger brother named Bolt.

Thora's parents knew a lot about the entertainment world. They were not sure if they wanted her to act. However, a babysitter noticed Thora copying commercials. The babysitter convinced her parents to show Thora's photo to talent agents. Thora got her first big chance at age four. The babysitter took her to an audition for a Quaker Oats commercial, and Thora got the part!

Thora's Acting Journey

Early Roles and Child Stardom (1988–1998)

Thora started her career in commercials in the late 1980s. She appeared in ads for Burger King and Quaker Oats. Her first movie role was in the 1988 science fiction comedy Purple People Eater. For this role, she won a Young Artist Award for "Best Young Actress Under Nine Years of Age".

That same year, she appeared in the TV show Doogie Howser, M.D.. She also got a regular role as Molly in the sitcom Day By Day. This show ran for two seasons. Thora earned two more Young Artist nominations for her work on the show.

In 1990, Thora was cast in Parenthood, a TV show based on a movie. In 1991, she played Billie Pike in the drama Paradise. A film critic said Thora played the role with "strong, simple charm". She also starred in the holiday comedy All I Want for Christmas. This movie became popular on TV and home video. In 1992, she played the daughter of a spy in the movie Patriot Games. This film was a big success, earning over $178 million worldwide.

When she was 11, Thora starred in the Halloween movie Hocus Pocus (1993). She played Dani Dennison, a young girl whose brother accidentally brings witches back to life. Hocus Pocus became a cult favorite over time. Thora later said it was "the most amount of fun I've ever had on a set".

In 1994, Thora played a girl with a monkey in the comedy Monkey Trouble. A reviewer praised her "nuanced performance". She also returned as Sally Ryan in Clear and Present Danger, a sequel to Patriot Games. This movie earned over $215 million globally. In 1995, she was "Teeny" Tercell in the drama Now and Then. This film is now seen as an important movie in its genre. Next, Thora starred in the adventure film Alaska (1996). She played one of two siblings searching for their lost father in the Alaskan wilderness.

Moving to Adult Roles (1999–2003)

In 1999, Thora appeared in the TV movie Night Ride Home. She played a teenager dealing with the loss of her brother. She also had a small role in Anywhere but Here.

Thora's role as Jane Burnham in American Beauty (1999) was highly praised. The film was about a middle-class family's struggles. A critic from Rolling Stone said she "glimmered with grown-up radiance". She was nominated for a BAFTA award for this role. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture and earned over $356 million worldwide. It was Thora's biggest success at the time.

After American Beauty, Thora appeared in The Smokers (2000) and Dungeons & Dragons (2000). In 2001, she starred in the British horror film The Hole. She played a clever schoolgirl who tricks her friends into an underground bunker.

Thora's next big project was the comedy Ghost World (2001). This movie was based on a graphic novel. It received great reviews and gained a loyal fan base. Critics praised Thora's performance as Enid Coleslaw. One critic said she played the character with "even more intelligence and restraint". Thora received many awards for Ghost World, including a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

In 2003, she played Liz Murray in the TV movie Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story. This film told the true story of a young woman who became homeless at 15 but worked hard to finish school. Thora's performance earned her an Emmy Award nomination.

Independent Films and Break (2004–2012)

Thora played a supporting role in Silver City (2004), a political movie. She also co-starred in the crime drama Slingshot (2005). In Dark Corners (2006), a psychological thriller, Thora played two different characters. She then appeared in Train and Deadline.

In the true crime drama Winter of Frozen Dreams (2009), Thora played Barbara Hoffman. Thora's "alluring" performance was a highlight of the film. Next, she played journalist Sidney Bloom in The Pregnancy Pact (2010). This TV movie was based on a true story about high schoolers who planned to get pregnant together.

In 2012, Thora played Vivian in Petunia, an independent drama. Thora was also one of the producers for this film. She described it as "intimate [and] honest".

Return to Acting and Directing (2013–Present)

Thora Birch with Jane Fonda in 2015

After taking a break to study, Thora returned to acting in 2015. She had a recurring role in the TV series Colony. In 2018, she starred in the political thriller Affairs of State. She also headlined and co-produced the romantic comedy The Competition that same year.

Next, Thora starred in The Etruscan Smile (2018), which received strong reviews. In 2019, she had a supporting role in the crime thriller Above Suspicion. This was her third time working with director Phillip Noyce.

Thora's cameo in The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) was very important to the film's success. The director, Joe Talbot, said Thora's work inspired him to make films. He noted that her character in his film was like a continuation of her character in Ghost World. The film won awards at the Sundance Film Festival.

Thora Birch as Jolene on the set of Above Suspicion (2019)

From 2019 to 2020, Thora played Mary (also known as "Gamma") in the TV series The Walking Dead. Critics said she brought "emotional depth" to the role. Thora called the experience "a fun, massive thing to have been a part of". In the drama 13 Minutes (2021), she played a single mother trying to keep her family safe after a tornado.

In 2022, Thora made her debut as a director with The Gabby Petito Story, a TV movie for Lifetime. She also acted in the film. Thora said she had wanted to direct since she was a child. She was drawn to the story because it showed how people deal with difficult relationships.

Also in 2022, Thora played Audrey Beach in the podcast Overleaper. This was an espionage thriller about a female soldier. Thora liked the idea of returning to "old radio dramas" where she could act with just her voice. In 2023, it was announced that Thora's first feature film as a director will be an adaptation of the novel Mr. Paradise. This will make her the first woman to direct a film based on that author's writings.

Personal Life

Thora Birch married Michael Benton Adler on December 21, 2018. He is a talent manager and helps with charity work. Thora is a long-time supporter of the Democratic Party in the United States. She was a delegate at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. She has supported political figures like Joe Biden and Wiley Nickel.

Thora Birch with Congressman Wiley Nickel in 2023

Filmography

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film

Television

Podcasts

Music videos

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Thora Birch para niños