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In 1982, lightning struck. In the feminine form. Thora Birch's parents, Jack and Carol, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, much to their surprise. They had picked out the name Thor (after the Norse god of lightning bolts) for what they thought was going to be their son. They improvised quickly, and named her Thora, a more feminine version of the godly name (her folks kept up the 'lightning' tradition, naming Thora's brother Bolt).
Thora didn't waste much time getting in front of a camera. At age 4 she appeared in one of the popular 'California Raisin' commercials. She worked in a number of commercials after that (including a commercial for Burger King with soon-to-be-star Jonathon Taylor Thomas), and landed her first film role in Purple People Eater, which won her a Youth in Film Award. Her breakthrough role came in the 1991 film Paradise, which costarred husband and wife team Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. The film quickly established her as a child star for the 90s, and proved to be an important step for the young actress, as she beat out 4,000 other hopefuls for the role. The L.A. Times sat down with the little lady, and she proved quite prolific as well. She layed out her career for the Times, stating that she planned to be a director by 24, spend a year or two ice skating, some work as a policewoman, and cap it all off as a professional singer. A number of fun, but relatively forgetable films, including Hocus Pocus (with Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker), Monkey Trouble (costarring a hilarious monkey), Alaska, and Now and Then (with a huge ensemble cast including Christina Ricci and Melanie Griffith). Perhaps recognizing the stigma associated with the overexposed child stars (ie her commercial costar Jonathon Taylor Thomas) Thora ducked from the spotlight for a few years. She took a role in Election, but creative differences with the director caused the role to be recast. Her next role was in American Beauty, the film that would establish her as a genuine star with true talent. She received rave reviews in her performance as Jane, the slightly apathetic, but introspective daughter. Off the screen, she's one of Hollywood's most sensitive ladies, truly an actor with her feet on the ground. Her favorite things are Italian food and diet root beer. She's currently living with her folks at their ranch in LA, and finally finished high school through her computer (she was on the set too often). |
