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Thora Birch Profile |
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Birth Date: March 11, 1982
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Birth Place: Los Angeles, California, USA
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Birth Name: Thora Birch
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Height: 5'4"
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Biography |
The source of Thora Birch's unique name lies in the fact
that her gender came as a surprise to her parents: having
picked the Norse god of thunder, Thor, as the namesake for
the boy they anticipated, Jack and Carol Birch were forced
to improvise on March 11, 1982, when a daughter was born to
them.
While they resolved this quandary in a rather unlikely
manner -- through the feminization of their original choice
via the addition of a vowel -- the end product proved to be
a suitable name for a child who would undergo an uncommon
upbringing.
It is not rare that someone being raised in Los Angeles be
exposed to certain aspects of the entertainment industry,
yet Thora was privy to a side of Hollywood that even most
insiders are denied. Both her parents had performed in a
number of adult films (her mother appeared in 1972's Deep
Throat under the name Carol Connors, and the couple had
worked together in such features as Sweet Savage and Candy
Goes to Hollywood), and while it is doubtful that Thora
would have been brought along for any tours of the set, she
was afforded the opportunity to meet such characters as Hugh
Hefner, a family friend who frequently played host to the
Birchs in his mansion.
From a young age, it became clear that Thora was made to
pursue the same line of work that her mother and father had
followed, although perhaps not in the same genre. A
babysitter had noticed Thora's tendency to imitate
television commercials, and suggested to the family that she
try out for some auditions. Initially reticent because of
their knowledge of the difficulties that came with the
occupation, Thora's parents were eventually persuaded to
show her photos to agents. In 1986, 4-year-old Thora landed
her first professional gig, in a California Raisins
commercial.
For a toddler, Thora's career took off at a remarkable rate.
After appearing in a string of commercials, she was cast in
the short-lived television series, Day by Day. At the age of
six she made her feature film debut in the children's movie,
Purple People Eater, in a role that won her a Youth in Film
Award. Two years later, Thora found herself acting with the
young Leonardo DiCaprio on another doomed sitcom, Parenthood
(a series derived from the 1989 movie of the same name), and
in 1991 she beat out 4,000 other hopefuls in winning a part
alongside Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson in the film,
Paradise.
By the time she was 14, Thora had compiled an impressive
professional resume, having appeared in eight feature films
between 1991 and 1996. Included among them was the role of
Harrison Ford's daughter in 1992's Patriot Games and its
1994 sequel, Clear and Present Danger, as well as the part
of a younger version of Melanie Griffith in 1995's Now and
Then. In spite of these accolades, 1996 marked a change for
the worst in Thora's career. In a development that could
perhaps be attributed to Thora's transition into her teenage
"awkward" years, the job offers simply stopped coming. Thora
opted to take a hiatus from acting, one that lasted three
years.
Thora made her return to entertainment with a part in 1999's
Night Ride Home, a TV movie that went largely unnoticed.
While this role didn't make much of an impact in terms of a
comeback, Thora's next one, later that same year as the
angst-ridden teen Jane Burnham in American Beauty, certainly
did. The film garnered a host of awards and Thora's
performance in it was the object of a great deal of critical
praise, launching her again into the public eye and onto the
calling lists of casting directors.
Thora followed up American Beauty with appearances in The
Smokers, The Hole and Dungeons & Dragons, none of which
proved to be memorable features. She rebounded with another
introspective teen role, that of Enid in 2001's Ghost World,
for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, the Best
Actress Award at the Seattle International Film Festival and
the title of "Actress of the Year" by the Toronto and San
Diego Film Critics Societies.
As of late, Thora has begun extending her professional
experience into producing, and is currently at work behind
the TV movie Mata and the feature film Miss Meadows. |
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Other
Information |
Has a Blue Belt in Karate
Her parents thought that she would be a boy, and planned on
naming the child Thor, after the Norse God of Thunder and
Lightning. When she was born, however, her parents feminized
the name and called her Thora.
Does her own stunts.
Used to live on her family ranch in East Los Angeles, but
now lives in an apartment in LA.
Was fired from Election (1999) due to differences with
director Alexander Payne.
Brother is Bolt Birch
Gained 20 pounds for her role in Ghost World (2001).
Was actually only 16 years old at the time she was filmed
nude for a scene in American Beauty (1999). She told TV talk
show host Craig Kilborn when she appeared on his show in
2002 that her parents didn't have a problem with her doing a
nude scene, despite her being under age, and they encouraged
her to go ahead and do it. They agreed that her character's
nude scene was so important to the development of her
character that they gave their approval.
Has co-starred with Chris Cooper in two movies, Silver City
(2004) and American Beauty (1999), but has never appeared
onscreen together with him.
She is of German, Scandinavian, and Italian descent |
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