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.
Paradise
Birch's breakthrough role came in 1991 when she was cast as 'tomboy' Billie Pike in the movie Paradise which also starred Don Johnson, Melanie Griffith and Elijah Wood. To obtain the role, she had to compete with more than 4,000 other young hopefuls who auditioned for it. Birch received enormous praise for her performance and her career thereafter went from strength to strength.
1991-1995
Thora's ability to portray herself as a young tomboy landed her several parts during the period 1991-1995, including the role of Dani in Hocus Pocus (1993). Her acting ability moreover continued to attract much praise and she won leading roles in such films as All I Want For Christmas (1991) and Monkey Trouble (1994). She also appeared in two big-budget blockbuster Harrison Ford films, Patriot Games (1992) and its sequel, Clear and Present Danger (1994).
early learner
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.
growing pains
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.
another beauty
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.
Awards :
2001 - Toronto Film Critics Association Award - Ghost World
2000 - Young Star Award - American Beauty
2000 - Young Artist Award - American Beauty
2000 - Young Hollywood Award - Best On-screen Chemistry - American Beauty (1999), shared with Wes Bentley
2000 - YoungStar Award - Best Young Actress/Performance in a Motion Picture Drama - American Beauty (1999)
1994 - Young Artist Award - Hocus Pocus
Nominations
2001 - Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical - Ghost World
2000 - BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress - American Beauty
2002 - MTV Movie Award Best Dressed - Ghost World (2001)
