Emmy-nominated American actress Thora Birch was born on March 11, 1982 in Los Angeles, California. She was encouraged by her parents to audition for commercials, and at an early age, she landed parts in television ads of Quaker Oats and Vlasic Pickles. She was then cast as Molly in the television series Day by Day, but the show didn’t last long. She was also given a role in Purple People Eaters and won a Youth Film Award for her performance.
Thora Birch starred in several television series before she got the part of Billie Pike in Paradise. She was praised for her portrayal in 1991, and her career began to go strong. In 1993, she appeared in Hocus Pocus, playing the character Dani in the family comedy. She then won roles in All I Want for Christmas, Monkey Trouble and in 1995’s Now and Then. Her portrayal of Teeny in Now and Then was regarded one of her best. She next starred in the adventure film Alaska, where she established her status as a leading child actress. She then became a guest star in series like The Outer Limits, Promised Land and Touched by an Angel.
Birch then took a break from acting before she once again gained critical acclaim in the film American Beauty. In 1999, her portrayal of Jane Burnham won her a nomination for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award. She then had leading roles in 2000’s The Smokers, and Dungeons & Dragons. She was also cast as Liz Dunn in 2001’s The Hole. That year, she landed the lead in Ghost World, which also starred Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi and Brad Renfro. Birch was then nominated for a Golden Globe for best actress for her portrayal. She was also noted for appearing in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story and in Slingshot. In 2006, she was cast in Tainted Love and Dark Corners.