Thora Birch

Thora Birch (born March 11 1982) is an American producer and actress. Her film debut was in Purple People Eater (1988) and was the recipient of the Young Artist Award for "Best Young Artistress Under Nine Years old". Birch made her name in the role of a child-star through appearances in films like All I Want for Christmas (1991), Patriot Games (1992), Hocus Pocus (1993), Monkey Trouble (1994), Now and Then (1995), and Alaska (1996).Her first big role was in 1999 when she starred as Jane Burnham in the highly acclaimed film American Beauty, for which she was awarded a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In 2001, she won for Best Actress for Ghost World. Birch was nominated Emmy Award for her performance in Homeless To Harvard: The Liz Murray Story in 2003. Birch has also been a part of Dungeons & Dragons (2000) (2001), The Hole (2004), Silver City (2004), Dark Corners (2006) and Winter of Frozen Dreams (2009). Birch has also appeared in the role of Whisperer Mary/ Gamma on the Walking Dead's Season 10. Birch was the oldest child born to Jack Birch (and Carol Connors) in Los Angeles. Birch, whose family originally was named Biersch is German-Jewish and Scandinavian. Birch also has French-Canadian, French, and Italian ancestral roots.  Her name, "Thora," originates from the Norse god of lightning and thunder "Thor" which could be her name had she been a boy. She has a younger brother, Kian Bolt Birch.Birch's parents were former film actors who were in the film Deep Throat. Due to their experience working in the entertainment business, they were hesitant to support her, but they were persuaded to show Thora's photograph to agents by a babysitter who noticed her imitating commercials. Her first break came at age four after her babysitter brought her to auditions for an Quaker Oats commercial.