Thora Birch

Thora Birch (born March 11, 1982) is an American actor and producer. She made her film debut in Purple People Eater (1988) and was awarded a Young Artist Award for "Best Young Actress Under Nine Years of Age". Birch became a cult a child star as she appeared in films such as All I Want for Christmas (1991), Patriot Games (92), Hocus Pocus (93), Monkey Trouble (1994), Now and Then (1995) and Alaska (1996). In 1999, she was nominated for a BAFTA nomination. In 2001, she received a nomination for Best Actress for Ghost World. In 2003, Birch received an Emmy Award nomination for playing the title character in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story. Her other films include Dungeons & Dragons (2000), The Hole (2001), Silver City (2004), Dark Corners (2006), Winter of Frozen Dreams (2009), and Petunia (2012).After taking time off from acting Birch was back in the spotlight in the year 2016 and has since starred in several independent films. Birch played the role of Whisperer Mary/Gamma in season 10 of The Walking Dead (2019-202). Birch was born in Los Angeles, the eldest child of Jack Birch and Carol Connors. Birch her family's initial surname was Biersch and is German-Jewish, Scandinavian, French-Canadian and Italian heritage.  Her name, Thora comes from the Norse god of lightning and thunder "Thor" which could be her name were she a boy. Kian Bolt Birch who is her younger brother, is also her mother. Both are former adult film actors, and have been in Deep Throat. Based on their experience in the entertainment business it was difficult for them initially to support Thora. However, Thora's photograph was shown to agents after a babysitter saw her imitation commercials. Birch got her first big break at the age of four when her babysitter took her to a successful audition for a Quaker Oats commercial.