Thora Birch was born March 11, 1982, and is an American actress. She was one of the leading child actors of the 1990's, starring in movies such as Hocus Pocus (1993), Now and Then (1995), and Alaska (1996). Since the 1990's she has moved on to more mature roles, with notable performances in films such as American Beauty (1999), and the acclaimed cult film Ghost World (2001).