Thora Birch is an American actress, producer, and director best-known for her work in film throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Rising to prominence as a child actor, Thora became closely associated with cult classics, such as Hocus Pocus, Now and Then, American Beauty, and Ghost World.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Thora began acting as a child after being encouraged by a babysitter to audition for commercials. Her first major roles came in family films such as Patriot Games, where she shared the screen with Harrison Ford. Her breakout role was in the Disney movie Hocus Pocus, where she played Dani, the younger sister of Max, who helps battle the Sanderson sisters on Halloween night. Although the movie did okay at the box office when it came out, the film developed cult status due to TV reruns and home video rentals.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Birch continued to work steadily across independent films and TV projects, including The Hole, Winter of Frozen Dreams, and Petunia, which she also produced. Thora also made an appearance in The Walking Dead as a Whisperer struggling with loyalty and survival.
In 2022, Thora made her directorial debut with The Gabby Petito Story for Lifetime, and she explained that she had wanted to direct since childhood and was drawn to the story because of its themes involving abusive relationships and public fascination with true crime. At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, it was announced that her next directing project would be an adaptation of Mr. Paradise, which would make her the first woman to direct an Elmore Leonard adaptation if produced. Thora has also continued to work as an actress in independent films. Most recently, she appeared in The Chronology of Water, Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut.
On May 20, 2026, Thora came out publicly as bi during an interview with Us Weekly at the 35th anniversary celebration of The Abbey, one of LA’s best-known LGBT venues. During the interview, she stated:
As a hometown girl, I’m always here to show my support for the community, which shaped so much of who I am and my identity as well, being a bi person…find your community where you can, and stand with them, and stick with them, and share that love that you share together, and reach it toward others. That’s the only way we’re going to get through all this madness: just embracing one another.
During the same interview, Thora also encouraged younger LGBT people to seek out supportive communities and emphasized the importance of visibility and connection. Her comments framed her bisexuality less as a dramatic revelation and more as an open acknowledgment of a long-standing part of her identity.
Although Birch has largely maintained a more private personal life compared to many former child actors, her recent public comments add another dimension to a career long associated with outsider characters, independent storytelling, and unconventional creative paths. As she continues expanding into directing and producing alongside acting, Thora remains an enduring presence in cult cinema and a newly visible bisexual voice within Hollywood.