Fairuza Balk is an American actress, known for her often intense and unconventional roles. She first gained prominence as a child, playing Dorothy Gale in the Disney film *Return to Oz* (1985). Her career peaked in the 1990s, during which she received critical acclaim and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in *Gas Food Lodging* (1992). The role that cemented her status as an icon of alternative culture was her portrayal of the witch Nancy Downs in the cult film *The Craft* (1996), for which she shared an MTV Movie Award. Her other significant works from the period include *The Island of Dr. Moreau* (1996), the drama *American History X* (1998), and the comedy *The Waterboy* (1998), which demonstrated her versatility. Subsequently, her career shifted towards independent film, voice acting (as in the video game *Grand Theft Auto: Vice City*), and roles in television series, maintaining her status as a memorable cinematic figure of that decade.