Thora Birch (Los Angeles, 1982) is an American actress who began her career as a child actress. She gained recognition in films such as *Hocus Pocus* (1993) and *Patriot Games* (1992).

She reached the peak of her fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She is universally recognized for her prominent roles in **American Beauty** (1999), where she portrays Jane Burnham, Lester's disillusioned teenage daughter, and in **Ghost World** (2001), where she brings to life the iconic outsider Enid.

Birch is often associated with complex characters, intelligent yet introverted or rebellious, often grappling with teenage angst and a sense of alienation. Her acting is characterized by an authenticity and depth that made her an icon of independent cinema of that period.