Fairuza Balk
Fairuza Balk | |
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Born | Point Reyes, California, U.S. | May 21, 1974
Occupations |
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Years active | 1983–present |
Fairuza Balk (born May 21, 1974) is an American actress, musician, and visual artist. Known for her portrayals of distinctive characters—often with a dark edge and "goth-girl" persona[1][2]—she has appeared in numerous independent films and blockbuster features.
Following a series of television roles, Balk made her feature film debut as Dorothy Gale in Return to Oz (1985), for which she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Starring Performance. Her career progressed with parts in films such as Valmont (1989) and Gas Food Lodging (1992), the latter earning her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. After roles in Imaginary Crimes (1994) and Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995), Balk received acclaim and a cult following for her portrayal of Nancy Downs in The Craft (1996), which earned her an MTV Movie Award. Her other credits include The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), American History X (1998), The Waterboy (1998), Almost Famous (2000), Personal Velocity: Three Portraits (2002), Deuces Wild (2002), Don't Come Knocking (2005), Wild Tigers I Have Known (2006), Humboldt County (2008), and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009).
Outside of film, Balk portrayed Mildred Hubble in the 1986 television adaptation of The Worst Witch, based on the book series of the same name. She played the recurring role of Ginger on Showtime's Ray Donovan in 2015, and starred as Lizzie Thomas in the Amazon Prime series Paradise City in 2021. Balk has been releasing music since 2010 under the name of her unsigned act, Armed Love Militia.
Early life
Balk was born on May 21, 1974, in
Until the age of two, Balk lived in Jackson, Michigan, with her mother. They then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she began acting at age six. They moved to London and then to Paris for another role. They remained there for six months before returning to Vancouver.[citation needed] Balk bought an occult shop in Los Angeles while filming the 1996 film The Craft.[4]
Career
Balk took her first acting course around the summer of 1983, where she was taught how to look at a camera and not be shy. Her first experience was in a British Columbia tourism commercial, for which she earned $100.
In 1996, she appeared in a lead role in
In 2010, Armed Love Militia, Balk's musical outlet, released the single "Stormwinds". The track was written and sung by Balk.[8][9][10] Armed Love Militia continued, with Balk collaborating on an EP with singer and songwriter Mel Sanson.[11]
In 2011, Balk began to exhibit art in Los Angeles and New York. On August 4, 2012, she participated in the group show 'MiXTAPE', with other notable artists
In 2017, the emo puppet band
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Beth Bradley | Television film |
1985 | Deceptions | Penny Roberts | |
1986 | The Worst Witch | Mildred Hubble | |
1987 | Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story | Barbara—Age 12 | |
1991 | Deadly Intentions... Again? | Stacey | |
1992 | Shame | Lizzie Curtis | |
The Danger of Love: The Carolyn Warmus Story | Lisa | ||
1993 | Murder in the Heartland | Caril Ann Fugate | Mini-series |
1994 | ZZ Top: Breakaway | Vampire Girl | Television film |
1995 | Shadow of a Doubt | Angel Harwell | |
1999–2000 | Family Guy | Coco, Connie D'Amico | Voice, 2 episodes |
2001 | The Sopranos | Agent Deborah Ciccerone | Episode: "Army of One" (original airing only; all scenes replaced) |
2003 | Justice League | Penny Dee | Voice, episode: "Only a Dream" |
2006 | Orpheus | Karen | Television film |
2006 | Masters of Horror | Stacia | Episode: "Pick Me Up" |
2011–2012 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | Herself | 3 episodes |
2015 | Ray Donovan | Ginger | 7 episodes |
2021–present | Paradise City | Lizzie Thomas | TV spinoff of American Satan |
Year | Title | Voice role |
---|---|---|
2002 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | Mercedes Cortez |
2003 | Lords of EverQuest | Lady T'Lak |
References
- ^ Benardello, Karen (September 14, 2014). "Interview: Fairuza Balk and Charles Baker Talk August Falls". ShockYa.com. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Baranowski, Jordan (October 16, 2020). "Whatever Happened To Fairuza Balk?". Looper. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Fairuza Balk Photos, Gossip, Bio & Reviews". AskMen.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. 2010. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ Highfill, Samantha (October 16, 2017). "The Craft: Fairuza Balk shuts down those witch rumors". EW.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ "Off to the Land of Oz". The Sun. December 6, 1983. p. 35.
- ^ "The Wizard of Oz Production Timeline".
The Walt Disney Company releases an unofficial sequel to the 1939 film titled Return to Oz and starring Fairuza Balk. The film is not a musical, and is much darker in tone than the 1939 film.
- ^ "Independent Spirit Awards Lives Up to Its Name : Movies: Irreverent, annual alternative awards program names 'The Player' as best of 1992". Los Angeles Times. March 29, 1993. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: FAIRUZA | ARMED LOVE MILITIA X MEL SANSON". ferocemagazine.com. October 10, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- bandcamp.com. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
- ^ "Fairuza - music". fairuza.org. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
- ^ "ARMED LOVE MILITIA (FAIRUZA BALK & MEL SANSON): WHITE LILLIES REVIEW". ferocemagazine.com. September 27, 2018. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Bridgette. Frances Bean Cobain & More Create Art That Rocks for MiXTAPE LA Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Bust (magazine). August 2, 2012.
- ^ LA MIXTAPE: AS A GESTURE OF LOVE. L.A. Record. August 3, 2012.
- juxtapoz magazine. August 20, 2012.
- ^ Boilen, Bob (July 14, 2017), "Fragile Rock: Tiny Desk Concert", NPR, retrieved February 15, 2021
- ^ "Life in the Fast Lane". Amazon. February 19, 2004.
External links
- Official website
- Fairuza Balk at IMDb
- Fairuza Balk at AllMovie