Thora Birch on Taking Career Risks — From Hocus Pocus to The Chronology of Water

I’ve welcomed many actors I admire to Collider Ladies Night, but Thora Birch feels different. I grew up watching her. All I Want for Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Monkey Trouble, Now and Then — they all played on repeat in my home. From there, I followed her to the roles that earned her significant industry acclaim, a BAFTA nomination for American Beauty and a Golden Globe nomination for Ghost World.

Since then, Birch has appeared on The Walking Dead and Mayfair Witches, made her directorial debut with The Gabby Petito Story, and now continues to make bold career choices, joining Kristen Stewart’s feature directorial debut, The Chronology of Water.

Based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s acclaimed memoir, the film follows Imogen Poots as Lidia, a young woman who finds escape from her abusive home thanks to competitive swimming. However, that safe haven is rocked when she runs head first into a dizzying string of loss, addiction, and self-destructive choices before finding healing via her sister (played by Birch) and also through writing.

With The Chronology of Water gearing up for its nationwide release, Birch visited the Collider Ladies Night studio to discuss her journey in film and television, beginning with early formative experiences on sets like Hocus Pocus and Patriot Games. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.