This Day in Horror History: Happy Birthday, Fairuza Balk

snake The Craft

On this day in horror history, The Craft and Return to Oz actress Fairuza Balk aka Fairuza Alejandra Feldthouse was born in Point Reyes, California in 1974.

Balk’s debut role was in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in 1983. She then starred as Dorthy in the surprisingly terrifying (unofficial) Wizard of Oz sequel Return to Oz. And that role led to her playing in The Worst Witch opposite Tim Curry.

She then starred as Caril Ann Fugate in the 1993 TV Mini-Series Murder in the Heartland before playing Nancy Downs in The Craft, and Aissa in The Island of Dr. Moreau. Not to mention Stacia in the “Pick Me Up” episode of Masters of Horror.

Other non-horror roles include Vicki Vallencourt in The Waterboy with Adam Sandler, Sapphire in Almost Famous, Heidi in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Stacey in American History X, and Connie D’Amico on Family Guy.

What’s your favorite Fairuza Balk movie? Make sure to hit us up and let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

For those of you that might not know, The Craft begins after transferring to a Los Angeles high school, Sarah (Robin Tunney) finds that her telekinetic gift appeals to a group of three wannabe witches, who happen to be seeking a fourth member for their rituals. Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Rochelle (Rachel True) and Nancy (Fairuza Balk), like Sarah herself, all have troubled backgrounds, which combined with their nascent powers lead to dangerous consequences. When a minor spell causes a fellow student to lose her hair, the girls grow power-mad.

The film sports a 55% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Critics Consensus that reads: The Craft’s campy magic often overrides the feminist message at its story’s core, but its appealing cast and postmodern perspective still cast a sporadic spell.

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