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"For me, romance isn't an over-the-top act. It's someone offering to help and to support me. Or if that person thinks I'm making the wrong decision, he'll tell me. I want him to be honest, because being that honest takes a lot of guts." Being honest is extremely valuable, and a trait that most people prize over a lot of other things. Thora Birch has had a lot of time to learn about support and honesty through the entertainment industry, as she started working when she was just a child. Her first role was in Purple People Eater (1988), when she was just six years old. She went on to play in a number of other movies and TV roles, and is still acting today. But how did she get her start, and what's next for her? Read on to find out what you need to know.

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Acting in the Early Years

Birch became a star when she was very young, and rose to prominence throughout her childhood years in movies such as All I Want for Christmas (1991), Patriot Games (1992), and Hocus Pocus (1993). She continued to make a movie every year through 1996, and then had her breakout role in 1999 with American Beauty. She was born in Los Angeles, and both of her parents were former actors. They became her managers throughout her career, making sure their child was being treated properly in the industry and her finances were being correctly handled. While Birch's parents weren't initially interested in letting her act, they were persuaded to show some of her pictures to talent agents.

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A babysitter who saw her imitating the commercials she saw on TV talked them into reaching out to agents, and Birch's career took off quickly from that point. In the latter part of the 1980s, Birch had roles in a number of TV commercials for name brands such as Burger King, Quaker Oats, and more. Then she landed her first film role and her career took off. Starting out strong, Birch had opportunities in film that might not have been given to other actresses in that age group. She started having guest appearances on TV shows in the late 1980s, as well, and the 1990s took her even further into the world of entertainment. From the early part of the 1990s on, she was in demand as an actress for both film and TV roles.

The Later Years Were Important

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She was schooled at home, largely because of the demands of her film career, but she always felt she got a good education that way. About the way she learned growing up, she has said, "When you home study, you get a better education. I basically got to teach myself. Being naturally able to make my own opinions about the schoolwork I had to deal with, instead of being instructed under the tutelage of the teacher, was really nice academically." This type of learning also gave Birch the opportunity to work on a number of roles she might not have otherwise been able to deal with or accept, because she had the knowledge and ability to discover things about teh world that allowed her to shape her knowledge and ideas for characters and roles.

The year 2000 saw her in two films, both of which came about from her American Beauty success in 1999. One of those movies went directly to DVD, while the other one did poorly at the box office. But she continued to work throughout the decade and beyond, starring with Kiera Knightley in The Hole (2001), and in a number of other movies. Her high salary for many of the movies she starred in commanded attention and also got her some negative commentary by critics who felt she was being overpaid. But Birch worked hard, and she was determined to show her worth and value to those who would complain that she was receiving too much for the work she was doing. Her acting abilities were highly prized by her fans, and many in the industry.

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By the time 2010 came around, Birch was more focused on independent films and unique characters that gave her options to consider. By getting involved in these kinds of films, Birch isn't seen as much on the big screen. But fans still know where to find her, and she's stil actively making movies for those fans to enjoy. She's also doing things that are important to her, and can use her work to make a statement about the things that matter to her in life. It's clear that fans definitely haven't seen the last of Birch and the talent she brings to the screen. They can eagerly await what she'll offer next.