The American Beauty
It’s a strange thing. Mena Suvari played the American Beauty in the film with the same name and yet, Thora Birch was very much the American Beauty girl too. That was what she was referred to after the 1999 film that swept so many awards away at all the award ceremonies. She was just the daughter in the film and yet, she played a role that was so memorable. Seventeen years old and Thora Birch made such an impression as a teenager on the threshold of womanhood.
The movie was all about a typical American family leading an ordinary life. The man is going through a mid life crisis and his wife is rather frustrated. Like most teenagers, Thora, who plays the role of Jane Burnham treats her parents with disdain as each go their different ways while they live together. And then Jane’s friend Angela and Jane’s father get together and suddenly, everything turns topsy turvy.
The film was a first for many. While it had seasoned stars in Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, it was the writer, Alan Ball and the director Sam Mendes’s first feature film. And what an impact it made on screen.
Since she was under eighteen, Thora’s semi-nude scene was the subject of some controversy. The representatives of the child labor organization had to be present as had her parents. Thora plays the teenage girl who is a cheerleader to perfection. There she is, wanting to have her breasts done and getting together with another lonely soul Ricky – and through it all, you can sense the loneliness and youth under the don’t-give-a-damn attitude. Whether it’s the constant fighting alternating with the sullen silence at the dinner table or the lack of respect she has for her parents, Jane comes through as a very believable character. So little wonder that at the 2000 BAFTA awards, she walked away with the trophy for Best Performance in a Supporting Role.
American Beauty was a movie to remember and Thora Birch was very much on par with all the other actors when it won so much acclaim both in the reviews as well as by way of awards. She played her part and she played it well, never for a moment being overshadowed by the actors who were more famous who she worked alongside. Looking back, it was probably the best launching pad that any young actor could have wished for – and she took up the challenge and came up smiling!