Fairuza Alejandra Balk, a gem of a name meaning "Turquoise" in Farsi, was born on May 21, 1974, in the picturesque Point Reyes, California, as her father, Solomon Ben Feldthouse, a traveling musician from Idaho, gazed upon her striking blue eyes, exclaiming "Fairuza!" upon her arrival.
Her parents, Solomon and Cathryn Balk, a belly dancer, soon parted ways, and Fairuza grew up on a commune-type ranch just north of San Francisco, California. Her mother later found work in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where Fairuza began her acting career at the tender age of 9 in the ABC special "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (1983).
Two years later, she ventured to the United Kingdom, where she attended the prestigious Royal Academy of Ballet, the Ramona Beauchamp Agency, and the Bush Davies Performing Arts School. Her talents did not go unnoticed, and she landed a role with the Walt Disney Company, starring as Dorothy in the beloved film "Return to Oz" (1985) at the age of 11.
Fairuza's next role was as The Worst Witch (1986),a precursor to her breakout performance in "The Craft" (1996) a decade later. She and her mother remained in London until 1988, when they relocated to Paris, where the 15-year-old Fairuza starred in "Valmont" (1989).
The following year, they returned to Vancouver, and Fairuza enrolled in high school, but ultimately pursued correspondence courses due to her shyness in class. Back in Hollywood, she landed a string of roles, including "Gas Food Lodging" (1992),for which she received an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress.
Fairuza's subsequent work included television and film appearances, solidifying her status as a cult icon with her starring role as a teenage witch in "The Craft" (1996). The same year, she appeared in "The Island of Dr. Moreau" (1996),showcasing her belly-dancing skills and captivating the attention of co-star David Thewlis.
The duo collaborated on the film "American Perfekt" (1997),followed by Fairuza's roles in "The Waterboy" (1998) and "American History X" (1998). With a slew of films released in the year 2000, Fairuza has established herself as a sought-after actress.
When not on set, Fairuza enjoys writing poetry and stories, playing the guitar, singing (her primary source of joy),and dancing. She currently resides in Venice, California, and maintains an apartment in New York City.
