Thora Birch random trivia

Gained 20 lbs. for her role in Ghost World (2000). Was actually only 16 years old at the time when she was filmed nude for a scene in 'American Beauty.' According to Thora (when she appeared on the Craig Kilborn show in 2002) her parents didn't have a problem with her doing a nude scene, despite that she was underage, and they encouraged her to go ahead and do it. They agreed that her character's nude scene was so important to the development of her character, that they gave their approval. Her parents thought that she would be a boy, and planned on naming their child Thor, after the Norse God of Thunder and Lightening. When she was born, however, her parents decided to feminize the name and call her Thora