For years, Fairuza Balk was known as one of Hollywood’s ‘bad girls.’ This label wasn’t due to any personal misbehavior or a poor attitude, but rather a reflection of the many roles she’s taken on throughout her career. If you recall, she actually played the part of Dorothy Gale in Return to Oz. Her intense on-screen presence contributed to this reputation, but as she’s matured, she has taken on different roles and evolved as an actress. Back in the day, her dark makeup and wild look made her the kind of woman many men thought would be a hellion. As you can see, though, that persona allowed her career to flourish for quite some time.
Let’s take a look at some of her best movies.
5. The Island of Dr. Moreau
Before you dismiss this movie as a walking dumpster fire, which it unfortunately is in just about every version it’s ever been made, consider the moral implications raised by the story. Fairuza’s part as the only real human-looking child of the deranged Dr. Moreau was downplayed, but she did her best to make it work in a movie that was already doomed from the start. If not for her, Val Kilmer, and David Thewliss, this movie would have been just as obscure as the island was supposed to be in the film.
4. Almost Famous
In this movie, Fairuza played a small but important role as Sapphire, the character who finally got Russell to realize he’d been a jerk to William and needed to make amends. It’s one thing for a journalist to lose their integrity and side with the subject of their piece over anyone else, but it’s another thing for those being protected by the same journalist to turn on that person and sell them down the river. In the world of journalism, there is such a thing as morality, and those who practice it are sometimes vilified by just about everyone, even when they try to do the right thing.
3. The Waterboy
Vicki, Fairuza’s character in this movie, is borderline psychotic, but she’s absolutely perfect for the role since she has nothing but love for Bobby and a great deal of faith that he can be someone special. The fact that she’s way over the top in her methods and behavior is kind of forgiven since she is a crucial part of Bobby Bouchet’s eventual development into a man and at least part of the reason why his mother comes to understand why he wants to belong to the world in a much bigger way. In her own way, Vicki turned out to be the catalyst that made this movie work.
2. American History X
Sometimes it takes a monumental shift in one’s ideals to really change who they are and who they want to be. Derek had to undergo a radical change in his way of thinking to realize that the life he was leading wasn’t what he needed. But his girlfriend Stacey, played by Fairuza, was simply in too deep like many of those who had fallen under Cameron’s sway and couldn’t accept that the man they’d looked up to for so long, Derek, had changed his mind when it came to his worldview. In fact, Stacey was one of those calling for Derek’s death shortly before he wrested the gun that his old friend Seth had brandished, turning on him in a way that offered little to no explanation and really didn’t need any.
1. The Craft
Out of all the young women in this group, Nancy, played by Fairuza, was the most tragic of the bunch since she simply couldn’t think of another way around her life predicament. Her mother was too wrapped up in her own life, and she had no one to turn to for a positive influence. But with the desire for power running unchecked and the influence she held over her friends rarely ever questioned, gaining even a little bit of power was a huge negative in her life since it seemed to absolve Nancy of all morality when it came to her actions. Thankfully, Sarah turned out to be a naturally gifted witch and was able to defeat Nancy pretty soundly.
Fairuza Balk has played the bad girl for a number of years, but you have to admit she’s quite good at what she does.
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