Thora Birch came out as bisexual at a recent event celebrating West Hollywood’s legendary hotspot The Abbey.
“As a local girl, I’m always here to show my support for the community, which, along with being bi, has shaped me and a big part of my identity,” the “Hocus Pocus” actress told Us Weekly at the establishment’s star-studded 35th anniversary celebration on Wednesday.
“I don’t want to get too political, but find a community where you can, stand by them, be there for them, share the love that you shared together, and extend that to others,” she continued.
“The only way to get through this madness is to just hold each other. We have to stop fighting.”
A representative for the “American Beauty” actress told the magazine that she grew up in West Hollywood. This popular restaurant, located within walking distance, has been a prominent LGBTQ+ gathering spot for decades and is known to be a favorite of screen legend Elizabeth Taylor.
The actress married director Michael Benton Adler in 2018.
Birch, who has come of age on the world stage, recently said she wouldn’t change anything about her upbringing. However, being a child star is not without its drawbacks.
“You can’t develop friendships or have a core group of friends to keep you company,” she told The Independent in February. “These were great experiences and an opportunity to work with people whose photos were on their bedroom walls.”
She added: “Can I replace this? No, but it’s expensive.”
Burch spoke about colleagues such as Brittany Murphy and Brad Renfro, both of whom passed away in their primes, and reflected on the challenges of growing up in Hollywood.
“You realize how much the transition from being a child actor to being a working adult requires sacrifices. It’s hard, and everyone reacts to it differently,” she explained to the press.
“What helped me was maintaining a sense of humor, which was important. Also dabbling in other media, taking breaks, getting an education, living outside of the camera bubble. And I think, as always, getting beat up a few times helped. It takes a few tans to make your skin stronger.”
The actress continues to diversify and find success in Hollywood. She recently starred in Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, and played Gifford Mayfair in AMC’s Anne Rice’s The Mayfair Witches.
In 2022, Birch made her directorial debut with Lifetime TV’s The Gabby Petite Story. She will also direct the upcoming film adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel, “Mr. Paradise.”
