Soon after her parents divorced, Balk and her mother became world. At 11 they moved to London, where she attended various prestigious ballet and acting schools. It was at this time that she was selected by the Walt Disney Company to star in Return to Oz. It was not her first role, but it was the one that brought her attention as an actress.The role lead to other minor roles and in 1988 she moved to Paris to do more work as an actress.

In 1992 she was awarded an Independent Spirit Award as best actress for her performance in the Gas Food Lodging.
A couple of years later she cast in as lead role in The Craft, and has continued to find roles. She had a memorable performance in American History X (1998) and since 2000 she has appeared in half a dozen movies.

Balk lives in Venice, California. Outside her career, her interests include writing poetry and fiction, playing guitar, singing, and dancing. Over the years she has been romantically involved with a number of well known men including British actor David Thewlis and C.M. Talkington.

Public Name: Fairuza Balk
Birth Name: Fairuza Alejandra Feldthouse
Date of Birth: May 21, 1974
Place of Birth: Point Reyes, California

Filmography

• Humboldt County (2007)
• Wild Tigers I Have Known (2006)
• "Masters of Horror" (1 episode, 2006)
• Orpheus (2006)
• A Year and a Day (2005)
• Don't Come Knocking (2005)
• What Is It? (2005)
• Lords of Everquest (2003)
• "Justice League" (1 episode, 2003)
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
• Deuces Wild (2002)
• Personal Velocity: Three Portraits (2002)
• "Family Guy" (3 episodes, 1999-2001)
• "The Sopranos" (1 episode, 2001)
• Moby: Play - The DVD (2001)
• Almost Famous (2000)
• Red Letters (2000)
• The Waterboy (1998)
• American History X (1998)
• There's No Fish Food in Heaven (1998)
• American Perfekt (1997)
• The Maker (1997)
• The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)
• The Craft (1996)
• Shadow of a Doubt (1995)
• Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)
• Imaginary Crimes (1994)
• Tollbooth (1994)
• Murder in the Heartland (1993)
• The Danger of Love: The Carolyn Warmus Story (1992)
• Shame (1992)
• Gas, Food Lodging (1992)
• Deadly Intentions... Again? (1991)
• Valmont (1989)
• The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick (1988)
• Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story (1987)
• Discovery (1986)
• The Worst Witch (1986)
• Return to Oz (1985)
• Deceptions (1985)
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1983)

Awards

• Online Film Critics Society Award Best Ensemble "Almost Famous" 2000
• MTV Movie Award Best Fight "The Craft" 1997
• Independent Spirit Award Best Actress "Gas Food Lodging" 1992