Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci
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Name:
Christina Ricci
Who is:
Birth date:
(45 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Height:
5'1 ft ()
Weight:
121 lb (55 kg)
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
Chinese zodiac:
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Biography of Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci is an American actress and producer. She shot to fame as a teenager in the early '90s, playing Wednesday Addams in the horror comedy "The Addams Family" and its sequel. Then came roles as Kat Harvey in "Casper", young Roberta Martin in the dramedy "Now and Then", and Katrina Van Tassel in "Sleepy Hollow".
Actress Christina Ricci
Actress Christina Ricci
Her character actress persona – all gloominess and nonconformity – stuck with her for years, earning her two Saturn Awards and numerous nominations. But it came with a price: being labeled the "horror movie girl" eventually stalled her career. Fortunately, not forever. In 2024, Ricci scored a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress for her role in the series "Yellowjackets", and just before that, she made a spectacular appearance in Tim Burton's "Wednesday."

Childhood, Youth, Family

Christina was born in the winter of 1980 to Ralph Ricci and Sarah Murdoch, becoming the fourth child in a family known for their eccentricity. Fancying himself an Italian mafia boss, her father named their older sons Raphael and Dante, and their daughter Pia.
Christina Ricci as a child
Christina Ricci as a child
Christina's siblings now reside in New York. Raphael is a concert promoter, having organized shows for Radiohead. Dante is a writer who made ends meet working in a restaurant, while Pia found a job in an international travel magazine.

The family lived not far from Los Angeles, in Santa Monica. Before becoming a lawyer, Christina's father bounced between careers. He started as a gym coach, then managed a restaurant, and when his youngest daughter started school, opened a private psychotherapy practice offering "primal scream therapy." Occasionally, Christina acted as a go-between for him and his clients:
Sometimes patients would visit. When I was eight, a woman came to our house. She once asked me, 'Can you tell your father that my mother isn't speaking to me, I've started drinking again, and I'm having all these nightmares about sexual encounters.' So I'd write it all down, carefully spelling out 'SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS.' My father was furious that she had left this message for his eight-year-old daughter. I always found it kind of amusing.
The office was located in the basement of their house, and a ventilation pipe led directly to Christina's room. Whenever she heard the "healing" sessions, she'd either cover her head with a pillow or escape to the roof, waiting for them to end.
Christina Ricci as a child
Christina Ricci as a child
Christina's mother, a former model and a realtor at the time of Christina's birth, was also quite a character. Being very slim herself, she'd call Christina an "ugly fat bug" and ban her from eating desserts.

In one of her interviews, the movie star said:
In her youth, my mother was a model. She knew exactly how children get exploited in advertising, and she hated it. She didn't want her children to experience what she did, as it might cause pain and disappointment. My father was a huge movie fan and always talked about actors, but I never thought I'd become one. My mother and I went to auditions a couple of times. After the first one, the director decided I wasn't right for it. I was very nervous and for some reason, I started telling him that I played football and was always hit in the head with the ball. He probably thought, 'What a weird kid. Why would I hire her?'
When Christina turned thirteen, her parents divorced. They had already moved to New Jersey by then. At Glenfield School, one of the five schools Christina attended, she got attention by provoking the local bullies. When they retaliated, she'd scream and complain to everyone around: "Look what they've done to me!" But she never fought back, even though she called herself "a real beast" and "a tearaway."

Acting Career

Ricci was just nine when she landed her first role in Richard Benjamin's dramedy "Mermaids". Despite being so young, she quickly bonded with her co-stars – Cher and Winona Ryder. She and Ryder remain close to this day. Cher even helped her land the role in Barry Sonnenfeld's dark comedy "The Addams Family".
Christina Ricci on the set of the 'Mermaids'
Christina Ricci on the set of the 'Mermaids'
Sonnenfeld envisioned Wednesday as aristocratic and refined, so he wasn't interested in the chubby-cheeked kid for the part. Cher gave Christina some advice: do something unforgettable at the audition. Sonnenfeld certainly remembered her – Ricci charged at him and nearly bit his hand. That bold move landed her the role in the iconic gothic family film.
Christina Ricci in 'The Addams Family'
Christina Ricci in 'The Addams Family'
While Wednesday made Christina famous, the role didn't automatically open doors to A-list projects. She desperately wanted to play Lolita in the 1997 adaptation, but the role went to Dominique Swain.
Addams Family Values: Christina Ricci Gives Behind-the-Scenes Tour
She also auditioned for the role of Rose in "Titanic", but the main heroine was played by Kate Winslet. With Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt she could have starred in the drama "Interview with the Vampire", but the director preferred Kirsten Dunst.
Christina Ricci in the movie 'Casper'
Christina Ricci in the movie 'Casper'
Still, Ricci's filmography is packed with memorable characters. Teen audiences fell for her in 1995's "Casper" and "Now and Then".
Christina Ricci in the movie 'Now and Then'
Christina Ricci in the movie 'Now and Then'
Ricci then played Erin in "The Last of the High Kings", and by the late '90s had racked up over ten film credits. Looking back on her transition from child to adult roles, the actress reflected:
For a while it felt like I'd have to keep making kids' movies to survive in Hollywood, but then, when I was fifteen, along came 'The Ice Storm'. And right after that I did 'Buffalo 66' and 'The Opposite of Sex'. Working with Vincent Gallo on 'Buffalo 66' – this incredibly artistic director who really valued me and believed I was wonderful – gave me so much hope and made everything feel okay. The media attention I got after those films made me feel the same way.
Tim Burton's 1999 horror "Sleepy Hollow" marked her full transition into adult roles. In it, Christina starred alongside Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken.
Christina Ricci in the 'Sleepy Hollow'
Christina Ricci in the 'Sleepy Hollow'
She also appeared in the cult film by Terry Gilliam "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". The role of artist Lucy was small, but memorable.
Christina Ricci in the film 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'
Christina Ricci in the film 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'
Her portrayal of Katrina Anne van Tassel earned her a Saturn Award, and she went on to star alongside Johnny Depp in several more films, including the drama "The Man Who Cried". In it, Ricci got the role of Suzie, a Jewish girl from Russia. It marked her first completely sympathetic character and her debut in European cinema.
Christina Ricci in the film 'The Man Who Cried'
Christina Ricci in the film 'The Man Who Cried'
Ricci remembered her work with Depp:
I've known Johnny forever. When I was a child acting in my first film, he came to the set to see his then-girlfriend Winona Ryder. And now we are partners for the third time – after 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' and 'Sleepy Hollow'. Moreover, this time we had to play a sex scene. In essence, this is my first film with sex. But we decided to cut this line compared to the script and not to kiss almost until the very end. Johnny is like my older brother and patron. We have fun, we laugh and understand each other half-word.
Among her notable 2000s films was the whimsical comedy "Penelope", where Ricci played a cursed aristocrat with a pig's nose opposite James McAvoy as her lovestruck suitor, the romantic comedy "Pumpkin", and the psychological drama "Black Snake Moan" alongside Samuel L. Jackson.
Christina Ricci in the film 'Black Snake Moan'
Christina Ricci in the film 'Black Snake Moan'
Christina gradually proved that despite having no formal acting training, she could tackle an incredibly diverse range of roles. She played stewardess Maggie in "Pan Am", aristocrat Clotilde de Marelle in the screen adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's "Bel Ami", and artist Lauren in "Distorted".
Christina Ricci in the film `Bel Ami`
Christina Ricci in the film `Bel Ami`
The early 2020s brought Ricci two major roles – single mother Abigail in the comedy "10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up" and ghost Scarlett in the fantasy melodrama "Here After".
Christina Ricci in the film '10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up'
Christina Ricci in the film '10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up'
The actress also joined the cast of the action film "The Matrix Resurrections" and starred in Tim Burton's mystical serial "Wednesday", where Jenna Ortega played the role that she herself once played. This time, Ricci took on the role of Marilyn Thornhill, a teacher at Nevermore Academy whose character proves far more complex than she initially appears.
Christina Ricci in the 'Wednesday'
Christina Ricci in the 'Wednesday'

Christina Ricci's Personal Life

Christina Ricci's love life has been a rollercoaster ride for years. She's had her share of Hollywood romances, though most were short-lived. She dated Devon Sawa for about a year after they met on the "Casper" set, then had a brief fling with actor Matthew Frauman.

Rumors linked her to Australian actor Kick Gurry, director Adam Goldberg, Hollywood heartthrob Chris Evans, and comedian Owen Benjamin. She even got engaged to Benjamin, but they split just two months later – and Christina was soon spotted out with Curtis Buchanan.
Christina Ricci and Chris Evans
Christina Ricci and Chris Evans
In 2011, on the set of the TV series "Pan Am", Ricci met camera technician James Heerdegen. A year later, she was sporting a diamond engagement ring, and by 2013, they'd tied the knot.
Christina Ricci and James Heerdegen
Christina Ricci and James Heerdegen
Christina gave birth to her first child at 34. They named their son Freddie. Fans thought their favorite actress had finally found her happily ever after, but by late 2020, the truth came out – Heerdegen's nice-guy act was just that, an act. Christina endured systematic abuse at the hands of her husband.
Christina Ricci with her son Freddie
Christina Ricci with her son Freddie
He humiliated and berated her, even saying he wanted to see her dismembered. Trapped by COVID-19 lockdowns with nowhere to escape, Christina hid all the knives and barricaded herself and Freddie in a room.
He said the only way for him to feel pity for me is to dismember me into little pieces. That night, I hid all the knives in the villa where we were staying. I feared for my life and for our son's life. Freddie and I slept in a separate room with the door locked.
The divorce dragged on for a year, with Christina successfully securing a restraining order to keep Heerdegen away from their son. Meanwhile, her ex fought back by demanding alimony.
A survivor of domestic violence, Christina Ricci now lends her voice to helping others
While the legal battle raged on, news broke that Ricci was pregnant and planning to marry her stylist-hairdresser Mark Hampton. Turns out, their secret romance had been brewing for quite some time. Christina had wanted to leave her abusive husband sooner, but the pandemic complicated everything.
Christina Ricci and Mark Hampton with their children
Christina Ricci and Mark Hampton with their children
2021 became a year of redemption: a second marriage and the birth of daughter Cleopatra. During her pregnancy, Christina starred in "Yellowjackets".

Christina Ricci Now

The actress kicked off 2024 by attending the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. Ricci earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Misty, a devout football team assistant in the hit TV series "Hornets," which has been running successfully since 2021.
Christina Ricci in the TV series 'Hornets'
Christina Ricci in the TV series 'Hornets'
Unfortunately, her manipulative psychopathic character didn't win over the voters, and once again Christina missed out on the Golden Globe, which went to another nominee - Elizabeth Debicki, who played Princess Diana in the TV series "The Crown".

Christina's fans are hoping that upcoming seasons of "Hornets" will finally bring their favorite actress the long-awaited award she deserves. Meanwhile, "Hornets" fans are eagerly anticipating how the story will develop in seasons four and five.

Interesting Facts

  • Christina Ricci learned to read by age three, thanks to her older sister Pia, who loved playing teacher and always picked her younger sister as her student. Those impromptu lessons paid off. On the flip side, her brothers got her started on cigarettes when she was only ten. Smoking became a serious habit by the time Ricci turned fifteen, and by eighteen, she was going through two cigarettes an hour. Her favorite brand became Parliament Lights, mainly because of their unusual recessed filter.

  • When Christina was fourteen, she watched "Pulp Fiction" and was blown away by Samuel L. Jackson's performance: "I really wanted to be Sam - a cool bad guy who can kick anyone's ass," Ricci admitted. Years later, she got to meet her teenage idol on the set of the drama "Black Snake Moan." She played a nymphomaniac despite being 26 at the time, while Samuel's devout character rescued her from a terrible fate.

  • Christina Ricci has produced several notable films, typically starring in them as well. The first and most famous, "Prozac Nation," was filmed in 2001 and based on Elizabeth Wurtzel's autobiographical novel of the same name. In the book, Wurtzel openly discussed how she tried to manage her atypical depression using a popular antidepressant. The film never got a wide release in America because Miramax bought the film and distribution rights after its Toronto International Film Festival debut in 2001, later dubbing it "the most controversial film of the year."

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