It’s time to take a look back at one of our favorite ‘90s stars, one of the ultimate dream girls of the era, none other than… Christina Ricci! She has been consistently acting throughout her career, but those who grew up in the ‘90s remember her best as either a girl to look up to who was a little more offbeat, or a girl to have a crush on if you liked that more offbeat type. Today, we’re going to take a look back and celebrate some of her most memorable ‘90s roles.
Curious about our other ’90s Teen Dream Girls? Click here to read them all!
Christina Ricci caught the acting bug early when she decided she wanted to be in her local school play. A starring role was up for grabs, and she faced competition from a male classmate for the role. So, she devised a plan to make sure she got the role: taunt him until he broke. Well, it worked, because he eventually responded by hitting her, which lost him the part. It was in that role that a local theater critic noticed her and suggested she try to do it professionally. Soon enough, she was booking roles in commercials that eventually lead to her big screen debut playing Cher’s daughter in Mermaids.
From there, she got the role that would really propel her to stardom – of course we’re talking about Wednesday Addams. Can you imagine anyone else playing Wednesday? Puh-lease. From there, she starred in a slew of other movies, but the one that really started to make everyone take her more seriously was, of course, The Ice Storm. While she had a few other noteworthy roles since then, it wasn’t until recently that she started to have something of a career renaissance thanks to roles in The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, and, of course, Yellowjackets. We can’t wait to see what she does next!
Before we look back at some of Christina Ricci’s most memorable roles from the ‘90s, take a look at a commercial she was in for Count Chocula:
Mermaids (1990)
Based on Patty Dann’s novel of the same name, Mermaids is set in the early 1960s and stars Cher as a single mother who frequently moves her family after breaking up with her latest lover, with Winona Ryder and Ricci playing her two daughters. Ricci even won a Young Artist Award for her performance.
The Addams Family (1991) & Addams Family Values (1993)
Based on the cartoon created by Charles Addams, The Addams Family and Addams Family Values follow, you guessed it, the Addams family, a macabre, aristocratic family who, in the first movie, reconnect with a seemingly lost relative. The films feature a great cast, including Raul Julia as Gomez, Anjelica Huston as Morticia, Christopher Llloyd as Uncle Fester, and, of course, Ricci as Wednesday. These movies still hold up to this day, so if you haven’t seen them in awhile, they are worth a rewatch!
Casper (1995)
Based on the Harvey Comics’ cartoon character, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Casper stars Ricci as the daughter of a paranormal therapist who moves them into a haunted house where, of course, Casper lives. There’s a whole supernatural story, but you know the most memorable part of this movie is the ending where Casper turns into Devon Sawa for like five seconds.
Now and Then (1995)
A classic coming of age film, Now and Then follows a group of girls growing up during the summer of 1970. Ricci stars as tomboy Roberta who struggles with her mother’s recent death, as well as her developing body. It definitely could be better, but if you need some nostalgia, this movie would definitely satisfy that itch.
The Ice Storm (1997)
In The Ice Storm, two families in the early ‘70s experiment with drugs, adultery, and sex. Ricci stars as the daughter in one of the families who likes to tease the sons in the other family. It’s true ensemble film, featuring other great actors such as Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Tobey Maguire, Elijah Wood, and Sigourney Weaver. If you’ve never seen this one, it’s definitely worth watching.
The Opposite of Sex (1998)
The Opposite of Sex stars Ricci as pregnant teenager Dedee, who moves in with her gay half-brother and proceeds to try to seduce his partner. It’s definitely what you would call a dark comedy, and also stars Lisa Kudrow. It’s not a movie for everyone, but critics definitely loved it.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Based loosely on the short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Sleepy Hollow is a classic Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp as the legendary Ichabod Crane. Ricci stars as Depp’s love interest, despite being so much younger than him (she was around 19, while he was 36). To be fair, they both said they found it to be weird, since they knew each other since she was nine years old. Just a little bit creepy.
What were your favorite roles of Christina’s? Any we missed that you adored (she was in a lot, we just tried to pick the most memorable)? Let us know in the comments!
- Natalie Portman was originally cast in Ricci’s role in The Ice Storm, but reportedly she pulled out after her parents told her they thought the part was too provocative.
- Ricci earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role in The Opposite of Sex, but ultimately lost to Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare in Love.
- Ricci is the National Spokesperson for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).
- She has multiple tattoos, including a lion, an Edward Gorey figure, praying hands, a sparrow, and a mermaid, among others.
- Her father (who she reportedly hasn’t spoken to since she was 15) was a practitioner of “primal scream therapy,” where patients try to scream their way to a psychological breakthrough.
- Natalie Portman was originally cast in Ricci’s role in The Ice Storm, but reportedly she pulled out after her parents told her they thought the part was too provocative.
- Ricci earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role in The Opposite of Sex, but ultimately lost to Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare in Love.
- Ricci is the National Spokesperson for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).
- She has multiple tattoos, including a lion, an Edward Gorey figure, praying hands, a sparrow, and a mermaid, among others.
- Her father (who she reportedly hasn’t spoken to since she was 15) was a practitioner of “primal scream therapy,” where patients try to scream their way to a psychological breakthrough.
