Christina Ricci: From Child Star to Emmy Nominee

Introduction

Christina Ricci as Misty in Yellowjackets Season 2. Christina Ricci got her first paid acting gig when she was ten, playing Cher’s daughter in the ’90s comedy film Mermaids. Within a couple of years, Christina was everywhere: Casper, Now and Then, and of course, The Addams Family. It goes without saying that she’s one of the biggest child stars of the ’90s.

The Desire for Grown-Up Parts

But, Ricci didn’t want to be a child star. She didn’t like kid’s movies. As soon as she could, she started taking grown up parts. Roles that were artsy and boundary pushing. That led her to some iconic indie films like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Ice Storm, and Buffalo 66.

The Struggle for Big Roles

Showbiz is a fickle thing, though. Christina kept working over the years, but she wasn’t landing those big, thrilling roles that she’d hoped for.

Yellowjackets and the Renaissance

But these days, Christina Ricci is in a renaissance. In 2019, she was cast as Misty Quigley in Yellowjackets, a buzzy new drama about a group of teenage girls who survive a horrific plane crash. The timeline on the show alternates between the crash itself and now, where the adult survivors are forced to sort through their trauma. Yellowjackets premiered on Showtime in 2021, and it was a hit among critics and audiences alike. For the first time in 15 years, Christina earned an Emmy nomination in 2022.

Talking with Christina Ricci

Last year, our correspondent, Jordan Crucchiola, geeked out with Christina about all things Yellowjackets. Plus, they talked about why taking on comedic roles makes her deeply uncomfortable – even though she’s played plenty of great comedic roles. Jordan hosts the Maximum Fun podcast Feeling Seen – it’s a movie podcast where guests talk about the first time they saw themselves in a movie character. She’s talked with guests like W. Kamau Bell, Ke Huy Quan, Susan Orlean and more.

Second Season of Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets will kick off its second season on March 26th. You can catch the season premiere on Showtime. A version of this interview originally aired in in August of 2022.

Credit: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/16/1164094321/christina-ricci

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