Although she has no formal acting training, Christina Ricci has been on-screen since the tender age of nine. Growing from a child star to a well-rounded actress in adulthood, she has partaken in many cult classic films that shaped 90s pop culture, including Casper and The Addams Family. Able to take on any role, she has a vast skill set to draw from every time she steps in front of the camera. She is able to play the sweet girl next door or the creepy serial killer with no problem—something not every actress can pull off. These are some of Christina Ricci's best performances so far.
7 Grey's Anatomy
Appearing in only two episodes from season 2 of Grey's Anatomy, Ricci's performance as a paramedic, Hannah Davies, is one that is burned into fans' memories. After responding to an emergency call of a man who was shot by his own homemade bazooka, Hannah made the impulsive decision to stick her hand into the wound to stop the bleeding. Little did she know, there was an explosive device inside. Instructed not to remove her hand until the bomb squad can take over, Hannah goes through some intense emotions. She is even abandoned by a doctor and left to multitask with a manual respirator. Ricci does a fantastic job pulling at the audience's heartstrings, and her emotions are overwhelmingly real.
6 Pan Am
Portraying head flight attendant, Maggie Ryan, in the TV series, Pan Am, Ricci gives a stunning performance. Starting off as a waitress at a diner, Maggie drops out of college to join with the latest airliner known as Pan Am. She lies about being fluent in Portuguese to get the position, and she likes to cause waves in the company. In the very first episode, she is suspended for not wearing her girdle, but that doesn't stop her from rising in the ranks. Although the show received good reviews, it was canceled after two seasons.
5 Sleepy Hollow
Starring alongside Johnny Depp, Miranda Richardson, Christopher Walken, and Michael Gambon, Ricci portrays the young Katrina Van Tassel in the gothic horror film, Sleepy Hollow. Directed by Tim Burton, the movie follows the journey of a police constable as he tries to solve a series of grisly murders. Katrina is his love interest and the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the town. The idea behind the character was for Katrina to be fragile and doll-like, which Ricci pulls off with ease. The film also received rave reviews from film critics such as Roger Ebert.
4 Lizzie Borden Took an Ax
In the 2014 biopic Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, Ricci plays the infamous Lizzie Borden, who is accused of murdering her father and stepmother. Despite destroying evidence and being caught with blood all over her body, Lizzie is eventually acquitted and released. However, Ricci's portrayal of her leaves audiences wondering if Lizzie is truly responsible for the deaths. The film was made for TV, and it sparked a series titled The Lizzie Borden Chronicles after its success.
3 Penelope
Starring alongside Reese Witherspoon, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, and Peter Dinklage, Ricci takes on the role of Penelope in the 2006 fantasy rom-com Penelope. Cursed by a witch to be born with the face of a pig, Penelope refuses to go out in public without covering her face. In an attempt to break the curse, her family forces her to meet a string of suitors who all run away when they see her face. The story is about overcoming obstacles and disregarding other peoples' opinions. It has a beautiful message about outward appearances that Ricci is able to tap into for young fans.
2 Casper
As one of the most iconic films from the mid-90s, Casper is part of the millennial childhood. Starring alongside Bill Pullman, Ricci plays Kat, a social outcast and the daughter of an afterlife therapist. Moving into the very haunted Whipstaff Manor to investigate a ghost infestation, Kat befriends the spirit of a child named Casper. Although he is very excited to have someone to interact with, his trio of uncles isn't too thrilled. While her father is trying to get the spirits to cross over to the other side, Kat is trying to figure out how to bring Casper back to life. Ricci's performance is heart-warming and memorable, and the film sparked several sequels later on.
1 The Addams Family
In her first major motion picture, Ricci played Wednesday Addams in the 1991 dark comedy, The Addams Family. She later reprises the role in the sequel, Addams Family Values. In both films, Wednesday is characterized as a creepy child who is incredibly smart and devious. She is often seen trying to kill her siblings, Pugsley and Pubert. Her witty one-liners make her a fan favorite, and many fans have expressed the desire for her to come back into the franchise as the mother and matriarch, Morticia Addams in a reboot. Celebrating its recent 30th anniversary, Ricci said that the blood-soaked theatrical scene from the first film is one of her favorites of all time.