Christina Ricci Opens Up About Her ‘Narcissistic’ Dad In ‘Child Star’

Christina Ricci has beforehand described being a toddler actor as an “escape” from her “horrendous” upbringing.

Ricci, who gained fame at age 11 for her position as Wednesday Addams in 1991’s “The Addams Household,” shortly rose to stardom. She has additionally spoken prior to now about experiencing little one abuse inside her household.

In Demi Lovato‘s new documentary, “Youngster Star,” Christina Ricci is opening up additional about her “very chaotic house” and her father’s “actually loopy narcissism.”

“He had all that very same kind of actually loopy narcissism that goes together with somebody who desires to run a cult,” Ricci mentioned earlier than describing him as “bodily violent.”

The now 44-year-old mentioned that whereas she “by no means had any peace in her home,” she might “discover peace on set.”

“I knew nothing completely insane was about to occur [when on set],” she revealed. “No one was going to get actually mad and faux to drive a automobile right into a wall.”

It was a “refuge of emotional security,” the actress added.

Final yr, Ricci instructed The Sunday Times that she “grew up in a really chaotic house. I used to be the youngest little one. I used to be lovely, and I realized very early on that my means to be lovely might diffuse issues or distract individuals; I don’t really feel the necessity to enter way more element.”

She revealed that she had a “faux favourite colour” throughout her childhood to forestall her actual favourite belongings from being taken, explaining that “when you didn’t care [about something], you bought to maintain it.”

Christina Ricci’s mother and father separated when she was 13, and he or she has not had contact along with her father since her teenage years. She has beforehand characterised her father, who as soon as labored as a primal scream therapist, as a troublesome particular person.

The “Distorted” actress has mirrored on her early entry into the business over time, particularly when she sat down with Entertainment Tonight, revealing, “After I first began, and nonetheless as an grownup, this profession has all the time been an escape for me.”

“All of the little issues that kind of are unfavorable concerning the business and the profession, they’ve all the time been issues that I’ve simply been like, ‘Properly, actual life is worse,'” she added.

Reflecting on her skilled and private experiences as a toddler in Hollywood, Ricci instructed The Sunday Instances that this era could have influenced her grownup selections that weren’t “100%” wholesome.

She significantly talked about her relationship with ex-husband James Heerdegen, whom she married in 2013 at age 33. In 2021, Ricci secured a restraining order towards Heerdegen after submitting for divorce a yr earlier.

“I can’t communicate for everybody, nevertheless it took me a very long time to confess to myself what was happening, what it ought to be referred to as,” she instructed the outlet. “Denial may be very sturdy. In fact, you don’t need to settle for that the worst potential factor is occurring and that you just put your self in that state of affairs. So it took me a extremely very long time to appreciate that.”

Following the divorce, which Ricci described as involving “monetary traumas, prolonged courtroom conditions, custody conditions, preventing restraining orders,” the actress notes that she “realized to be somewhat bit extra clever about my investments.”

“I burnt some huge cash on luggage and sneakers and jewellery after I was youthful. You recognize, coming from no cash and abruptly having cash … In order that was a mistake,” she mentioned. “I don’t purchase a ton of style. There are particular issues that I’ve collected, sure luggage. I had fairly a Chanel purse assortment for some time, however I bought loads of issues.”

The actress states that she’s “completely doing wonderful, there’s no subject” after promoting this stuff to handle “sure traumas.” For her, it was a chance “to make use of these funding items in numerous methods.”

Ultimately, Ricci emphasizes that regardless of every part she’s been by way of, she doesn’t see herself as “a sufferer in any approach.”

“Youngster Star” is streaming now on Hulu.