Christina Ricci Says Acting Was 'Refuge' From 'Failed Cult Leader' Father

Christina Ricci, who has been a successful actress since she was a child and appeared in movies like The Addams Family and Mermaids, opened up about her experience as a young actress for the new documentary Child Star, co-directed by and starring Demi Lovato.

In the film, Lovato sat down with several former child stars to talk about their experiences, both good and bad, and while speaking with Ricci, the Yellowjackets star shared how acting helped her escape a tough home life.

Ricci said she was able to "find peace on set" while acting, which was a stark contrast to home.

"I had a very chaotic home. My father was a failed cult leader, and so he had all that same sort of, like, really crazy narcissism that goes along with someone wanting to run a cult. And he was very physically violent," she explained, adding, "There was never any peace in my house."

While acting, Ricci said that she felt safe, saying, "I knew nothing totally insane was about to happen...There was this refuge of emotional safety."

The actress opened up to Lovato about other struggles as well during their conversation. They spoke about alcohol and addiction, which both actors have dealt with over the years. At one point in the film, they shared the different ways they snuck alcohol on set.

Regarding Ricci and her father, Ralph Ricci, she has been open about her tough childhood in the past, telling The Guardian in 2000, when she was about 20 years old, that she hadn't been in contact with him for five years.

"I don't expect to have [contact] again," she went on. "I know it sounds cold, but it was one of the first things I ever did in my life - to take care of myself. Decide that only people who deserve it can be in my life." It's unclear if she has ever been in contact with her father since then.

Next: Christina Ricci Mourns the Death of Her "Beautiful Little Best Friend"