The Best Kiernan Shipka Moments From Flowers in the Attic

By now you’ve watched Flowers in the Attic and practically died over how wonderfully campy it was. You’ve fully recalled how pretty and damn good at playing spaced-out Heather Graham is. You’ve maybe shouted out that her lawyer boyfriend “is Paul from Orphan Black!” (real name: Dylan Bruce). You’ve almost definitely marveled at Ellen Burstyn’s epic coldness and what a ninny Christopher is for the first 2/3 of this story—when his mom tells him their name is Foxworth now, he doesn’t even have a follow-up.

All of that said, let’s talk about the best part of Flowers. She’s Kathy, she’s sassy, she’s the greatest thing in most things she’s in: She’s Kiernan Shipka! Here are the Kiernan moments I could not get enough of:

When she calls out her mom on having bought, not baked, a pie: “You forgot to take the bakery label off.”

When, at the news of her dad’s promotion, she’s that kid who runs away angrily instead of celebrating. She’s sensitive to him being away a lot!

When her dad comes in to comfort her and she sobs, “Nobody’s here.”

When her mom explains why she was banished from home (their father is her uncle) and while Christopher’s all, “I love you no matter what, Mom!”, Kiernan just looks like this.

When they try to give Grandmother a gift, and Grandmother wants nothing to do with it. To be fair, what is it?

When Christopher cuts off her hair, and she looks like an extra from a Jazzercise video.

When she’s en pointe, just because. Really good form, Kiern!

When the children won’t go outside and she says, “They’ll never grow here. Not in this attic.”

When she’s trying on her mother’s newfound finery. “How do I look?”

When she turns the switch tables on Grandmother.

When she’s on the train and vows of her mother, “And all our shame and hopelessness would become hers.” How Serena van der Woodsen is that shot?

What did you guys think of the movie?