Kristen Nöel "Kristy" Swanson (born December 19, 1969) is an American actress. She began her career appearing in several teen films, including Pretty in Pink (1986) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). Her first starring role was in Wes Craven's horror film Deadly Friend (1986), followed by her portrayal of Catherine "Cathy" Dollanganger in the controversial film adaptation of V.C. Andrews's Flowers in the Attic (1987).