Celebrating Women in Horror: Our Favorite Modern Scream Queens

Mar 30

In celebration of Women in Horror Month we’re honoring the up-and-coming scream queens who’ve graced our screens with their talents in recent years. These women have each contributed remarkable performances to the horror genre, establishing new female-oriented characters and bending previous tropes. Some, like Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy debuted in horror, quickly demonstrating their range of skill, while others like Lupita Nyong’o and Carla Gugino have longer and more varied careers that prove their exceptional abilities across genres and make their performances in horror all the more nuanced and exciting.

In no particular order, here are just some of our favorite Modern Scream Queens:

Jenna Ortega | Wednesday

Captivating audiences with her intense and compelling performances, Jenna Ortega has rapidly ascended to the status of a modern scream queen. A fellow horror-fanatic, Ortega has always loved the genre and it shows. Her role in Tim Burton’s Wednesday, and Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin’s Scream VI have been monumental steps in what we anticipate will be a very accomplished career in horror cinema.

Anya Taylor-Joy |The Witch

Drawing audiences into the dark, unsettling world of New England folklore, Ana Taylor-Joy continues to set a new tone in horror cinema that audiences can’t help but be drawn to. After making her film debut in Robert Egger’s The Witch, the actress has continued to demonstrate her uncanny ability to embody complex characters, earning critical acclaim and solidifying her position as a compelling force among the weird and unsettling.

Mia Goth | X, Pearl, & MaXXXine

It’s no secret that Mia Goth frequently takes on horror-thriller roles. As an actress, Goth prefers character heavy work rather than plot driven films, and enjoys working closely with directors. While she has stated that she doesn’t see herself as a Scream Queen or a participant in the horror genre, there is no denying that she is drawn to darker roles. Goth’s subtle facial acting paired with her convicted line delivery and intense body performances make her a perfect fit for horror.

Lupita Nyong'o | Us

Lupita’s performance in Jordan Peele’s Us immediately locked in the film as a horror classic for decades to come. She is so acutely real in her mothering, reactions, and emotions that one cannot look away from the screen. One of Lupita's major strengths is her ability to form deep and nuanced relationships with the other characters in her films. Her brilliance twists the knife into the ending reveal, hitting us heavily and leaving us disturbed for days after. Without a doubt Lupita is a scream queen we can't live without.

Florence Pugh | Midsommar

The woman who made us all wish we could get the girls together and just scream. Her amazing performance in Ari Aster’s Midsommar was strangely empowering, and shocking, and quickly elevated the film to a staple in the summer we all had to stay home. While we haven’t seen Florence Pugh in a horror film since, her May Queen energy is a force that left a lasting impression.

Emma Roberts | Scream Queens (TV )

A pivotal figure in contemporary horror, Emma Roberts earned her stripes as a scream queen with her dynamic roles in American Horror Story and cult favorite Scream Queens. Her ability to oscillate between moments of intensity and vulnerability lends a compelling authenticity to the horror narratives she inhabits. Through these performances, Roberts has redefined what it means to lead in the horror genre, blending wit with terror in a way that leaves a lasting impression on viewers.

*Sophie Wilde in* *Talk To Me, image via IMDB*

Victoria Pedretti | YOU

The first time audiences saw Victoria Pedretti in the horror limelight was in The Haunting of Bly Manor. Perhaps the most tortured of the family members in the series, Pedretti took the act of being haunted full circle—and it was terrifying. While her performance in Bly Manor was “perfectly splendid” as well, I feel that her murderous tendencies playing Love in YOU were something new, and pleasantly horrific because she was no longer the victim, but the villain.

Lauren LaVera | Terrifier 2

Lauren LaVera’s character in Terrifier 2 is a woman who never stops. The epitome of a final girl, Sienna will go through any lengths to rescue her little brother from Art The Clown. LaVera’s work also includes stunt performing and these skills shine through as she out-runs, out-battles, and outsmarts her monsters. In a scene featuring a Halloween store employee, she masterfully performs the genuine sheer terror of being trapped in an impossible situation, all through her body language. LaVera is scheduled to return for Terrifier 3 and we can't wait to see how Sienna survives.

*Lauren LaVera in* *Terrifier 2, image via IMDB*

Sophie Wilde | Talk to Me

Sophie Wilde hit the bigscreen with the 2022 release Talk to Me as main character Mia, a troubled and haunted teenager who flirts with the dead. The Australian actress earned critical praise for this role in her ability to acutely transcribe grief and suffering. Wilde is a vividly emotional performer, and one that we hope to see much more of in future horror films.

Kate Siegel | Midnight Mass

No stranger to horror, Kate Siegel is another woman who has carved a niche for herself within the genre’s landscape. In each performance, Siegel can be seen carefully blending deep emotional resonance with high tension, keeping viewers at the edge of their seat.

Betty Gabriel | It Lives Inside

Having delivered a deeply unsettling portrayal of Georgina in Get Out, Betty Gabriel quickly cemented her presence in the horror genre. Her nuanced acting in this role, combined with her parts in The Purge: Election Year and It Lives Inside showcases her ability to infuse characters with a haunting depth.

Carla Gugino | Lisa Frankenstein

Most recently mesmerized by her performance in Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher, Carla Gugino seems to have mastered the horror genre. In the same fashion as folks from the American Horror anthology, Gugino has also proved her ability to portray an array of characters, both tormented by and a creator of trauma.

Sarah Paulson | American Horror Story

Playing an array of deranged and dysfunctional characters, Sarah Paulson has been a joy to watch in the American Horror Story anthology series. Her versatility in playing these unique and emotionally charged characters while evoking fear, sympathy, and intrigue in each across several different seasons is quite impressive, earning her a well-deserved spot on our list.

Article written by WSB

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