20 Famous Actresses Who Got Their Start In Horror Movies

Horror film fans are often on the search for a fresh mainstream face to rally behind. It's a tall order for a breakthrough, awards-friendly actress to stick to one genre, especially once they've carried an entire horror flick with a blistering, all-eyes-on-her performance. Unfortunately for fans of scary film, most scream queens with the acting chops to draw in audiences bid the scare genre adieu for more dramatic and higher-profile projects, much like the female thespians on our following list of Famous Actresses Who Got Their Start In Horror Movies.

It's hard to imagine Hollywood stars like these women relaying themselves to the more stereotypical conventions of horror movie (like the crucial factor of being scantily clad while evading your attacker), but read down the list and you'll see the foot in the door it's provided for the now-A List actors. A few of these have since returned to the screen for the kind of cinema that began their careers, but most of them haven’t looked back as more esteemed roles have come their way. As Halloween approaches, let's celebrate their scary starts.

Movie: Children Of The Corn V: Fields Of Terror (1998)

If you were female, and named Eva Mendes, which would you prefer folks acknowledge as your first real big-screen introduction: going topless in Training Day, or pledging allegiance to that bratty little Satanist Ezekiel in the perfunctory horror sequel Children Of The Corn V: Fields Of Terror? You’d choose the first, of course, because that one at least starred Denzel Washington and won him his long overdue Best Actor Academy Award. As for the straight-to-DVD Corn flick, it’s the kind of shitty, low-grade dud that bores people who come across it on cable, keep it on for 20 minutes, and switch it off after saying, “Hey, look who it is!” Never has flashing one’s ta-tas been so favorable.

Movie: Death Machine (1994)

Forget the fact that Rachel Weisz, the supremely gifted English actress whose films include The Constant Gardener, Enemy At The Gates, and The Fountain, once played an anonymous character simply known as “Junior Executive.” The coolest thing about her involvement in 1994’s grisly sci-fi/action/horror hybrid Death Machine is that the Academy Award winner (Best Supporting Actress in 2006, for The Constant Gardener) can say she once worked on a movie that was banned in countries like Iraq, China, and Australia. The reason: Death Machine, about a gadget maker (Brad Dourif) who makes one of his top creations decimate the employers who recently fired him, is over-the-top violent. In one insane scene, the vengeful “Warbeast” thrashes its way through an elevator full of unlucky, ripe-for-the-picking bastards.

Movie: King Kong (1976)

Jessica Lange’s recent Emmy for her brilliantly antagonistic work on FX’s American Horror Story is a pleasant reminder that she’s yet to leave the precious genre of fear and fine ladies behind. The two-time Oscar statue earner (1983 Best Supporting Actress for Tootsie; 1995 Best Actress for Blue Sky) has been connected to the horror world since her big-screen debut in 1976’s King Kong, the second cinematic telling of the lovable, misunderstood, and mondo-sized gorilla’s primate-meets-woman tragedy. Lange starred as Kong’s love interest, a role that required her to rock two-piece outfits and flash some nice 27-year-old skin. No wonder the hairy King was so sprung.

Movies: Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005), A Nightmare On Elm Street (2000)

In last year’s marvelous David Fincher thriller The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, newcomer Rooney Mara, who earned an Academy Award nomination for her work, blew audiences away and showed that she’s nothing like her newbie ingénue peers. Well, at least not on the screen. Away from the directors’ cameras, however, Mara unfortunately proved that she’s just another too-prestigious-for-horror flip-flopper by chastising her involvement in 2010's admittedly horrendous remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street; yes, the film sucks, but it also gave Mara a starring role that most hot, on-the-rise actresses her age would’ve killed for. And what about her smaller role in the equally lame and unnecessary slasher sequel Urban Legends: Bloody Mary? As much as she’d love for it to be the case, Mara’s career didn’t begin with The Social Network. Sometimes, the truth does indeed hurt.

Movie: Gui Ming Mo (2000)

It’d be safe bet to wager that Maggie Q, ass-kicking and insanely sexy star of The CW’s Nikita, would rather we don’t mention 2000’s Gui Ming Mo here, but, screw it, what do we have to lose? It’s not like she’s going to come to the Complex offices, karate-chop the front door into pieces, and roundhouse-kick staff members in the grills, right? Damn, maybe we should hire security after this. In the meantime, it’s our duty to point out that the Hong Kong-released Gui Ming Mo, supposedly of the often disappointing horror-comedy genre (just look at that stupid poster, up above), is a cyber phantom—very little is known about it, much less written, and the only user review on IMDb calls it “one of the worst movies” the self-appointed critic has ever seen. Even superwomen have their kryptonite.

Movie: Psycho Beach Party (2000)

Presently, Amy Adams is one of Hollywood’s most in-demand and consistently acclaimed actresses, bouncing around from awards-ready projects (director Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming The Master) to enjoyably lighter fare (The Muppets) and blockbusters (next year’s Superman reboot Man Of Steel). But that hasn’t always been the case. Prior to landing a role in Steven Spielberg’s 2002 success Catch Me If You Can, Adams starred in such overlooked movies as Cruel Intentions 2 (a straight-to-DVD release that was ignored for good reason) and Drop Dead Gorgeous (far better). And, most importantly, she donned a two-piece pink bikini while evading a serial killer in the horror-comedy Psycho Beach Party. Hey, she’s certainly versatile.

Movies: Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), Silent House (2012)

It’s too early to label Elizabeth Olsen an official “scream queen”. Despite her flirtations with becoming scary movie royalty, the youngest Olsen sister has also shaken things up, with a lead role in the indie rom-com Liberal Arts and talks pinning her to Spike Lee’s Oldboy remake (for which we fear she'd make this list). Regardless, though, there’s one thing that Hollywood can’t ever take away from us genre heads, no matter how big she gets: Thanks to Martha Marcy May Marlene and Silent House, Lizzie Olsen showed horror fans love first.

Movie: Species (1995)

The common perception is that Michelle Williams, a recent Oscar nominee for her portrayal of the oft-imitated Marilyn Monroe in the indie film My Week With Marilyn, first stepped onto the scene in the hit teen drama series Dawson’s Creek, but that’s not completely true. Sure, her work alongside James Van Der Beek is what launched her current stardom, yet it’s a largely forgotten role in the 1995 science fiction/horror hit Species that really kick-started Williams’ hustle. Hers was an important part, too, playing the kiddie version of Natasha Henstridge’s sexy man-eating alien beast. You could call it My Week With A Supermodel Who Poked Her Tongue Through Guys’ Skulls.

Movie: Freddy Vs. Jason (2003)

How insignificant was Lost star Evangeline Lilly in one of her first movies, the 2003 slasher smackdown Freddy Vs. Jason? Her role is technically uncredited, and when it is acknowledged, Lilly’s character is simply referred to as “School Student, Next to Locker.” Eagle-eyed fans of her incredibly mysterious sci-fi hit will instantly notice the beautiful brunette in one of the movie’s school hallway sequences, in which two of the main characters bicker as nosy classmates crowd around them; Lilly, not given any dialogue, looks naturally attractive while sporting a green sweater and clutching a textbook. Why should she give a damn about the past, though? Lilly recently appeared in both Hobbit films, and will soon be seen in the next installments of the Avengers franchise. Yeah, she’s doing just fine.

Movie: Parasite (1982)

Lately, Demi Moore’s acting career has taken a backseat, playing second fiddle to the tabloid-magnet’s Twitter follies, divorce drama, and rehab stints. Let some untrustworthy producer promise the impossibly fine Moore a box office resurgence in a 3D genre flick, though, and Ashton Kutcher’s cougar ex can proudly tell them that she’s been there and done that, back when it wasn’t so overdone, no less. Proof that the film industry’s three-dimensional fuckery has been a waste of time since the early 1980s, the easily dismissible 1982 sci-fi/horror clunker Parasite did little to sell haters on those plastic 3D glasses. Nor did Moore’s performance, just one of many hardly-there acting turns from a cast of non-factors who either didn’t read their scripts before signing those contracts or always dreamed of starring in “the first futuristic monster movie in 3D!” As they say, be careful what you wish for…

Movie: Deadly Blessing (1981)

When film historians discuss the legacy of horror master Wes Craven, whether today or years from now, the films they’ll no doubt cite with reverence are The Last House On The Left, The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare On Elm Street, and Scream. The director’s bizarre, altogether inept misfire Deadly Blessing, or any of the other films on our Craven-dissing list from last year, doesn’t stand a chance in Freddy Krueger’s dream-hell in making the conversation. Not unless the scholars redirect the chat to one Sharon Stone, the classic blonde sexpot who had the misfortune of signing onto a bad Craven film, the aforementioned Deadly Blessing. An optimist could look at it this way, though: How many other actresses can say that Wes Craven made them taste a spider in their mouth for a poor movie’s random, logic-free dream sequence?

Movie: Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)

OK, so the primary reason why Alice, Sweet Alice has placement here is because the low-budget 1976 chiller featured an 11-year-old Brooke Shields’ first movie role, one in which (Spoiler Alert!) she’s savagely murdered early on. Really, though, Shields’ involvement is beside the point—any chance to promote Alice, Sweet Alice is one that a self-respecting horror lover can’t pass up. Centered around a pint-sized and deranged serial killer and ripe with the kind of inventive deaths horror heads crave, religious undertones, and a wonderfully creepy atmosphere, director Alfred Sole’s sadly neglected flick is one of the ’70s’ best genre efforts. Seek out a hard-to-find DVD copy at your earliest convenience.

Movie: Troll (1986)

Here’s a rare case of an actress who should wish that she was in one of the worst movies ever made, instead of its inferior, much less entertaining predecessor. Back when she was looking to make a name for herself, a mere three years before Seinfeld began and changed her world, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was a nondescript co-star in the ridiculous monster flick Troll. Which, of course, led to the magical, everlasting 1990 sequel Troll 2, a high-ranker on our recent list of The 50 Best Bad Movies. Your girl Elaine Benes should’ve waited four years before popping her horror cherry.

Movie: Piranha (made for TV, 1995)

The 2010 3D remake of Joe Dante’s 1978 B-movie gem Piranha was a one-stop shop for horror’s most perverted fans: It had a surplus of blood, guts, murders, killer fish, and fake boobies moving in slow-motion. It was a far cry from producer Roger Corman’s lazy, made-for-TV redo from 1995, which, amongst other lifeless practices, actually recycled special effects from Dante’s original film. Needless to say, it’s a crock, but it’s also one of the reasons why we’re able to ogle and adore Mila Kunis on a daily basis today. If only she would’ve chosen Piranha 3D over 2010’s The Book Of Eli, though.

Movie: Leprechaun (2003)

In most cases, it’d be perfectly justifiable for an actress of Jennifer Aniston’s stature to down-talk a filmography-stainer the likes of 2003’s lame-brained Leprechaun, but Ms. Aniston hasn’t exactly proven herself as a box office titan. Take the money earned by her most recent flop, the otherwise passable comedy Wanderlust: a measly $7 million over its opening weekend, continuing a string of poor Aniston-led performances. So, if it weren’t for all of her gossip blog mentions, glamorous photo shoots, and post-Friends goodwill, Aniston could very well be calling Warwick Davis and pitching a Leprechaun spoof on his new HBO mockumentary series Life’s Too Short. Come to think of it, that’s a great idea. We take back the credibility jabs.

Movie: The Burning (1981)

By co-starring in the gruesome 1981 flick The Burning, Holly Hunter came this close to horror movie infamy. The good fortune benefitted her character, as Hunter’s young camp attendee’s decision to stay off a raft at the midpoint of the under-appreciated shocker The Burning did keep her alive. What it didn’t do, however, was allow the wet-behind-the-ears actress (as well as a young Jason Alexander) to take part in one of the slasher sub-genre’s all-time great sequences: the evisceration of five teenagers in less than 30 seconds. It’s better to be saluted by association than not at all, no?

Movie: Ghoulies (1985)

Unless you’re one of the millions of loyal viewers who’ve stuck it out with the undying TV hit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, chances are that you’re not very familiar with Mariska Hargitay, but, guess what—her backstory is more interesting than most of the actresses we see on a daily blogging basis. Aside from her multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and wins, Hargitay is, get this, the daughter of 1950s sex symbol/pin-up/blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield, and her father, Mickey Hargitay, was a onetime Mr. Universe. And she even has a half-brother who directed episodes of the Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling. Imagine how crazy those family reunions must’ve been. Best of all, though, Hargitay has the distinct honor of saying that she made her feature film debut in the silly 1985 creature feature Ghoulies. One look at the film’s poster, seen above, should explain that deserved pride.

Movie: Phenomena (1985)

We knew there was a underlying reason why the mere thought of Jennifer Connelly always fills us with those warm fuzzies inside. Not only is she gorgeous and talented, but the venerable Connelly is also an alumna of the Dario Argento School of Horror. And that, as any genre head will affirm, is no joke. In her first-ever starring role, a then-15-year-old Connelly took the lead in the Italian shock-master’s typically batshit, and nonetheless amazing, cinematic bloodbath, about a madwoman who’s slaughtering at an all-girls academy (mmm...naughty schoolgirls). In addition to her psychic powers, Connelly’s character (also named Jennifer) also has an unabashed affinity for bugs, which comes in handy when, in one of Phenomena’s (renamed Creepers here in the States) sickest moments, she calls upon a swarm of flies to bite chunks out of a dude’s flesh. She does lose cool points for one maneuver, though: When a lengthy making-of documentary popped up on Phenomena’s special U.K. Blu-ray release last year, Argento and most of the cast’s voices were heard giving anecdotes, but not Connelly’s. Don’t let us find out that she’s ashamed, now.

Movie: A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

The majority of women on this list would rightly hang their heads in shame over the movies in question here. Patricia Arquette, on the other hand, should be damn proud. Kicking her acting career off in the severely underrated sequel A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (Freddy Krueger’s finest hour after his debut one), the blonde bombshell turned in a strong performance that elevated one of the best horror movie sequels of all time. In this blast of a slasher flick, which was co-written by former Walking Dead showrunner Frank Darabont, Arquette plays one member of a group of young psych ward patients all connected by their having survived Freddy’s wrath—for the time being, that is (Spoiler Alert! Arquette’s character does make it into 1988’s A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master with her pulse still active.) Arquette, however, did not return; the role was recast, with actress Tuesday Knight stepping in for the save. Considering that Knight’s biggest look post-Dream Master has been a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance in Sex And The City 2, something tells us that Arquette made the right move back in 1988.

Movie: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)

With its cast of soon-to-be stars, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation is horror’s most unlikely launching pad for A-list Hollywood talent. And, no, we’re not talking about co-stars Robert Jacks or Tonie Perensky—yeah, we have no clue who they are, either. But we do know one thing both of those folks can say with their chests puffed up, though: “We once acted in a film alongside a future Oscar winner and The Lincoln Lawyer.” Playing the forgettable, oddly goofy sequel’s “final girl” heroine, a then-unknown Renée Zellweger fought for survival against a crazed, homicidal hillbilly with a robotic leg, played by none other than Matthew McConaughey, himself just a struggling actor at the time. Wonder if they reminisce about the scene in which McConaughey’s face gets chopped off by a plane’s wing at those Academy Award parties.