Meet The Lizzie Borden Story Cast and the Real-Life Characters They’re Playing in Netflix's Monster

Ella Beatty takes on the role of the notorious Lizzie Borden in Monster Season 4. According to Netflix, “After an extensive search, Murphy and Brennan chose Ella Beatty as the actor to bring Lizzie to life.” Notably, Beatty had previously worked with Murphy in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. She is clearly excited about her casting in anthology series, as she told Tudum, “I am so excited for viewers to experience our exploration of Lizzie Borden’s story and the questions that her life animates to this day. It has been a dream come true to investigate this complicated person’s psychology and to examine an American crime that feels almost mythic in proportion. This season gives us our first female Monster and delves into female rage and repression which I’ve found to feel strikingly relevant. I cannot wait to share it with the world.”

One particular character in the newly released trailer has left fans surprised and a little confused. Sarah Paulson is set to play Aileen Wuornos, the serial killer whose case was previously covered in Patty Jenkins’ Monster (2003) and Season 5 of American Horror Story. So, are Aileen and Lizzie related, or did they ever meet? That would be impossible, as Lizzie Borden’s parents were murdered in 1892, while Wuornos’ crimes took place between 1989 and 1990. Ella Beatty addressed that question in a recent interview with Tudum, explaining, “The show is exploring a legacy of female rage and reaction to the set of circumstances that they are presented with. I think there’s a connection [between Borden and Wuornos] that Ryan and Ian were interested in mapping and exploring.”

Vicky Krieps joins the cast as Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, the Bordens’ live-in maid. Maggie is the one with whom Lizzie is engaged in an “illicit affair” in the story. In the trailer, she is shown telling Lizzie, “Your parents, and the way they treat you… they deserve it.” That single line tells us a lot about the kind of dynamic they are going to have. In a Vanity Fair chat, Krieps talked about the role, “The way Ryan thought of it, she’s almost like a Mary Poppins that comes out of nowhere, who can be anyone from any time…. Ryan said, ‘It’s women-driven, feminist, lesbian, dirty, unapologetic.’ You immediately felt almost a psychedelic, Courtney Love kind of vibe in the whole thing.”

Charlie Hunnam, who starred in Monster Season 3 as Ed Gein, returns to tackle a different role. In the upcoming chapter, he plays Andrew Borden, the doomed father of Lizzie Borden. Andrew is a 69-year-old wealthy businessman living in Fall River, Massachusetts, whose murder, along with his wife’s, becomes one of the gruesome crimes in American history. Meanwhile, Hunnam is also known for his roles in projects like Sons of Anarchy, The Gentlemen, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Green Street Hooligans, Pacific Rim, and more.

Lizzie Borden’s stepmother, Abby Borden, is brought to life by Rebecca Hall. During a January interview with Vogue, Hall, while talking about starring in the Ryan Murphy's show, noted that she’s “entering her villain era” and said that it was a whale of a time for her. And does she even need an introduction? She made a name for herself in Hollywood with notable credits including The Beauty, The Listeners, The Town, Parade’s End, Iron Man 3, and other projects.

Billie Lourd, who is a Ryan Murphy universe regular just like Sarah Paulson, takes on the role of Emma, Lizzie’s older sister. Interestingly, Lourd made her acting debut on Murphy’s Scream Queens as a series regular. She then went on to star in six seasons of American Horror Story, as well as its spinoff, American Horror Stories. Her other credits include The Last Showgirl, Ticket to Paradise, Booksmart, and Adulthood.

Jessica Barden takes on the character of Nance O’Neil. Deadline describes Nance as a “stage actress whose close friendship with Lizzie created a rift between her and her sister Emma.” Viewers may know Barden from The End of the F**ing World*, Pieces of Her, Scarborough, Dune: Prophecy, Lambs of God, The New Romantic, and Jungleland.