Monster’s lead star explains why Aileen Wuornos was clumsily shoved into Lizzie Borden show

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is the name Netflix went with, but it should have actually been Monster: The Lizzie Borden and Aileen Wuornos and Elizabeth Báthory Story. 

Though most of the show is a complete and utter fabrication (as usual), elements of Lizzie Borden’s story were, in fact, true. Unfortunately, those elements don’t add up to eight gripping episodes, so Netflix added a few other killer women to the series. 

One was Countess Elizabeth Báthory, aptly named the Blood Countess for her alleged crimes against over 600 young women. 

The other was Aileen Wuornos, who killed seven men between 1989 and 1990. Lizzie Borden’s lack of shock factor was definitely the reason Aileen was included, but as it turns out, there was another reason too. 

Lizzie Borden’s actress explained why they included Aileen Wuornos

Credit: Netflix

Though I’ll never complain about seeing more of Sarah Paulson on my screen, the forced inclusion of Aileen Wuornos felt jarring. One minute we’re watching women in the 1800s talking about fainting couches, and the next a chain-smoking Sarah Paulson is having a bedtime story. 

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Speaking to Netflix, Lizzie Borden’s actress, Ella Beatty, explained why they chose to include a killer who was born decades after the axe murders of Abby and Andrew Borden. 

“The show is exploring a legacy of female rage and reaction to the set of circumstances that they are presented with,” she said. “I think there’s a connection (between Borden and Wuornos) that Ryan and Ian were interested in mapping and exploring.”

It also goes deeper than that, she argued, telling Tudum: “Every season of Monster has been an exercise in understanding the person’s psychology. Are they born or are they made? I knew from the beginning that Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan were really interested in exploring what brings a woman to the point of violence.”

So the only connection between the two women was that they were angry? Okay. 

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is streaming now. For all the latest Netflix news and drops, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Featured image credit: Netflix