5 actresses who are worthy of a Scream Queen crown

Jamie Lee Curtis, Barbara Crampton, Linnea Quigley, Heather Langenkamp, Dee Wallace…all of these lovely ladies are often referred to as Scream Queens. Each of them has appeared in several horror movies, and are respected within the genre.

But the number of designated Scream Queens doesn’t have to be finite. As long as horror movies continue to flourish, there will always be actresses who are ready, willing and able to step up to the stage and claim a crown.

Here are five women who are absolutely worthy of claiming the Scream Queen title:

Jenna Ortega – Jenna Ortega began acting when she was only nine years old. She has acted in all sorts of film genres, including comedies, dramas, thrillers, and, of course, horror. Ortega’s horror films include Scream, Scream VI, X, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, Studio 666, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Insidious: Chapter 2, American Carnage, You, and Netflix’s Wednesday series.

What makes Ortega so great for horror films is, of course, her acting ability. But she also projects an aura of innocence and vulnerability, and she’s just so damned likeable. Even as a teen in You and The Babysitter: Killer Queen, I remember instantly being drawn to her character…and that’s important in a horror film. If you don’t feel a connection with a character, you don’t really care if they live or die.

Marin Ireland – Ireland is one of those actors whose name you might not immediately recognize; but as soon as you see her face, you realize you DO know who she is. She has appeared in films and series such as: The Dark and the Wicked, Birth/Rebirth, The Boogeyman, The Killing, The Following, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, and the upcoming third season of The Terror: Devil in Silver.

In addition to her on-camera work, Ireland is a playwright and an accomplished stage actress who has even received a Tony nomination. Her biggest strength in the realm of horror is her relatability, and her ability to show you what she is feeling through her facial expressions.

I don’t know that I have ever seen a more realistic portrayal of sheer horror than what Ireland showed us in Shudder’s The Dark and the Wicked. I can’t wait to see what she will bring to The Terror.

Mia Goth – No modern Scream Queen list would be complete without the inclusion of Mia Goth. With her unique looks and her ability to portray the villain, the ingenue, or anything in between, she was a natural for horror films from the start.

Her horror/thriller films include A Cure For Wellness, Suspiria, X, Pearl, MaXXXine, Infinity Pool, and Netflix’s Frankenstein. In Frankenstein, Goth brought both a sweetness and strength to the character of Elizabeth, which in turn brought humanity to the monster character.

Even people who didn’t care for Pearl (the second film in the X trilogy) praised Goth’s iconic performance as the title character. She should have won an award for that final, uncomfortably long smiling scene at the end!

Samara Weaving – Weaving is another actor who is effective in different genres of film. Comedy, drama, thriller, sci-fi, horror…she’s done it all (and has done it all well).

The Netflix original film The Babysitter is one of my favorite horror/comedies, and the chemistry Weaving and Judah Lewis share elevates it. As the title character Bee, she makes you see exactly why 12-year-old Cole has a crush on her.

Weaving has appeared in Ash vs Evil, Mayhem, The Babysitter, Ready or Not, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Scream 6, Azreal, and Borderline. She possesses a truly unique, warbly scream that has earned her the Scream Queen crown.

Sarah Michelle Gellar – We couldn’t end this list without including Gellar, who will forever be known as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She started out as a child actress, gained fame with Buffy, filmed some horror movies and thrillers, laid somewhat low for a while, then made a comeback.

In addition to Buffy, Gellar has appeared in I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream 2, Possession, The Grudge, Dexter: Original Sin, Wolf Pack, The Grudge, and most recently, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.

Gellar was working on a proposed series for Hulu called Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, but those plans were recently crushed (along with fans’ hopes) when Hulu decided to not move forward with the series.

Buffy was a badass for sure, and everything Gellar does is badass as well. Here’s hoping she and Chloe Zhao will be able to find a new home for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel.

So, tell us: Are there any modern day Scream Queens not on this list that you would like to see recognized?

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