The history of horror is quite rich, and as much as final girls are always worth discussing, scream queens also have their place in the genre. Throughout the decades, there have been quite many prominent scream queens. What’s a scream queen? A scream queen is an actress who is notable and has prominence in the horror genre. Oftentimes, they’ve built their careers off starring in horror and boldly claiming the title.
Some examples of older scream queens include Jamie Lee Curtis, Heather Langenkamp, Linnea Quigley, Marilyn Burns, Barbara Crampton, Danielle Harris, Shawnee Smith, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and more. The list goes on for each decade, and we’re here to talk about more modern scream queens. We’re talking about some people who have hit the horror scene in the 2010s-2020s and have captivated audiences. After all, we all scream for scream queens. Here are some of the best scream queens that have come out in the past 15 years (so far).
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Anya Taylor-Joy
Horror media she’s best known for: The Witch
After she vows to live deliciously and be free in The Witch, Anya Taylor-Joy has continued to draw people in with her performances in horror films. Her breakout role in The Witch gave her more opportunities to shine in the genre and further prove how she can play various characters, from characters that start meekly like Thomasin in The Witch to a crafty sex worker like Margot in The Menu. Taylor-Joy owns the room when she’s in a scene and delivers very natural performances. Cheers to her and any upcoming horror films she’s planning to star in.
Samara Weaving
Horror media she’s best known for: Ready or Not
With a scream like a banshee and a delightful presence, Samara Weaving has unapologetically become one of the most enticing scream queens. After a brief television role in Ash vs Evil Dead, Weaving’s contribution to horror grew, and she’s become a sought-after talent for her acting chops. She’s appeared in numerous horror films, with one of her most popular roles being Grace LeDomas in the beloved Ready or Not and her most recent being Azrael. Weaving also has the honor of being one of the few allowed to be the opening kill in a Scream film (Scream VI). The likable energy she brings to her roles continues to cement why she’s so beloved as a scream queen.
Mia Goth
Horror media she’s best known for: X trilogy
A wide-eyed revelation is one of the best ways to describe Mia Goth as an actress. Despite not fully understanding the label of ‘scream queen,’ Goth continues to embrace her love from the horror community. Her roles throughout the genre, particularly the X trilogy, have been driven by her ability to immerse herself into the characters she’s playing. Goth’s commitment to character work and dynamic performances make her a memorable talent. After playing three separate characters in the X trilogy, she more than earned her status as a scream queen.
Jenna Ortega
Horror media she’s best known for: Scream (2022) or Wednesday
Full of wit and ambition, Jenna Ortega is a tremendous young talent across the board. But her contributions to horror have already earned her the scream queen title. The genre is still bulking up as far as scream queens of color, so Ortega has helped pave the way. Her ability to deliver mature and memorable performances is nothing short of masterful. Whether it’s her restrained character in X, Tara Carpenter in Scream (2022), and Scream VI or her other horror performances, Ortega is a talent to watch out for.
Melissa Barrera
Horror media she’s most known for: Scream (2022) or Scream VI
The rise of Melissa Barrera has been nothing short of remarkable to witness. After doubts from hateful Scream fans, Barrera proved everyone wrong by stealing the show in Scream VI. Despite the treatment she’s experienced for being unwavering in what she stands for, Barrera continues to deliver performance-wise, be a fantastic Latinx representation, and land roles she enjoys. Barrera captures the spirit of what it means to be an icon in the horror genre. Whether facing off against serial killers, vampires, or something else entirely, she’s proven herself as a scream queen.
Lauren LaVera
Horror media she’s most known for: Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3
It’s magical when a scream queen shows up practically out of nowhere. Lauren LaVera is the epitome of a fast-rising star in the horror genre. Instead of being overshadowed by Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) in Terrifier 2 and 3, her character is equally integral to the growing franchise. Her likability as an actor and her ability to go to extreme places in her character portrayals make her a talent you want to remember. LaVera’s trajectory as a scream queen is only upwards from here on out.
Emma Roberts
Horror media she’s most known for: American Horror Story franchise
Adding depth to bitchy or vapid characters is something that Emma Roberts has perfected quite a bit for several years. Roberts is mainly known for her roles throughout American Horror Story, The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Scream Queens, and a brief role in The Hunt. She brings confidence to her performances, which makes her endearing, even when her character might not be entirely likable. Scream queens like her help make for entertaining media, and there’s always room for that in the horror genre. Wherever she pops up next, as far as horror goes, she’s sure to bring her charm.
Kathryn Newton
Horror media she’s most known for: Freaky or Lisa Frankenstein
Typically known for playing spunky or funny characters, Kathryn Newton‘s charm as an actress makes her so fun to watch in horror. Her growth from playing Claire Novak on Supernatural to her role in Abigail is incredibly evident. Newton embraces the genre and delivers a range of performances, like her role in Freaky, where she plays a serial killer in the body of a teenage girl, which further drives it home that she has the chops. Not to mention her comedic and scene-stealing role in Abigail. There’s nothing Newton can’t do with the right roles, and she’s absolutely a stellar scream queen.
Sadie Sink
Horror media she’s most known for: Stranger Things
Despite not having as wide of a horror filmography or TV roles, Sadie Sink is a force to be reckoned with. Her performance as Max in Stranger Things helped to put her on the map. From there, she earned her stripes as a young scream queen. Her role in Fear Street Part Two: 1978 as Ziggy Berman is one of her other notable horror roles. Sink’s charisma and ability to portray strong girls who aren’t afraid to speak their minds is delightful. The older she gets, the more she’ll reach peak scream queen status.
Maika Monroe
Horror media she’s most known for: Longlegs
After her role in It Follows, which is widely considered a horror classic for the modern age, Maika Monroe earned her stamp as a certified scream queen. Since then, she has starred in numerous horror films and continues to grip audiences. Monroe’s recent performance in Longlegs is a significant highlight in the critically acclaimed horror hit. Her authentic acting style and evident grasp of the genre make what she does onscreen crystal clear. And for all of her horror roles, she more than earns recognition as one of the best scream queens today.
The horror genre wouldn’t be the same without its scream queens and final girls. While celebrating the ones who came before is good, so is celebrating the modern women who have a presence in horror.
