Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story was released on September 17, 2026.
Distributed by Netflix.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story TV Series Review
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is a dark true-crime drama that puts a fictionalized spin on the infamous Borden murders of 1892.
Ella Beatty leads the series as Lizzie Borden, delivering a layered performance as the story explores her troubled family life, relationships and the events surrounding the murders.
Vicky Krieps and Sarah Paulson add memorable performances in their respective roles, while the series creates a moody period atmosphere across its eight episodes.
Although the drama offers compelling characters and striking visuals, it takes creative liberties with historical events.
Overall, it is a stylish and dramatic take on a notorious case.
CR Rating: 7/10.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Actors
Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden
DOB: April 8, 2000.
Bio: American actress born in Los Angeles, California.
She is the daughter of actors Warren Beatty and Annette Bening and grew up in a family closely connected to the entertainment industry.
Beatty trained at Juilliard and developed her acting career through stage and screen work.
Role: Lizzie Borden is the central character of the season.
She is portrayed as a young woman living within a wealthy but restrictive Victorian-era household in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Lizzie feels increasingly trapped by her father and stepmother and forms a close relationship with the family’s new maid, Bridget Sullivan.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting facts: Beatty is the first female lead of the Monster anthology.
She researched the historical case extensively before filming, including listening to true-crime podcasts to familiarize herself with the disputed facts surrounding Lizzie Borden.
Notable Works: Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, The Library, Act One.
Vicky Krieps as Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan / Countess Elizabeth Báthory
DOB: October 4, 1983.
Bio: Luxembourgish actress born in Luxembourg.
She began acting while attending the Conservatoire of Luxembourg and later studied at the Zurich University of the Arts from 2005 to 2009, gaining early experience on stage and in short films.
Role: Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan is the Borden family’s live-in maid and becomes one of the most important people in Lizzie’s life.
The Bordens dismissively call her Maggie, the name of their previous maid, but Bridget develops a close and increasingly intimate relationship with Lizzie.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting facts: Krieps is the granddaughter of Robert Krieps, a Luxembourgish politician and member of the wartime resistance.
Notable Works: Phantom Thread, Das Boot, Corsage, Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos
DOB: December 17, 1974.
Bio: American actress born in Tampa, Florida.
After her parents separated when she was young, she spent much of her childhood between New York and Maine before settling in New York City.
She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Role: Aileen Wuornos appears in the later-period storyline of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, which shifts nearly a century beyond the 1892 Borden case.
In the series, Wuornos is portrayed as a drifter and sex worker who becomes fascinated by Lizzie Borden and her story.
Episodes: 3.
Interesting facts: Paulson is a frequent collaborator of Ryan Murphy, having appeared in American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Ratched and other Murphy productions.
Notable Works: American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Ratched, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden
DOB: April 10, 1980.
Bio: English actor born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
He began his professional television career as a teenager before gaining wider recognition through British television.
Hunnam has also previously appeared in the Monster anthology, portraying Ed Gein in the third season.
Role: Andrew Borden is Lizzie’s father and one of the two central figures in the 1892 murder case.
Netflix’s version portrays Andrew as bitter and unkind following the death of Lizzie’s mother.
Episodes: 8.
Interesting facts: Hunnam previously played Ed Gein in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, making Andrew Borden his second role in the Monster anthology.
Notable Works: Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, The Gentlemen, Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden
DOB: May 3, 1982.
Bio: English actress, producer and director born in London, England.
She is the daughter of acclaimed British stage director Sir Peter Hall, founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and American opera singer Maria Ewing.
Role: Abby Borden is Andrew Borden’s second wife and Lizzie and Emma Borden’s stepmother.
In Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, she is portrayed as an uptight woman who is frustrated with the life she has inherited as Andrew’s second wife and frequently directs that frustration toward Lizzie.
Episodes: 7.
Interesting facts: Hall comes from a prominent theatre family.
Her father, Sir Peter Hall, founded the Royal Shakespeare Company, while her mother, Maria Ewing, was an internationally acclaimed opera singer.
Notable Works: Parade’s End, The Night House, Tales from the Loop, Resurrection.
Billie Lourd as Emma Borden
DOB: July 17, 1992.
Bio: American actress born in Los Angeles, California.
She is the only child of actress Carrie Fisher and talent agent Bryan Lourd, and the granddaughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher.
Role: Emma Borden is Lizzie’s older sister and one of the most important members of the Borden family.
Emma’s relationship with Lizzie develops throughout the story as the sisters deal with their difficult home environment and the consequences of the murders.
Episodes: 3.
Interesting facts: Lourd comes from one of Hollywood’s best-known entertainment families.
Her mother, Carrie Fisher, was famous for playing Princess Leia in Star Wars, while her grandmother, Debbie Reynolds, was an acclaimed actress and singer.
Notable Works: Scream Queens, American Horror Story, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Jessica Barden as Nance O’Neil
DOB: July 21, 1992.
Bio: English actress born in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England.
She began acting professionally as a child, making her film debut in Mrs. Ratcliffe’s Revolution in 2007 before appearing in British television productions.
Role: Nance O’Neil is a touring stage actress who enters Lizzie’s life after meeting her following a performance.
Their friendship becomes important during the period surrounding Lizzie’s trial.
Episodes: 4.
Interesting facts: Barden began working as a television actress while still young and left school at 15 to pursue acting.
Notable Works: The End of the F***ing World, Dune: Prophecy, Pieces of Her, Lambs of God.
Oliver Spenceman as Stephen
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Oliver Spenceman is an emerging actor whose professional screen career includes television appearances and supporting roles.
His work in the Monster anthology has given him recurring exposure across the series, including appearances in both the Ed Gein and Lizzie Borden seasons.
Role: Stephen is a young apprentice who works for Andrew Borden.
Unlike the major historical figures portrayed in the series, Stephen is a fictional character created for Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
Episodes: 6.
Interesting facts: Spenceman previously appeared in Monster: The Ed Gein Story as Young Tobe.
Notable Works: Monster: The Ed Gein Story, DAVE, Loot, Law & Order, Tiny Beautiful Things, Grossness of Closeness.
Joey Pollari as John Morse
DOB: April 9, 1994.
Bio: American actor, musician and director born in St. Paul, Minnesota.
He began acting after attending a scouting event in Minneapolis with his mother and later trained with Stagecoach Theatre Arts.
Role: John Morse is Lizzie and Emma Borden’s maternal uncle and the brother of their late mother, Sarah.
He visits the Borden family and becomes connected to the investigation following the murders.
Episodes: 5.
Interesting facts: Pollari also has a career in music, releasing his debut album About Men and the follow-up I’ll Be Romance in 2024.
Notable Works: American Crime, Love, Simon, SEAL Team, The Inbetweeners.
Scarlett DeMeo as Sarah Anthony Borden
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Scarlett DeMeo is an American actress whose television career includes guest and recurring appearances in contemporary series.
DeMeo has steadily developed her screen résumé through roles in drama and genre productions.
Role: Sarah Anthony Borden is Lizzie and Emma Borden’s biological mother and Andrew Borden’s first wife.
She is deceased by the main events of the series, with her death forming part of the Borden family’s history and helping establish the circumstances surrounding Andrew’s later marriage to Abby.
Episodes: 3.
Interesting facts: N/A.
Notable Works: Forever, Minx, Animal Kingdom, Legion.
More Actors
• Gracjela Kicaj as Ilona.
• Caterina Grosoli as Doryotta.
• Ember Ambrose as 8-Year-Old Emma.
• Aimee McGuire as Margaret.
FAQ – Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story TV Series
What is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story about?
The series dramatizes the story of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892. It explores her family life, relationships, the murders and the trial that followed.
Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story based on a true story?
Yes. It is inspired by the real-life Lizzie Borden case, although the series fictionalizes and dramatizes parts of the historical story.
Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story part of the Monster anthology?
Yes. It is the fourth installment of Netflix’s Monster anthology series.
How many episodes does Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story have?
The series has 8 episodes.
Where can I watch Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story?
The series is streaming on Netflix.
Conclusion
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is a dark and stylish true-crime drama that combines strong performances, family tension and historical mystery.
Its fictionalized approach makes the story dramatic and engaging, although viewers looking for strict historical accuracy should expect some creative changes.