Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Cast: Ella Beatty, Rebecca Hall, Aileen Wuornos & More Netflix has brought one of America’s most famous unsolved murder mysteries back into the spotlight with Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story . The fourth installment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s Monster anthology premiered on September 17, 2026 , and the complete eight-episode season is now streaming on Netflix. The series stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden , alongside Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Billie Lourd, Jessica Barden and Sarah Paulson. But the cast is only part of the reason viewers are searching for the show. People are also asking: Who was the real Lizzie Borden? Did she actually kill her parents? What happened to the Lizzie Borden house? Who is Aileen Wuornos in the Netflix series? And how much of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is actually true? Here is everything you need to know. Who Plays Lizzie Borden in Monster? Ella Beatty plays Lizzie Borden , the central ch...
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Cast: Ella Beatty, Rebecca Hall, Aileen Wuornos & More
Netflix has brought one of America’s most famous unsolved murder mysteries back into the spotlight with Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
The fourth installment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s Monster anthology premiered on September 17, 2026, and the complete eight-episode season is now streaming on Netflix. The series stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, alongside Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Billie Lourd, Jessica Barden and Sarah Paulson.
But the cast is only part of the reason viewers are searching for the show.
People are also asking: Who was the real Lizzie Borden? Did she actually kill her parents? What happened to the Lizzie Borden house? Who is Aileen Wuornos in the Netflix series? And how much of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is actually true?
Here is everything you need to know.
Who Plays Lizzie Borden in Monster?
Ella Beatty plays Lizzie Borden, the central character in Netflix’s new season.
The role marks a major departure from the previous Monster seasons because this installment puts a woman at the center of the anthology’s story.
The real Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892.
Netflix’s version dramatizes the events surrounding the case while mixing documented historical details with fictionalized storytelling. Netflix’s own behind-the-scenes material describes the series as a highly dramatized interpretation rather than a documentary reconstruction.
That distinction is important when watching the show.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Cast
Here is the main Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story cast and the real-life figures they portray.
Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden
Ella Beatty leads the series as Lizzie Borden.
The character is portrayed as a young woman trapped inside a restrictive Victorian household before becoming the center of one of America's most notorious murder cases.
Beatty reportedly researched the historical case extensively before taking on the role, while emphasizing that her performance was based on the fictionalized version of Lizzie created for the series.
Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden
Charlie Hunnam plays Andrew Borden, Lizzie's father.
Andrew was one of the two people found murdered inside the Borden family home in 1892.
Hunnam is already familiar to Monster viewers after playing Ed Gein in the previous installment of the anthology. Radio Times identifies his character as Lizzie's wealthy father and describes the series' portrayal of the strained family relationships surrounding him.
Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden
Rebecca Hall plays Abby Borden, Lizzie's stepmother.
Abby was the second victim in the 1892 murders.
The relationship between Lizzie and Abby becomes one of the central tensions in Netflix's dramatized version of the story.
Vicky Krieps as Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan
Vicky Krieps plays Bridget Sullivan, commonly called Maggie.
The real Bridget Sullivan worked as a maid for the Borden family.
The Netflix series gives her a much larger dramatic role, including a close relationship with Lizzie. That relationship is part of the show's fictionalized interpretation rather than an established historical fact.
Billie Lourd as Emma Borden
Billie Lourd plays Emma Borden, Lizzie's older sister.
Emma and Lizzie were close for years after the trial, but their relationship eventually broke down.
The sisters' later falling-out is also an important part of the broader Lizzie Borden story.
Jessica Barden as Nance O’Neil
Jessica Barden plays actress Nance O’Neil.
This is one of the show's more intriguing real-life connections.
Nance O'Neil really did become friends with Lizzie Borden—but Netflix's dramatization changes the timing and role of that relationship.
According to Netflix's true-story breakdown, their friendship began in 1904, more than a decade after Lizzie's acquittal. So the show's depiction of Nance helping Lizzie through the murder trial is a fictionalized change.
Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos
Yes—Aileen Wuornos is part of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
Sarah Paulson portrays Wuornos, the real-life American serial killer whose story was previously explored in popular true-crime media.
The connection between Wuornos and Lizzie Borden is one of the season's more unusual storytelling choices.
Netflix explains that the series uses Wuornos to explore a broader theme involving the idea of female violence and the legacy of women who became notorious killers. However, Netflix also notes that there is no evidence the real Aileen Wuornos was fixated on the Borden murders.
That distinction is worth remembering because the Netflix storyline is not the same thing as the documented historical record.
What Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story About?
At its center, the series examines the life of Lizzie Borden, the woman accused of killing her father and stepmother in 1892.
But rather than presenting the story simply as a murder mystery, the season explores Lizzie's relationships, Victorian-era social expectations, family tensions and the question of whether the woman accused by prosecutors was actually responsible.
Netflix describes the series as the story of a woman living inside a restrictive Victorian household whose life changes dramatically before the murders.
That gives the show two overlapping storylines:
- The historical murder investigation
- The psychological and social world surrounding Lizzie
And that's where the line between fact and fiction becomes especially important.
Did Lizzie Borden Really Kill Her Parents?
We don't know for certain.
Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her father and stepmother, but she was acquitted at trial in 1893.
That means there was no criminal conviction establishing that she committed the murders.
Netflix's own historical explainer notes that evidence has led some people to believe Lizzie was responsible, while alternative suspects have also been proposed over the years.
The uncertainty surrounding the case is one of the reasons the Lizzie Borden story has remained famous for more than a century.
What Happened to Andrew and Abby Borden?
Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered at their Fall River home in 1892.
The famous nursery rhyme associated with the case dramatically exaggerates the number of blows.
According to Netflix's historical breakdown, Abby was struck 19 times, while Andrew was struck 11 times—not the 40 and 41 blows suggested by the famous rhyme.
The gruesome details helped turn the case into one of America's most notorious murder stories.
Was Lizzie Borden Found Guilty?
No. Lizzie Borden was acquitted in 1893.
Her trial became a major public spectacle, and alternative suspects were discussed both during and after the investigation.
But none of those alternative theories resulted in a definitive answer establishing who actually committed the murders.
That unresolved question is still central to the public fascination with Lizzie Borden.
What Is the Lizzie Borden House?
The Lizzie Borden House is the Fall River, Massachusetts, property associated with the 1892 murders.
The property has survived as one of the most recognizable physical locations connected to the case.
After the murders and trial, the house passed through different owners and eventually became a tourist destination. Today, it operates as a bed-and-breakfast and is associated with tours and the continuing fascination surrounding the Borden case.
That renewed interest has also made “Lizzie Borden house” one of the natural searches surrounding the Netflix series.
Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story a True Story?
It's based on a true historical case, but it is not a documentary.
The murders, trial, Lizzie Borden, Andrew Borden, Abby Borden and several other historical figures are real.
However, Netflix has dramatized portions of the story and created or changed elements for the television narrative.
For example, the relationship between Lizzie and Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan is dramatically expanded, while the series also changes the role and timing of Nance O'Neil's involvement. Netflix explicitly identifies these differences in its true-story explainer.
So viewers should treat Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story as historical drama rather than a precise recreation of every event.
Why Is Aileen Wuornos in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story?
This is probably one of the biggest questions viewers have after seeing Aileen Wuornos listed in the cast.
Sarah Paulson plays Wuornos in the new season.
Wuornos lived nearly a century after Lizzie Borden, so the two women obviously did not belong to the same historical period.
Instead, the series uses Wuornos as part of a broader thematic connection between women who became notorious for violence.
Netflix says the season explores a concept involving the legacy of “female rage” and the circumstances surrounding women who became killers. But there is no historical evidence that the real Wuornos was obsessed with the Lizzie Borden case, so viewers should not interpret their connection in the show as a documented historical relationship.
Who Was Nance O’Neil?
Nance O’Neil was an actress who became associated with Lizzie Borden later in Lizzie's life.
Jessica Barden plays O'Neil in the Netflix series.
The real friendship began in 1904, according to Netflix's historical research—years after Lizzie's 1893 acquittal.
The show moves some of that relationship into the trial storyline for dramatic purposes, meaning the Netflix version should not be treated as a literal account of what happened.
How Many Episodes Does Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Have?
The new season has 8 episodes.
All eight episodes are available to stream on Netflix following the September 17, 2026 premiere.
That means viewers don't have to wait weekly to discover how the season's story develops.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Release Date
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story premiered on September 17, 2026, on Netflix.
It is the fourth installment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Monster anthology.
Netflix describes this installment as the anthology's first season centered on a female historical figure.
Monster Lizzie Borden Cast: Full List
For a quick reference, here is the main cast:
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Ella Beatty | Lizzie Borden |
| Charlie Hunnam | Andrew Borden |
| Rebecca Hall | Abby Borden |
| Vicky Krieps | Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan |
| Billie Lourd | Emma Borden |
| Jessica Barden | Nance O’Neil |
| Joey Pollari | John Morse |
| Sarah Paulson | Aileen Wuornos |
| Oliver Spenceman | Stephen |
The core cast list is confirmed by Netflix and current cast guides.
Is Lizzie Borden the Same as “Lizzy Borden”?
You'll sometimes see the name written as “Lizzy Borden” online.
However, the historical figure and Netflix series officially use Lizzie Borden.
So if you're searching for the Netflix show, cast or historical case, “Lizzie Borden” is the spelling used by Netflix.
Why Is Lizzie Borden Trending Again?
The case itself is more than 130 years old, but Netflix has introduced it to a completely new audience.
The combination is pretty obvious:
A famous unsolved murder case + Ryan Murphy's Monster anthology + a new lead actress + a major Netflix release.
The new season also gives viewers plenty of additional search questions, including:
- Who plays Lizzie Borden?
- Who is Aileen Wuornos?
- Who plays Nance O'Neil?
- Who is Bridget Sullivan?
- Is the Lizzie Borden story true?
- Did Lizzie Borden really kill her parents?
- Where is the Lizzie Borden house?
- Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story based on a true story?
That's why the cast + true story + Netflix combination is particularly useful for readers discovering the show right now.
Final Verdict: Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Worth Watching?
If you're interested in true crime, historical mysteries and Netflix's Monster anthology, the Lizzie Borden season has plenty to unpack.
But the most important thing to remember is that the show is a dramatization.
Lizzie Borden was accused of killing Andrew and Abby Borden, she was tried in 1893, and she was acquitted. What actually happened inside the Borden home remains a subject of debate more than a century later.
That uncertainty is exactly what makes the story so enduring—and why Netflix has found a new audience for it in 2026.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is now streaming on Netflix with all eight episodes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Lizzie Borden in Monster?
Ella Beatty plays Lizzie Borden in Netflix's Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
Who plays Aileen Wuornos in Monster?
Sarah Paulson plays Aileen Wuornos.
Who plays Nance O’Neil?
Jessica Barden plays Nance O'Neil.
Who plays Bridget Sullivan?
Vicky Krieps plays Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan.
Who plays Abby Borden?
Rebecca Hall plays Abby Borden.
Did Lizzie Borden kill her parents?
There is no definitive historical answer. Lizzie was accused and tried, but she was acquitted in 1893.
Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story based on a true story?
Yes, it is based on the real Lizzie Borden case, but Netflix's series fictionalizes and dramatizes parts of the historical story.
How many episodes are in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story?
There are 8 episodes, all available on Netflix.
When did Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story come out?
The season premiered on September 17, 2026.
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