12 Famous Actresses Who Got Their Start in Horror Movies

Horror movies—from haunted houses to slasher films and supernatural thrillers—have historically been a testing ground for emerging talent. While their primary goal is to scare viewers, these films have also been instrumental in launching the careers of many Hollywood stars. Before they achieved award wins, starred in major franchises, or became household names, these actresses often faced masked killers, ghosts, and monsters in horror roles. Below are 12 actresses who began their careers in horror movies.

Renée Zellweger

Long before becoming known for romantic comedies, Renée Zellweger got one of her first leading roles in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation. The horror sequel introduced her as a scream queen years before she went on to win an Oscar and star in hit films like Bridget Jones’s Diary, Chicago, and Judy, as reported by Collider.

Jennifer Aniston

Before Friends turned her into a household name, Jennifer Aniston made her film debut as the lead in the 1993 horror movie Leprechaun. Released a year before the hit sitcom premiered, the film cast Aniston as a teenager battling the mischievous killer, according to MovieWeb. While the movie became a cult classic, it also gave audiences an early glimpse of the charm and screen presence that would soon make her one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Naomi Watts

Before becoming an Oscar-nominated actress, Naomi Watts appeared in the supernatural thriller The Shaft. She played journalist Jennifer Evans in the horror film, according to FilmAffinity. While the movie wasn’t a major hit, it showcased Watts in one of her early Hollywood roles before she broke through with performances in films like Mulholland Drive and horror classic, The Ring, per IMDb.

Jaimie Alexander

Before joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jaimie Alexander braved the scare-filled Rest Stop, playing a lone traveler confronted with nightmares on a deserted highway. She portrayed Nicole Carrow in the horror film before landing her breakout role as Lady Sif in the Thor movies, as reported by IMDb.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes appeared in the horror sequel Urban Legends: Final Cut. She played Vanessa Valdeon, a role that was expanded to make her character a potential red herring in the film’s string of mysterious murders. The movie gave Mendes one of her earliest chances to shine before she went on to star in hits like Training Day, Hitch, and The Place Beyond the Pines, according to IMDb.

Abigail Breslin

Child star Abigail Breslin made her film debut in M. Night Shyamalan’s sci-fi horror movie Signs. She played Bo Hess, the young daughter of Mel Gibson‘s character, in the alien thriller. The performance earned Breslin a nomination for a Young Artist Award and marked the beginning of a successful acting career, according to The Movie Database.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore landed her first leading role in the sci-fi horror film Parasite. She played a teenager caught in a dystopian world threatened by deadly parasites, giving audiences an early look at her screen presence. The low-budget horror movie marked the beginning of Moore’s rise to stardom, according to Collider.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis made her film debut as Laurie Strode in Halloween, the role that launched her career and established her as one of horror’s most iconic scream queens. She would go on to reprise the character in several Halloween films, per IMDb.

Amy Adams

Amy Adams appeared in the horror-comedy Psycho Beach Party. The cult film, set on Malibu Beach, spoofs classic beach movies, psychological thrillers, and slasher films, according to Surgeons of Horror. It was one of Adams’ earliest screen roles, showcasing her versatility long before she became known for acclaimed dramas and blockbuster hits.

Rooney Mara

Before earning acclaim for dramatic bit roles, Rooney Mara made her screen debut in the slasher film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary. The horror movie marked her first on-screen appearance before she went on to star in acclaimed films like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Carol, according to IMDb.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron made her film debut in Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest. The horror movie marked the beginning of her acting career before she went on to star in acclaimed films like Monster, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Bombshell, per IMDb.

Chloë Grace Moretz

Before becoming an action star and award-winning actress, Chloë Grace Moretz starred in The Amityville Horror. The supernatural thriller marked one of her first major film roles and helped launch a career that would later include films like Kick-Ass, Let Me In, and Carrie, according to IMDb.