The Lizzie Borden cast Netflix viewers are searching for is led by Ella Beatty, who plays the central role in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the fourth season of Netflix’s crime anthology series. The eight-episode season premiered on Netflix on September 17, 2026, bringing a new dramatized version of the notorious 1892 Borden case to the screen.
The new season comes from Monster creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. It places Beatty at the center of an ensemble that includes Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Vicky Krieps, Billie Lourd, Jessica Barden, Joey Pollari and Sarah Paulson.
Netflix has confirmed the principal cast and their characters. The series also gives several performers unusual roles within its historical drama, including Krieps, who plays both Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan and Elizabeth Báthory.
Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden
Ella Beatty leads Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story as Lizzie Borden, the historical figure at the center of the season.
For Beatty, the role represents her first major television lead. She previously appeared in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, performed on Broadway in Appropriate, and appeared in the film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
Netflix describes its version of Lizzie as a young heiress struggling against the expectations of her family. The story follows her life inside the Borden household and the events that eventually lead to the murders that made the case famous.
Beatty’s performance anchors the season because the narrative remains closely connected to Lizzie’s experiences, relationships and eventual trial.
The historical Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Borden, in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892. She was later acquitted at trial.
The Netflix production dramatizes that history rather than presenting itself as a documentary. Viewers should therefore distinguish the show’s fictionalized storytelling from the established historical record.
Vicky Krieps as Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan
Vicky Krieps plays Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, the Borden household’s maid.
The character has an important position within the series because the story places her close to Lizzie and the Borden family. Netflix describes Bridget as a housekeeper who introduces Lizzie to a different world and becomes closely connected to her.
The series uses the relationship between Lizzie and Bridget as one of its central dramatic elements. Their connection becomes an important part of the story as Lizzie struggles with the restrictions of her family and the expectations of 1890s society.
Krieps brings previous experience with period dramas to the role. Her screen credits include Phantom Thread, Old, Corsage and Bergman Island.
She also appeared in the previous season of Monster, The Ed Gein Story. Her return to the anthology gives the new season a connection to the franchise’s immediately preceding installment.
Krieps has another unusual role in the new season. She also portrays Elizabeth Báthory in fantasy sequences.
That casting choice allows the season to move beyond the Borden household and connect Lizzie’s story with another notorious historical figure.
Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden
Charlie Hunnam portrays Andrew Borden, Lizzie’s father.
Andrew is one of the most important characters in the Borden household. The series presents him as a stern and difficult father whose relationship with Lizzie contributes to the tension inside the family.
Netflix’s character description portrays Andrew as an undertaker who takes particular pride in his collection of sharpened axes. That detail becomes especially significant because of the weapon associated with the murders at the center of the story.
Hunnam is also familiar to Monster viewers. He previously played Ed Gein in the third season of the anthology.
His return means Hunnam becomes one of the actors connected to more than one season of the series. His performance as Andrew Borden also places him opposite Beatty in the show’s central family conflict.
Hunnam’s previous major television role as Jax Teller in Sons of Anarchy remains one of his best-known performances. His film work includes Pacific Rim, The Lost City of Z, Crimson Peak and The Gentlemen.
Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden
Rebecca Hall plays Abby Borden, Lizzie’s stepmother.
Abby occupies a complicated position inside the Borden household. Netflix’s character material describes her as frustrated with the life she has inherited as Andrew’s second wife.
Her relationship with Lizzie becomes another source of tension within the family. Hall’s performance therefore adds a second major adult presence opposite Beatty’s Lizzie.
Hall has appeared in a wide range of films and television productions, including The Prestige, The Town, Christine, Passing and The Night House.
Her casting is particularly significant for the season because Abby Borden is one of the two historical murder victims at the center of the case.
The series dramatizes the relationship between Abby and Lizzie while building toward the events that ultimately placed Lizzie on trial.
Billie Lourd as Emma Borden
Billie Lourd portrays Emma Borden, Lizzie’s older sister.
Emma is an important member of the Borden family and provides another perspective on Lizzie’s increasingly difficult relationship with the household.
Netflix describes Emma as someone who finds it easier to fit into her parents’ world. Her relationship with Lizzie is not always comfortable, despite the sisters sharing a strong-willed personality.
The role gives Lourd a direct connection to the central family story.
Lourd is well known for her work in Scream Queens and American Horror Story. She also appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Booksmart and The Last Showgirl.
Her presence adds another recognizable performer to the family ensemble surrounding Beatty.
Jessica Barden as Nance O’Neil
Jessica Barden plays Nance O’Neil, a touring stage actress who becomes connected to Lizzie.
Unlike the core Borden family members, Nance enters the story from outside the household. Netflix describes her as an actress who meets Lizzie after a performance and becomes involved in her life.
Nance also assists Lizzie with presenting herself to the public during the trial.
That makes the character relevant to the show’s depiction of Lizzie’s public image as the murder case attracts widespread attention.
Barden has built an international screen career through projects including The Lobster, Hanna, The End of the F**ing World* and Dune: Prophecy.
Her role in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story gives her a period-drama setting while placing her alongside the show’s central character.
Joey Pollari as John Morse
Joey Pollari plays John Morse, Lizzie’s uncle.
John Morse is the brother of Lizzie’s late mother. His arrival brings another possible suspect into the story surrounding the Borden household.
Netflix describes Morse as someone who enters the family’s lives looking for a quick paycheck but briefly becomes a murder suspect.
That storyline allows the series to widen its focus beyond Lizzie and the immediate family.
Pollari’s previous credits include American Crime, SEAL Team, Love, Simon and The Beauty.
His role is particularly relevant to viewers interested in how the Netflix production builds its murder mystery around several people connected to the Borden family.
Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos
Sarah Paulson plays Aileen Wuornos, a figure from a much later period of American criminal history.
Her appearance is one of the season’s most distinctive casting choices because Wuornos lived approximately a century after the Borden murders.
Netflix explains that the season moves beyond the original 1890s story and follows the continuing cultural impact of Lizzie Borden. In the show’s narrative, Wuornos becomes fascinated by the Borden story and stays at Lizzie’s former home, which has become a bed and breakfast.
Paulson is a longtime Ryan Murphy collaborator. Her credits include American Horror Story, Ratched, Mrs. America, Impeachment: American Crime Story and Bird Box.
The role also gives the season a connection between two different periods in American true-crime history.
The main Netflix cast at a glance
| Actor | Character | Role in the story |
|---|---|---|
| Ella Beatty | Lizzie Borden | Central character |
| Vicky Krieps | Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan / Elizabeth Báthory | Lizzie’s housekeeper and a second historical role |
| Charlie Hunnam | Andrew Borden | Lizzie’s father |
| Rebecca Hall | Abby Borden | Lizzie’s stepmother |
| Billie Lourd | Emma Borden | Lizzie’s older sister |
| Jessica Barden | Nance O’Neil | Actress and Lizzie’s friend |
| Joey Pollari | John Morse | Lizzie’s uncle |
| Sarah Paulson | Aileen Wuornos | Later historical figure connected to Lizzie’s legacy |
Netflix’s official cast listing identifies Beatty, Krieps, Hunnam, Hall, Lourd, Barden, Pollari and Paulson among the principal performers for the season.
Why Ella Beatty is at the center of the cast
Although the ensemble contains several established names, Ella Beatty remains the defining performer in the new season.
She carries the title character throughout the eight-episode story. Netflix’s casting information says Murphy and Brennan conducted an extensive search before selecting Beatty.
Her previous screen work was considerably smaller than that of several members of the ensemble. The Lizzie role therefore represents a major new stage in her acting career.
Beatty also has a connection to the theater. Her Broadway appearance in Appropriate came before her leading role in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
Her performance is especially important because the series does not simply reproduce courtroom events. It spends substantial time establishing Lizzie’s family environment and relationships before the murders.
That approach makes the actor playing Lizzie central to nearly every major part of the story.
How the cast fits the historical setting
The ensemble is built around the people connected to Lizzie Borden and the household where the murders occurred.
Andrew Borden and Abby Borden represent Lizzie’s immediate family. Emma Borden provides the sibling relationship. Bridget Sullivan gives the story a perspective from inside the household but outside the family itself.
John Morse adds another relative to the narrative, while Nance O’Neil represents a connection between Lizzie and the wider world beyond Fall River.
Sarah Paulson’s role operates differently. Aileen Wuornos belongs to a later historical period and appears as part of the show’s exploration of Lizzie Borden’s continuing cultural influence.
The combination allows the season to move between the original case and the way its story remained part of American popular culture.
Is the Netflix series based on the real Lizzie Borden?
Yes. Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is based on the historical Lizzie Borden case.
Lizzie Borden became nationally known after her father and stepmother were killed in Fall River, Massachusetts, on August 4, 1892.
She was accused of the murders and later faced trial. The jury acquitted her.
The Netflix series uses that historical case as its foundation, but it is a scripted drama. Some relationships, conversations and narrative developments are presented for dramatic storytelling rather than as established historical facts.
That distinction matters when considering the cast and their characters.
The actors portray dramatized versions of historical people. Their performances should not be treated as documentary recreations of every event shown on screen.
How the new season differs from earlier Lizzie Borden productions
Netflix’s 2026 production is not the first screen adaptation of the Lizzie Borden case.
Christina Ricci previously played Lizzie Borden in the 2014 television film Lizzie Borden Took an Ax. That production also featured Clea DuVall as Emma Borden and Billy Campbell as Andrew Jennings.
The film was followed by The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, a 2015 television series starring Ricci.
Those earlier productions are separate from Netflix’s new Monster season. The 2026 project features an entirely different principal cast, led by Ella Beatty.
Netflix currently lists Lizzie Borden Took an Ax and The Lizzie Borden Chronicles in its catalog pages, although availability can vary by country and title.
For viewers specifically searching for the current Netflix production, the relevant title is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
What viewers can expect from the cast
The cast combines performers with extensive film and television careers and actors receiving major opportunities in new roles.
Beatty carries the central performance, while Hunnam and Hall form the key parental figures in the Borden household. Lourd plays Emma, giving the story its central sibling relationship.
Krieps has one of the more demanding assignments because she portrays Bridget Sullivan and also appears as Elizabeth Báthory.
Barden’s Nance O’Neil provides a connection to the theatrical world, while Pollari’s John Morse becomes part of the show’s circle of suspects.
Paulson’s Aileen Wuornos storyline expands the narrative beyond the original 1892 case.
Together, these performances create the cast structure for Netflix’s fourth Monster season.
Netflix release status for Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
The new season is now available on Netflix in the United States following its September 17, 2026 premiere.
Netflix lists the production as an eight-episode, TV-MA drama. The platform classifies it within several categories, including crime television, period drama, horror and social-issue drama.
The official Netflix listing identifies Ella Beatty, Vicky Krieps and Charlie Hunnam among the starring performers and lists Rebecca Hall, Jessica Barden, Joey Pollari, Billie Lourd and Sarah Paulson in the cast.
That makes the current Netflix release distinct from older Lizzie Borden films and television adaptations.
For viewers searching specifically for the current Lizzie Borden cast Netflix lineup, Ella Beatty is the central name, with Krieps, Hunnam, Hall, Lourd, Barden, Pollari and Paulson completing the principal ensemble.
Final cast picture
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story gives Netflix’s long-running Monster anthology a new cast built around one of America’s most recognizable historical murder cases.
Ella Beatty takes the lead as Lizzie Borden, while Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Billie Lourd, Jessica Barden, Joey Pollari and Sarah Paulson fill out the principal lineup.
The combination of historical characters and later figures gives the season a broad timeline while keeping Lizzie at the center.
For viewers looking for the latest confirmed cast information, the Netflix production has now moved from pre-release anticipation to its full streaming debut.
What do you think of the cast of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay updated on the latest Netflix developments.