The Most Famous Scream Queens in the History of Horror

What’s the one thing almost all horror movies have in common? Let me give you a hint: it involves an actress and a loud, high-pitched, blood-freezing sound leaving her mouth. Screams are an important part of every horror production, no matter if it’s a movie, a TV show, or even a casual game like a slot machine. Most casual games at the Royal Vegas Casino inspired by the age-old horror genre involve at least one female character and a scream. Immortal Romance, one of the most played gothic slots at the Royal Vegas, involves not one, but two female leads – and only one of them is a vampire. Alaxe in Zombieland, another popular Royal Vegas slot, is the weirdest – and “screamiest” – slot machine ever, inspired by Alice’s adventures in Wonderland.

These actresses, usually playing “damsels in distress”, are made famous by the sheer terror in their eyes, and the screams leaving their mouths. Some of them are stuck with this type of role, others move on, gaining a lot of respect outside the genre. Here are the top 5 famous scream queens who debuted in the horror genre, and moved on to a new level.

Fay Wray

Although she played in over 100 movies over her long and fruitful career, Fay Wray is best remembered for her role in the original 1933 version of King Kong. Her performance in this classic – she screamed during most of her interactions with the giant ape – contributed to the coining of the term.

Jamie Lee Curtis

American actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis made her on-screen debut in the 1978 John Carpenter classic Halloween. This role has gained her international recognition as a horror actress, several subsequent horror movie roles, and the nickname of the “scream queen”. Fortunately, she didn’t stick with this stereotype, playing in many notable movies in other genres, like “A Fish Called Wanda” that landed her a BAFTA for being the best supporting actress, or True Lies, for which she won a Golden Globe.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt made her debut as a scream queen in the 1997 slasher “I Know What You Did Last Summer”. The actress, author, and television producer starred in the sequel to the film, as well as in the supernatural thriller TV series “Ghost Whisperer”, for which she won two Saturn Awards, then proceeded to the completely different “The Client List”, which brought her a Golden Globe.

Sigourney Weaver

Weaver’s breakthrough role was the first Alien movie, directed by science fiction master Ridley Scott. It also brought her the “scream queen” status for a while – luckily, she was able to escape the box. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the 1986 blockbuster Aliens, and later for her roles in movies like Working Girl and Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey. During her long and fruitful career, Weaver won several major awards – BAFTAs, Saturns, a Golden Globe – and none of them for a horror movie role.

Kate Beckinsale

Kate Beckinsale has won a “Scream Queen Award” for her performance in the 2006 action horror flick Underworld: Evolution. She is, indeed, best known for her roles in the Underworld series, but she had notable performances in many other major films – she was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for her role in “Pearl Harbor”, a Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance with the cast of “The Aviator”, and a Saturn for her role in the romantic comedy “Serendipity”.