Ella Beatty Steals the Show in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — But Can She Escape Her Parents s Shadow?

The Axe, The Drama, and a New Star Emerges

Forget everything you thought you knew about Hollywood dynasties. When Netflix dropped Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on September 17, 2026, most people had two questions: Who is this actress playing the infamous axe-wielding Lizzie? And why do her last name sound suspiciously like Warren Beatty?

Ella Beatty, daughter of legendary actor Warren Beatty and acclaimed actress Annette Bening, just landed her first major leading role — and she did so in arguably the most violent, scrutinized installment yet in Ryan Murphy s critically divisive Monster anthology series.

More Than Just a Nepo Baby Label

Yes, the internet lost it. Page Six ran a headline calling her "Hollywood nepo baby lands her first leading role." Social media was flooded with memes about her famous parents. But here is the thing: Ella Beatty, 26, isn t just coasting on family connections — not in this role at least.

In interviews with Forbes and USA Today, Beatty described approaching Lizzie Borden as "an exercise in compassion," aiming to humanize one of America s most notorious unsolved murder suspects rather than simply portraying her as a monster. That approach aligns closely with director Ryan Murphys vision for this season — one that Variety praised as "outrageously engaging" while The Hollywood Reporter called it "faux-feminist nonsense." Yeah, even the critics can t agree, but they all agreed on one thing: Beatty holds the screen.

The series also features Jessica Barden as Bridget Sullivan (known as Maggie), Lizzie s Irish immigrant maid who witnessed the murders and later became a key witness. The dynamic between Beatty and Barden provides some of the show s most compelling scenes — think tense hallway confrontations laced with period-appropriate repression simmering into something far darker.

What Makes This Season Different

The original 1892 Fall River, Massachusetts murders shocked the nation when Lizzie Borden allegedly axed her father Andrew Borden and his lover Bridgette "Maggie" Faure. Since then, the case has inspired countless books, documentaries, Broadway musicals (Hail! remains the most infamous), and even a cult classic 2003 TV movie starring and Rebecca De Mornay.

Ryan Murphy s take goes punk-rock, according to the Boston Globe, reimagining the story through a modern lens that emphasizes female rage, class tension, and the suffocating expectations placed on women in Victorian-era New England. The cinematography by Michael Bauman (who previously worked on the Monster Ed Gein season) draws heavy visual inspiration from gothic horror — think stark lighting, shadow-drenched interiors, and an unsettling silence that makes every creak of floorboard feel like a threat.

The soundtrack deserves mention too. Composed with input from various artists, the music blends period-appropriate folk melodies with modern electronic beats — a sonic choice that divides listeners but fits the show s overall tonal experiment.

Did It Work?

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story debuted at #1 across 50 countries on Netflix, proving once again that true crime content has massive mainstream appeal regardless of critical consensus. Rotten Tomatoes scores remain low compared to previous seasons, but viewership numbers tell a different story — millennials and Gen Z are binging this stuff at alarming rates.

Ella Beatty certainly seems ready for the spotlight. With Warren Beatty s Best Actor Oscar and Annette Bening s Golden Globe nomination hanging over the family legacy, pressure would crush most actors. But early reviews suggest Beatty might be the real deal — someone who earned her seat at the table, axe in hand.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story episodes drop weekly on Netflix. Season 5 is already being discussed, though Murphy has yet to confirm which serial killer saga might follow next.