Why Does Aileen Wuornos Appear in “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story”? Series Showrunner Explains

In a striking blend of historical narratives, the Netflix miniseries “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story” intertwines the stories of two notorious female figures: Lizzie Borden and Aileen Wuornos. Despite the creative liberties taken by the show’s creators, there has been no substantiated evidence linking the two women in real life, as they hail from vastly different eras. Wuornos, portrayed by Sarah Paulson, appears in several episodes of the series, serving as a device to explore themes of female rage across history.

Aileen Wuornos was a Florida-based serial killer who gained notoriety in the late 1980s for confessing to the murders of seven men. Her tragic life story reflects a turbulent existence; she endured years of abuse and exploitation, ultimately resorting to sex work for survival. Wuornos claimed that her violent acts were defensive responses to attempts of sexual assault. In November 1992, she was arrested and subsequently sentenced to death for her crimes. She was executed by lethal injection in Florida in 2002, along with a grim legacy that continues to provoke discussions about gender, violence, and society’s treatment of women.

The show introduces Wuornos in its fourth episode, titled “R.I.P. (Rest in Pestilence) Abby Borden.” Upon making her appearance, Wuornos creates a chilling connection to the series’ titular character by identifying herself to a victim as “Lizzie Borden.” Co-creator Ian Brennan, in an interview, explained that Wuornos’s inclusion was not just for shock value but aimed to draw stark comparisons between reactions to female violence in the 19th century, when Borden was infamously accused of murdering her parents, and modern perceptions surrounding women like Wuornos.

Brennan remarked that while Borden’s capacity for violence was met with disbelief, Wuornos’s crimes occurred in a time when such behaviour was more readily accepted and understood as part of her tragic narrative. This addition to the show creates a dialogue on the evolving views of female aggression through different historical lenses. It highlights how society regulates and interprets women’s actions, often shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding.

Ella Beatty, another cast member, echoed these sentiments, describing the series as an examination of a “legacy of female rage.” The inclusion of historical figures such as Borden, Wuornos, and even medieval figure Elizabeth Báthory serves to illustrate the shifting, yet stagnant, discourse around women’s violence through the ages. The show makes deliberate efforts to showcase the complexities surrounding gender and aggression, inviting viewers to reflect on these topics in relation to changing societal norms.

Resident director and executive producer Max Winkler emphasised the importance of grounding the narrative in factual research while simultaneously acknowledging that the fabric of the story stretches into fiction. He expressed that the ongoing narrative of women being maligned or vilified for acts of violence remains relevant today, despite the different contexts in which these women lived. This thematic choice invites a contemporary audience to scrutinise their perceptions of female violence and societal behaviour toward it.

Sarah Paulson, who takes on the challenging role of Wuornos, has shared her insights regarding the connection between her character and Borden. During a guest appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in September 2026, she noted how the interplay of their narratives serves to highlight the notion of female aggression, bridging historical gaps. Paulson emphasised the importance of discovering the shared threads in the lives and experiences of these two women, despite the nearly hundred-year time difference.

The actress’s commitment to the role was underscored in a prior interview with Variety Australia, where she revealed that she accepted the script for Wuornos without having first seen it. Her confidence in the project stemmed from a desire to examine traditionally prescribed roles from a nuanced viewpoint, an opportunity she believes is crucial when addressing characters shaped by societal expectations.

In conclusion, “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story” offers a complex exploration of female rage, drawing parallels between two historical figures whose lives were marked by violence and societal judgement. As the miniseries airs, it challenges audiences to reflect on the lineage of female experiences with aggression, exposing deeper questions about gender, criminality, and the societal narratives that surround them.