Quick answer: Ella Beatty leads Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story as Lizzie Borden. In Netflix's Sept. 17 interview, Beatty discussed playing the anthology's first female lead and the unusual challenge of portraying a historical figure in a story filled with violence.
Who is Ella Beatty in Monster?
Beatty plays Lizzie Borden in the fourth installment of the Netflix anthology. The cast also includes Vicky Krieps as Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden, Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, Billie Lourd as Emma Borden, Jessica Barden as Nance O'Neil and Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos.
Netflix Tudum says the creators conducted an extensive search before selecting Beatty for the central role. Her performance anchors a season that moves between historical drama, psychological storytelling and highly stylized fiction.
What did Ella Beatty say about playing Lizzie?
In Netflix's interview, Beatty described herself as someone who is uncomfortable with graphic violence, an interesting contrast with the material she had to perform. She said she is naturally squeamish, yet the role required her to work around some of the season's most intense imagery.
Entertainment Weekly also reported on advice Beatty received from her parents, actors Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. The advice she highlighted was a simple instruction: “Listen.” She has also spoken about growing up around rehearsals and observing acting at home.
Why this role is different from previous Monster leads
Netflix describes Season 4 as the anthology's first female-focused installment. That changes the dramatic frame because the story is built around a woman who was accused of a notorious crime but acquitted at trial.
The series does not present a documentary reconstruction. It interprets Lizzie's life through invented dialogue, dramatized relationships and stylized sequences. That makes Beatty's performance part of an interpretation rather than evidence about what the historical Lizzie actually thought or felt.
How Beatty's performance fits the season
The season spends substantial time on family relationships, social expectations and the public fascination that followed the murders. Beatty's role therefore requires a shift between intimate family scenes and the larger spectacle of the trial and its aftermath.
Netflix's official page lists eight episodes, with the finale titled “Carnival.” The season is now streaming in full.
FAQ
Who plays Lizzie Borden in Monster Season 4?
Ella Beatty plays Lizzie Borden.
Is Ella Beatty the first female lead in Monster?
Netflix describes this season as the anthology's first female-focused installment.
What advice did Ella Beatty receive from her parents?
In an Entertainment Weekly interview, she highlighted the word “Listen” as the advice that stayed with her.
Where can I watch Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden?
All eight episodes are streaming on Netflix.
Sources: Netflix Tudum; Entertainment Weekly; Netflix.
Fact-check note
This article distinguishes the Netflix dramatization from documented history. Lizzie Borden was acquitted in 1893; claims about guilt, private relationships, motives and events not established by surviving records are described as fictionalized or disputed rather than settled fact.
Netflix Tudum: The True Story · Netflix Tudum: Ending Explained · PEOPLE: Fact vs Fiction · PEOPLE: Emma/Lizzie Fact Check
Related: Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden: How Monster Built Its New Lead Character
Related: Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Cast Guide — Ella Beatty, Charlie Hunnam and More
