Quick answer: Nance O'Neil and Lizzie Borden became friends in 1904, more than a decade after Lizzie's 1893 acquittal. Monster moves that relationship into the trial period for drama.
Who was Nance O'Neil?
Nance O'Neil, born Gertrude Lamson, was an American stage and film actress.
1904 friendship
Recent reporting says Lizzie met O'Neil after attending one of her plays in Boston.
What Monster changes
The series shows O'Neil meeting Lizzie during the trial. The real friendship began in 1904.
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: Who Was Nance O'Neil? The Real Actress Behind Monster's Lizzie Borden Story
Related: Lizzie and Emma Borden Estrangement: The Real Timeline Explained
