Why Is Aileen Wuornos in ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’? Sarah Paulson’s Role Explained

Sarah Paulson plays Aileen Wuornos in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, but how does her character fit into a story about an entirely different criminal case that occurred nearly 100 years before her time?

Ella Beatty stars in the new series from showrunner Ian Brennan and producer Ryan Murphy, but it also features a surprise turn from Murphy Universe vet Sarah who shows up in the fourth episode.

Notably, it’s not the first time there has been serial killer crossover in Murphy‘s shows. The first season revolving around Jeffrey Dahmer featured an appearance from John Wayne Gacy, despite the two never meeting in real life.

Warning: Spoilers for Sarah Paulson’s storyline ahead!

Why does Aileen Wuornos appear in the show?

Aileen‘s inclusion in the show was a deliberate thematic choice, according to star Ella Beatty.

“The show is exploring a legacy of female rage and reaction to the set of circumstances that they are presented with,” she told Netflix Tudum. “I think there’s a connection [between Borden and Wuornos] that Ryan and Ian were interested in mapping and exploring.”

Ella also said she thinks the addition of Aileen in the story “also served that question and that exploration of why women kill.”

What happens between Aileen and Lizzie onscreen?

Aileen is introduced in the show’s fourth episode, with the story shifting briefly to her tale in Florida. The scene shows her soliciting a man and then killing him. She’s later seen reading a book about Lizzie Borden and Aileen‘s fascination with her is obvious.

“Here’s Lizzie Borden,” Aileen says. “She’s just giving them exactly what they had coming to ‘em. I mean she gave the world a warning that women shouldn’t stand for this shit anymore.” 

She and her girlfriend also later visit the Lizzie Borden house and spend a night there. And in her dying moments, she sees a vision of Lizzie.

It’s also a paralell to the start of the season when Lizzie and her maid read a book about alleged serial killer Elizabeth Báthory.

Did Aileen Wuornos and Lizzie Borden ever meet in real life?

No, Aileen and Lizzie could not have met in real life as Lizzie was born in 1860 and died in 1927, while Aileen wasn’t born until almost 100 years later, in 1956, before dying in 2002.

Who was the real Aileen Wuornos?

The real Aileen Wuornos was a sex worker who went on to kill seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. She was later convicted of six of the murders and executed by the state of Florida in 2002.

RELATED: ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ Cast: Who Plays Who? Meet the Stars of Netflix’s Season 4

She has long drawn significant attention due to the unusual profile of her being a female serial killer, of which there aren’t nearly as many as there are male serial killers.

Charlize Theron played Aileen in a movie called Monster

One of the most notable depictions of Aileen in pop culture is the 2003 movie Monster starring Charlize Theron as the serial killer. It also stars Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, and Lee Tergesen.

All episodes of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story are now streaming on Netflix.

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