Cici's Top Ten "Scream Queens"

I've been meaning to open this thread for such a long time, but between real life and having to choose just ten from a list so expansive, this was just really difficult. But I think I've cracked it now! So I'll be counting down my favourite actresses who either specialise or are best known for their work in my favourite genre; horror!

First update coming soon!

Uuuuuuuuuuh, the long awaited list have arrived! Can't wait for the first pick!

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10. Tristan Risk




Claim to Fame:
American Mary (2012)

Also known for:
Call Girl (short, 2014)
The Editor (2014)
The ABCs of Death 2 (2014)

Ms. Risk effectively began her acting career working in short films for the now infamous Soska sisters, before starring in one of their first feature films, American Mary, which bagged Ms. Risk a frightmeter nomination, and a runner up prize at the Fangoria awards for best supporting actress. In it, she stars as a woman obsessed with body modification who has altered herself into becoming a moving personification of Betty Boop, who was harmless, sweet, and irresistibly charming and emphasised one of the film's major points of acceptance. In particular, in one scene towards the end of the film, Ms.Risk almost had me in tears, and I have adored her ever since.

Since then, she has gone on to star in a multitude of B-movies, and although most are still in production, she has already made quite a name for herself, and her performance in Jill Sixx's Call Girl only increased her exposure and versatility, proving she can portray both villains and heroes alike.

In addition to her acting, Ms. Risk is also a well known burlesque dancer, and has toured in over 12 countries for this profession. Amongst other skills, she can also eat fire!

This is also a bit of a personal vote too, because I once e-mailed Ms. Risk and she replied! She was totally charming and extremely lovely, and even followed me on twitter.

Never heard of her, so I don't have much to say with this pick.

Watch Mean Girls and then go watch American Mary!
You'll probably recognise the others, as I said, this was a bit of a personal one, that e-mail she sent back was huuuuge, and she favourited one of my tweets not long ago as well that and she is a very good actress!

Is the last pic working for anyone?

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5-time MoFo Award winner.

I changed it honey, the first one was from IMDb and I keep forgetting that they're very protective with their pictures

9. Camille Keaton


Claim to Fame:
I Spit on Your Grave (1978)

Also known for:
What Have You Done to Solange (1972)
Savage Vengeance (1993)

Originally released under the title of Day of the Woman Meir Zarchi's directorial debut went unnoticed. After numerous releases under different titles, it wasn't until the title I Spit on Your Grave was employed that the film got noticed, in fact it gained a lot of publicity, especially due to infamous negativity Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel threw at it. I personally thought it was a very striking film, and although it wasn't terrific, it is something I will remember for the rest of my life, and Camille plays a large part in that. Without her, the film probably would have always went unnoticed, because any credibility the film does contain is because of her involvement. Her co-stars were amateurish at best, the script could have used some revisions and the direction was extremely simplistic, yet she shone in her role and her dedication and bravery paid off hugely.

She would have easily ascended higher up on the list, but sadly she hasn't done anything notable at all really, both before and after I Spit. The only other thing that got any kind of exposure was the unofficial sequel, Savage Vengeance for how notoriously bad it was. So this often unsung Queen still makes it to number 9 for delivering one of the most memorable female led performances in the history of horror!

I like scream queens

8. Linnea Quigley




Claim to Fame:
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

Also known for:
Savage Streets (1984)
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

Ms. Quigley has over 130 acting credits and yet is only in her fifties! The vast majority of these credits take form in low budget horror films, although she has had some differing ventures too. Her participation in the 1985 cult favourite, The Return of the Living Dead cemented her status as a scream queen and to this day sees her continuously offered an abundance of roles into horror films. She also seems like such a down to earth woman too, and is even an animal activist, being a member of PETA alongside adopting a vegan diet since the late seventies! Her dedication to horror is also extremely admirable, but has also demonstrated the variety of roles she is able to accurately portray too!

However, she's ranked at number 8 because to me, she is so close and yet so far away from Ms. Keaton in terms of her career. For Ms. Quigley's films almost instantly fade into obscurity and those that don't often do so because of their camp factor, which isn't necessarily a trait professional actors would like to be associated with. Yet I gave her the edge over Ms. Keaton because she's played a variety of roles and spent all of her professional life within the horror and B-movie industry!

Also, according to her IMDb page, she auditioned for a role in Reservoir Dogs (1992) but unfortunately, her role was written out of the script

I was watching one of her many films just a couple of weeks ago.

The poor woman must be exhausted a lot of the time seeing how many projects she chooses to film week in week out

I haven't seen that one though, I'll have to check it out!

Another tangent - I know there's some new TV series called Scream Queens (not sure what it's about)...
But does anyone remember a show also called Scream Queens several years back - it was a reality / contest / elimination show?
The concept was wanna-be actresses competing for a part in a horror movie - the winner got a role in somebody's "major motion picture" horror production. I remember some of the contests / challenges being fun to watch - kind of like an audition / screen test meets Fear Factor.

Yes! (although I've only ever heard about it) Tanedra Howard won the first series, and I loved her in Saw VI I thought she stole the show! I think there was a second series, but I have no idea who won that one

Funny. I hate to admit to watching it... but I did, which is why I feel like the only person who remembers it. I'm not big on reality contest shows, but I do like some where contestants have to do something creative in process (not just form "alliances" then back-stab their fellow competitors to try to win).

Trust me, I would have watched it had I been aware of it at the time it sounded brilliant, and I can just imagine some of the contestants

It was fun and funny. If I remember correctly there were a lot of make-up & costume challenges, acting challenges where the girls would have to do scenes and they would be critiqued on how they handled the scene and then they'd just have some goofy scare tactics where they'd set the girls up for unexpected pranks. So it had elements of America's Top Model, Fear Factor & hidden camera shows.
And of course they'd try to have a diverse set of personalities involved: some of the girls would break down and cry, others would get all pissed off at the scare tactics and storm off, etc.

I love how I just don't know anyone in here.

Yeah, it definitely would have been right up my street they should bring it back for the It remake or something.

Maybe if you didn't obsess over American remakes, you might be aware of some of these people

The next one is from a major film, so you might know her. Surprised you didn't know Camille Keaton though