Did Lizzie Borden inspire Aileen Wuornos? Netflixs Monster series says she did.

Shannon Connellan· Sep 18, 2026 · 11:12 AM UTC ·4 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 5 views

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TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Netflix's series Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story features a fictionalized account of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in its fourth episode. The narrative suggests that Wuornos was inspired by Lizzie Borden's story, viewing her as a feminist icon who justified her own violent actions. Sarah Paulson portrays Wuornos in scenes depicting her crimes and her ideological connection to the Borden case.

Key facts

▪Sarah Paulson plays Aileen Wuornos in the fourth episode of the Netflix series Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
▪The series depicts Wuornos as being inspired by Lizzie Borden, whom she views as a feminist icon.
▪Wuornos is shown reading Borden's biography and declaring that Borden's story motivated her to commit her own killings.
▪The episode includes a scene where Wuornos sexually assaults and kills a man, followed by a graphic act of violence with an axe.
▪The character's girlfriend in the series is named Shelby, played by Jessie Lee, which differs from Wuornos' real-life partner.

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Original publisher	Mashable
Canonical URL	https://mashable.com/entertainment/netflix-monster-lizzie-borden-aileen-wuornos
Publication time	Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:12:46 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-09-18T11:18:45.224Z
Last seen	2026-09-18T11:18:45.224Z
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Publisher visit	Yes — open original
Substitutes article?	No — link-out required for full text

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Home > Entertainment > TV Shows Did Lizzie Borden inspire Aileen Wuornos? Netflix's 'Monster' series says she did. Sarah Paulson plays serial killer Aileen Wuornos in...a Lizzie Borden series? By Shannon Connellan Shannon Connellan Senior Editor Shannon Connellan is Mashable's Senior Editor, General Assignments, based in London. She has been Mashable's UK Editor (and still manages the illustrious UK team) and Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives searching for Exit 8. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror, and loves to nerd out with movie stars, filmmakers, and TV creators.

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