Kate Siegel

Kate Gordon Siegelbaum, known professionally as Kate Siegel (/ˈsɡəl/ SEE-gəl), is an American actress and writer. Dubbed a scream queen for her extensive work in the horror genre, Siegel is known for her collaborations with her husband, Mike Flanagan. She has starred in the films Oculus (2013), Hush (2016) which she also co-wrote, Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), and Gerald's Game (2017), as well as the television series The Haunting of Hill House (2018), The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020), Midnight Mass (2021), and The Fall of the House of Usher (2023).

Kate Siegel
Born
Kate Gordon Siegelbaum[1]

EducationSyracuse University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
Years active2006–present
Spouse
(m. 2016)
Children2

Early life

Siegel was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. She attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Maryland, and graduated from Syracuse University in 2004.[1]

Career

Siegel made her acting debut in the film The Curse of The Black Dahlia, which was released on January 23, 2007.[2] That same year she went on to star in Hacia La Oscuridad which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, 2007.[3] She also appeared in Steam alongside Ruby Dee and Chelsea Handler.[4] In 2008, Siegel appeared in the short film Knocked Down which was directed by Ted Collins.[5] In 2009, she made her television debut in Ghost Whisperer as Cheryl. In 2010, she appeared in Numb3rs as Rachel Hollander. She then appeared in an episode of Castle. That same year she appeared in the drama-thriller Wedding Day.[6]

In 2013, Siegel appeared in Man Camp.[7] That same year she appeared in Oculus, a horror film written and directed by Flanagan.[8] The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2013, and was released in April 2014.[9][10] She also appeared in an episode of Mob City. In 2014, she appeared in Demon Legacy.[11]

In November 2015, it was revealed that she and Flanagan would be adapting the young adult novel 13 Days to Midnight into a film.[12]

In 2016, Siegel starred as a deaf-mute woman beset by a killer in the horror-thriller Hush, a film on which she also made her screenwriting debut, co-writing with Flanagan. The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 12, 2016, and was released on Netflix on April 8, 2016.[13][14] In July 2016, she starred in a commercial for Stelara psoriasis medication.[15] That same year, Siegel appeared in Ouija: Origin of Evil, also directed by Flanagan, which was released on October 21, 2016.[16][17]

In 2017, Siegel starred alongside Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood in the film adaptation of Stephen King's Gerald's Game, which was also directed by Flanagan.[18] The film was released on September 29, 2017, by Netflix.[19]

In 2018, Siegel had a starring role as Theodora Crain in the Netflix supernatural horror series The Haunting of Hill House, based on Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel of the same name. She also narrated the podcast Calling Darkness[20][21] and has been a voice actor for The NoSleep Podcast.[22]

Siegel portrayed Erin Greene in Netflix's Midnight Mass which was written and directed by Flanagan, and co-starred her cast-mate from The Haunting of Hill House, Henry Thomas.

In July 2024, she was confirmed to direct a segment for V/H/S/Beyond, which will release exclusively on Shudder on October 4, 2024.[23][24]

Personal life

Siegel is Jewish.[25][26][27] Siegel said in 2008 she is bisexual[28] and had been in relationships with other women before.[29] She married director Mike Flanagan in early 2016.[30] They have two children: a son, Cody, and a daughter, Theodora, named after Siegel's character in The Haunting of Hill House. She is stepmother to Flanagan's eldest son from a previous relationship.[31][32]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007Hacia la oscuridadJennAlso known as Total Darkness
2007The Curse of the Black DahliaJenniferDirect-to-video
2007SteamElizabeth
2008Knocked DownLance's assistantShort film
2009Puke in My MouthMs Taken 2Short film
2012Wedding DayErica
2012The CollectorJessShort film
2013Man CampTeresa
2013OculusMarisol Chavez
2014Demon LegacyJack
2014Dead Room: OriginsJadeShort film
2015The ProgramNatalieShort film
2015Wine JabsVivianShort film
2016HotBeth
2016Hush Maddie YoungAlso writer[14]
2016Ouija: Origin of EvilJenny Browning
2017Gerald's GameSally
2019Let's Go DownEmberShort film
2021HypnoticJenn Tompson
2023The Wrath of BeckyAgent Montana[33]
2024The Life of ChuckPost-production
2024StowawayDirector; segment for V/H/S/Beyond[24]
TBAThe Room Returns!ClaudettePost-production[34]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Ghost WhispererCherylEpisode: "This Joint's Haunted"
2010NumbersRachel HollanderEpisode: "And the Winner Is..."
2012The UnknownEvey KylerEpisode: "Prime Cut"[35]
2012CastleNadiaEpisode: "47 Seconds"
2012Where Would We BeStephanieEpisode: "Pilot"[36]
2013Mob CityTandyEpisode: "Stay Down"
2018The Haunting of Hill HouseTheodora "Theo" CrainMain role
2020Hawaii Five-0JoannaEpisode: "I ho'olulu, ho'ohulei 'ia e ka makani"
2020The Haunting of Bly ManorViola Willoughby / The Lady of the Lake2 episodes
2021Midnight MassErin GreeneMain role
2022The Time Traveler's WifeAnnette DeTamble2 episodes
2023The Fall of the House of UsherCamille L'EspanayeMain role[37]

Podcasts

Siegel has appeared on the horror podcasts Calling Darkness[20][21] and The NoSleep Podcast.[22]

References