Though she has been active in the film industry for more than a decade, Mia Goth has become a household name in the past year with her highly praised performances in X and Pearl. The multicultural British-born actress, whose grandparents are Brazilian actress Maria Gladys and American artist Lee Jaffe, got her start in modeling before landing a role in Nymphomaniac. Her involvement in the X franchise, as both an actress and writer, has propelled her to stardom as one of the foremost figures of the horror genre.
The year 2022 was a great year for horror, bringing us not only both of the released X films, but other popular releases such as Nope, The Menu, Fresh, and Smile. These stories invite viewers to forget what they think they know about horror and experience new stories in new settings. Horror can be found in the walls of a prestigious and exclusive restaurant, in the home of your lover, or in the seemingly happy face of a friend. The year brought a handful of fumbles as well, such as Prey for the Devil and The Requin, but a plentiful offering of projects ranging from campy satires to spin-chilling thrillers has kept horror enthusiasts positively contended and enthused for the year of cinema to come.
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For a lot of these projects, the crux of their success has lied in notable performances. Daisy Edgar Jones, Jenna Ortega, Jamie Clayton, Evan Dumouchel, and many more stood out for giving some of the best performances in a horror film in 2022, and fans can be sure to anticipate an equally formidable lineup of talent and entertainment in 2023. While a great many actors have distinguished themselves for their work in the past year’s horror films, one actress has stood out above the rest. Here is why Mia Goth has been a great asset for the horror genre.
Key Roles and Captivating Performances
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Mia Goth has stood out in recent projects on account of the captivating performances she has given. Like many of the greatly esteemed but often underrated actors in Hollywood, Mia Goth is primarily what cinephiles refer to as a character actress, a term whose definition lacks a defined consensus, but generally refers to actors who play eccentric roles. These are often supporting roles, which is why many of Hollywood’s best character actors do not enjoy the same mainstream recognition as leading actors. Mia Goth is one of the exceptions, a character actress that has enjoyed several leading roles and is slated to enjoy more of them in her upcoming projects. Goth’s resume consists of carefully selected roles that have flexed her acting muscle and created a distinct brand for her work.
Mia Goth’s breakout role was in the 2013 film Nymphomaniac, an erotic art film centered around the recounting of a woman with self-diagnosed nymphomania. Goth plays a fifteen-year-old girl named P who is groomed by Joe, the aforementioned nymphomaniac, into joining her in organized crime. After this breakthrough role, she starred in an episode of a crime drama series and in a short film before landing supporting roles in A Cure for Wellness, Suspiria, and Emma. The first of these three films was a horror movie, beginning Goth’s extended venture into the genre.
After a starring role in the 2021 action drama Mayday, Mia Goth then began work on X, which garnered wide acclaim after its March 2022 release. Goth starred in two roles in the film, as Maxine and Pearl, the protagonist and antagonist, respectively. The latter character is reprised by Goth in the prequel, Pearl, that follows the titular character’s villain origin story.
Consistent Craft
While many actors seek to diversify their repertoires, some become synonymous with a genre or type of character, or perhaps a signature move or trope that becomes their calling card. On account of her recent work and upcoming roles in Infinity Pool and MaXXXine, Mia Goth has and continues to prove her mastery over her craft. Just as action stars train to consistently deliver performances packed with physical rigor and unbelievable stunts, an actor committed to delivering captivating horror performances must bring life to stories that vary in nature but hold fast each time to the principles of what makes a horror performance great. In the past, the horror genre has often struggled with creating stories that feel entirely fresh, with many of the formulaic tropes of the genre being repeatedly rehashed to the rhythm of suspenseful music and the interruption of occasional jump scares. Then again, every genre suffers from the overuse of tropes, but horror in particular has had to fight to establish itself as a serious and worthy contender for prestigious awards and accolades.
The past year proved a hugely fruitful year in this endeavor, with many releases creating a diverse body of work that repeatedly challenged what viewers think they know about horror. This was achieved not only with superb writing that took the genre in new directions, but by performances such as those of Mia Goth. Goth’s craft has remained consistent in its excellence as she continually demonstrates a great range in her performances. The protagonist, antagonist, young woman, murderous crone, scorned lover, or ambitious artist — Mia Goth has brought life to these all with unique characterization tied together by the common essence of her distinct brand of eccentric craftsmanship. Her performances are emotional, subtle, and carry the presence of a true Hollywood heavyweight. She is unafraid to unleash a wildness in turns with measured but disturbing storytelling.
The X franchise is a one-of-a-kind testament to Goth’s acting prowess in the way she captured two very different characters, and was able to then reinvent one of those characters. As the co-writer of Pearl, Mia Goth is furthermore contributing to her craft by helping to bring new stories forth. Should her career continue on this promising trajectory, Goth is set to redefine the genre as one of its foremost visionaries.
