
Rose McGowan
Biography
Rósa Arianna McGowan (born September 5, 1973) is a filmmaker, activist and musician. Born in Italy, she was raised in the Children of God cult, before her American parents fled back to the USA when Rose was 10 amid concerns about the community.
Settling in Oregon, McGowan was bullied at school and rebelled against her family. At 15, she legally emancipated herself from her parents and lived in a squat with drag artists, before moving to Los Angeles to try her hand at acting. Commercials, extra work and a small part in 1992’s 'Encino Man' followed, but McGowan walked away from the industry, deciding to work in cosmetology instead.
In 1994, while standing outside of an LA gym with a moody demeanor, she was discovered by a casting director for Gregg Araki’s 'The Doom Generation', believing she’d be perfect for the role of Amy Blue, an apathetic gen-X femme fatale. Her performance became synonymous with 90s punk cool, and she was nominated for Best Debut Performance at the 1996 Independent Spirit Awards.
Landing an agent, McGowan quickly found further roles, among them parts in the slasher hit 'Scream' and cult indies including 'Jawbreaker', 'Going All the Way', and 'Devil in the Flesh'. With her pale white skin and blood-red lipstick, along with a relationship with controversial rock star Marilyn Manson, McGowan was promoted as a bad girl sex symbol for the 1990s, but began to struggle finding mainstream success.
On advice from her management, McGowan joined the cast of the fantasy drama 'Charmed' in its fourth season, replacing the departed Shannen Doherty as one third of a trio of sister witches. After five seasons on the series, McGowan returned to film with roles in Brian De Palma’s 'The Black Dahlia' and the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez double bill 'Grindhouse'.
While 'Grindhouse' garnered McGowan international attention, particularly for her role as a go-go dancer with a machine gun for a leg, it was an unhappy period in her personal life. A relationship with Rodriguez imploded, a car accident forced her to undergo extensive reconstructive surgery, and her father died.
In 2015, McGowan announced that she was walking away from acting to explore other ventures, due to her own traumatic experiences in the industry and her frustration with the quality of work promoted by Hollywood.
Her filmmaking debut, the short film 'Dawn', premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, and in the same year she released her debut single — an atmospheric slice of electronica called RM486. She has since become a prominent activist across social media, launching her own feminist movement known as Rose Army, and continues to work as an artist, filmmaker and musician.
In 2016 Rose was involved in a sex scandal when multiple sex tapes and nude images were leaked online for the world to see as well as exposing her love for recreational drugs. Some seem to think she leaked the tapes and photos herself for more public exposure and others believe it to be the evils of Hollywood who might be outraged by the fact Rose has spoke out against them.
Known For

TV
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Cassandra Davina
1999

TV
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009

TV
The View
Self
1997

TV
Charmed
Paige Matthews
1998

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

TV
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self
1992

TV
Once Upon a Time
Young Cora
2011

TV
RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge
2009

TV
Nip/Tuck
Dr. Teddy Rowe
2003
TV
Good Day Live
Self
2001

TV
Intimate Portrait
Self
1993

TV
Chelsea
Self
2016

TV
Question Time
Self - Panellist
1979

TV
Punk'd
Self
2003

Film
Scream
Tatum Riley
1996

TV
Through the Night with...
Self
2002

TV
True Colors
Suzanne
1990

Film
The Black Dahlia
Sheryl Saddon
2006

TV
The Early Show
Self
1999
Filmography
2023FilmSex on Screenas Self2022FilmWhen We Speakas Self2022FilmBody Partsas Self2021FilmMothers of the Revolutionas Self2021TVTucker Carlson Todayas Self - Guest2021FilmLetters Live from the Archive: International Women’s Dayas Self2021TVThis Is Popas Self (archive footage)2020TVThe New York Times Presentsas Self (archive footage)2019FilmHollywood's Dark Secretas Self2019FilmThis Changes Everythingas Self2019FilmRose McGowan: Being Braveas Self2018TVCitizen Roseas Herself2017FilmThe Soundas Kelly Johansen2016FilmThe Caged Pillowsas Monday2016TVChelseaas Self2016FilmThe Tell-Tale Heartas Ariel2015FilmThe Weight of Blood and Bonesas Madeline2013FilmMondo Tauroboliumas Gale2013TVChosenas Josie Acosta2012FilmDoctor Lollipopas Dr. Coco / Red Riding Hood (voice)2011FilmThe Pastor's Wifeas Mary Winkler2011TVOnce Upon a Timeas Young Cora2011FilmRosewood Laneas Sonny Blake2011FilmConan the Barbarianas Marique2011FilmStill Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospectiveas Self2011FilmScream: The Inside Storyas Self2010FilmDead Awakeas Charlie2010FilmGazeas Self (archive footage)2009TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest2009TVRuPaul's Drag Raceas Self - Guest Judge2008FilmFifty Dead Men Walkingas Grace2007FilmDeath Proofas Pam2007FilmPlanet Terroras Cherry Darling2007FilmGrindhouseas Pam (segment "Death Proof") / Cherry (segment "Planet Terror")2006TVScream Awardsas Self - Host2006FilmThe Black Dahliaas Sheryl Saddon2005TVElvisas Ann-Margret2003TVNip/Tuckas Dr. Teddy Rowe2003TVPunk'das Self2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2003FilmStealing Bessas Debbie Dinsdale2002FilmStrange Heartsas Moira Kennedy2002TVThrough the Night with...as Self2001FilmThe Killing Yardas Linda Borus2001TVGood Day Liveas Self2001FilmMonkeyboneas Miss Kitty2000FilmThe Last Stopas Nancy2000FilmReady to Rumbleas Sasha1999TVThe Early Showas Self1999TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Cassandra Davina1999FilmSleeping Beautiesas Sno Blo1999FilmJawbreakeras Courtney Shayne1998TVCharmedas Paige Matthews1998FilmSouthieas Kathy Quinn1998FilmPhantomsas Lisa Pailey1998FilmDevil in the Fleshas Debbie Strand1997FilmKiss & Tellas Jasmine Hoyle1997FilmGoing All the Wayas Gale Ann Thayer1997TVThe Viewas Self1997FilmNowhereas Val-Chick 31997FilmLewis & Clark & Georgeas George1996FilmScreamas Tatum Riley1996FilmBio-Domeas Denise1996FilmSeedas Miriam1995FilmThe Doom Generationas Amy Blue1993TVIntimate Portraitas Self1992TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Lenoas Self1992FilmEncino Manas Nora1990TVTrue Colorsas Suzanne1990FilmClass of 1999as Girl Outside Langford's Office (uncredited)1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest1979TVQuestion Timeas Self - Panellist