![famous actresses start horror michelle williams](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/xur7akqtkdaenulusrqs/famous-actresses-start-horror-michelle-williams.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
Horror film fans are often on the search for a fresh mainstream face to rally behind. It's a tall order for a breakthrough, awards-friendly actress to stick to one genre, especially once they've carried an entire horror flick with a blistering, all-eyes-on-her performance. Unfortunately for fans of scary film, most scream queens with the acting chops to draw in audiences bid the scare genre adieu for more dramatic and higher-profile projects, much like the female thespians on our following list of Famous Actresses Who Got Their Start In Horror Movies.
It's hard to imagine Hollywood stars like these women relaying themselves to the more stereotypical conventions of horror movie (like the crucial factor of being scantily clad while evading your attacker), but read down the list and you'll see the foot in the door it's provided for the now-A List actors. A few of these have since returned to the screen for the kind of cinema that began their careers, but most of them haven’t looked back as more esteemed roles have come their way. As Halloween approaches, let's celebrate their scary starts.
Eva Mendes
![famous actresses start horror eva mendes](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/ey0de1rtctzvv6dclyiz/famous-actresses-start-horror-eva-mendes.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
Rachel Weisz
![famous actresses start horror rachel weisz](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/rsny6q5ifqqybeuxtqwz/famous-actresses-start-horror-rachel-weisz.jpg)
Jessica Lange
![famous actresses start horror jessica lange](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/wuafvauexhtxjfmjqbng/famous-actresses-start-horror-jessica-lange.jpg)
Rooney Mara
![famous actresses start horror rooney mara](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/pal3t5ux8lpgfwjisggn/famous-actresses-start-horror-rooney-mara.jpg)
Maggie Q
![famous actresses start horror maggie q](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/tu0qbo0lmzux8ejibjmp/famous-actresses-start-horror-maggie-q.jpg)
Amy Adams
![famous actresses start horror amy adams](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/j27qdf7eencyrf5ky3yd/famous-actresses-start-horror-amy-adams.jpg)
Elizabeth Olsen
![famous actresses start horror elizabeth olsen](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/hqljhve30u3fktprghef/famous-actresses-start-horror-elizabeth-olsen.jpg)
Michelle Williams
![famous actresses start horror michelle williams](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/xur7akqtkdaenulusrqs/famous-actresses-start-horror-michelle-williams.jpg)
Evangeline Lilly
![famous actresses start horror evangeline lilly](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/q300olln7zpq0pul0sr5/famous-actresses-start-horror-evangeline-lilly.jpg)
Demi Moore
![famous actresses start horror demi moore](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/axtro8zacexj6ha7bqpn/famous-actresses-start-horror-demi-moore.jpg)
Sharon Stone
![famous actresses start horror sharon stone](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/oyjxxvnpflidvxhfcbye/famous-actresses-start-horror-sharon-stone.jpg)
Brooke Shields
![famous actresses start horror brooke shields](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/fiaarjaqof0drh204wz3/famous-actresses-start-horror-brooke-shields.jpg)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
![famous actresses start horror julia louis dreyfuss](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/xq0r5siuyckeujypwbzd/famous-actresses-start-horror-julia-louis-dreyfuss.jpg)
Mila Kunis
![famous actresses start horror mila kunis](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/wqj9sxhmufu9a4ikqule/famous-actresses-start-horror-mila-kunis.jpg)
Jennifer Aniston
![famous actresses start horror jennifer aniston](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/ned7yzyfmzkwgldmcmsp/famous-actresses-start-horror-jennifer-aniston.jpg)
Holly Hunter
![famous actresses start horror holly hunter](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/jdczjjnb47oxwcfhcqhl/famous-actresses-start-horror-holly-hunter.jpg)
Mariska Hargitay
![famous actresses start horror mariska hargitay](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/qjezwo1vbjqbvcy323g2/famous-actresses-start-horror-mariska-hargitay.jpg)
Jennifer Connelly
![famous actresses start horror jennifer connolley](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/dtjkpiznea1covdoqo0b/famous-actresses-start-horror-jennifer-connolley.jpg)
Patricia Arquette
![famous actresses start horror patricia arquette](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/yfbncfyoaklpdmtit79y/famous-actresses-start-horror-patricia-arquette.jpg)
Renée Zellweger
![famous actresses start horror renee zellweger](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/complex/images/zfztwbvohsntn1uapq2j/famous-actresses-start-horror-renee-zellweger.jpg)