Alexandra Essoe
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Alexandra Essoe is a Canadian actress who has established herself as a prominent figure in contemporary horror cinema. She was born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to Canadian expatriate parents, and relocated to Canada at age 12, where she became involved in acting courses and making home movies with friends. Following her high school graduation, she moved to Vancouver to study at both the Lyric School of Acting and the Beaumont Stage.
Essoe gained recognition with her first lead role in the 2014 horror film Starry Eyes, which launched her career in the genre that would define her professional trajectory. She subsequently appeared in the 2017 horror film Midnighters, further cementing her reputation within the horror community. Her collaboration with acclaimed director Mike Flanagan has proven particularly fruitful, as she portrayed Wendy Torrance in the 2019 Stephen King adaptation Doctor Sleep, a role that showcased her ability to handle complex, psychologically demanding characters. This partnership expanded into multiple Netflix series, including The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) as Charlotte Wingrave, Midnight Mass (2021) as Mildred Gunning, The Midnight Club as Poppy Corn, and The Fall of the House of Usher as a court witness. Her recent work includes The Pope's Exorcist (2023), demonstrating her continued presence in major horror productions.
Essoe's sustained collaboration with Mike Flanagan and her consistent presence in critically acclaimed horror productions have positioned her as a distinctive voice within the genre, contributing to the elevation of modern horror storytelling through her nuanced performances and commitment to character-driven narratives.
Essoe gained recognition with her first lead role in the 2014 horror film Starry Eyes, which launched her career in the genre that would define her professional trajectory. She subsequently appeared in the 2017 horror film Midnighters, further cementing her reputation within the horror community. Her collaboration with acclaimed director Mike Flanagan has proven particularly fruitful, as she portrayed Wendy Torrance in the 2019 Stephen King adaptation Doctor Sleep, a role that showcased her ability to handle complex, psychologically demanding characters. This partnership expanded into multiple Netflix series, including The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) as Charlotte Wingrave, Midnight Mass (2021) as Mildred Gunning, The Midnight Club as Poppy Corn, and The Fall of the House of Usher as a court witness. Her recent work includes The Pope's Exorcist (2023), demonstrating her continued presence in major horror productions.
Essoe's sustained collaboration with Mike Flanagan and her consistent presence in critically acclaimed horror productions have positioned her as a distinctive voice within the genre, contributing to the elevation of modern horror storytelling through her nuanced performances and commitment to character-driven narratives.