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Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan

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

Sex on Screen
Sex on Screen
2023 • Self
When We Speak
When We Speak
2022 • Self
Body Parts
Body Parts
2022 • Self
Mothers of the Revolution
Mothers of the Revolution
2021 • Self
Letters Live from the Archive: International Women’s Day
Letters Live from the Archive: International Women’s Day
2021 • Self
Hollywood's Dark Secret
Hollywood's Dark Secret
2019 • Self
This Changes Everything
This Changes Everything
2019 • Self
Rose McGowan: Being Brave
Rose McGowan: Being Brave
2019 • Self

Full filmography

The Sound
The Sound
2017 • Kelly Johansen
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Doctor Lollipop
Doctor Lollipop
2012 • Dr. Coco / Red Riding Hood (voice)
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The Pastor's Wife
The Pastor's Wife
2011 • Mary Winkler
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Rosewood Lane
Rosewood Lane
2011 • Sonny Blake
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Dead Awake
Dead Awake
2010 • Charlie
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Gaze
Gaze
2010 • Self (archive footage)
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Planet Terror
Planet Terror
2007 • Cherry Darling
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Grindhouse
Grindhouse
2007 • Pam (segment "Death Proof") / Cherry (segment "Planet Terror")
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The Black Dahlia
The Black Dahlia
2006 • Sheryl Saddon
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Stealing Bess
Stealing Bess
2003 • Debbie Dinsdale
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Strange Hearts
Strange Hearts
2002 • Moira Kennedy
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The Killing Yard
The Killing Yard
2001 • Linda Borus
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Monkeybone
Monkeybone
2001 • Miss Kitty
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Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker
1999 • Courtney Shayne
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Southie
Southie
1998 • Kathy Quinn
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Phantoms
Phantoms
1998 • Lisa Pailey
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Devil in the Flesh
Devil in the Flesh
1998 • Debbie Strand
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Kiss & Tell
Kiss & Tell
1997 • Jasmine Hoyle
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Going All the Way
Going All the Way
1997 • Gale Ann Thayer
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Nowhere
Nowhere
1997 • Val-Chick 3
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Scream
Scream
1996 • Tatum Riley
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Bio-Dome
Bio-Dome
1996 • Denise
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Seed
Seed
1996 • Miriam
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Class of 1999
Class of 1999
1990 • Girl Outside Langford's Office (uncredited)
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Rose McGowan – Biography, Known For & Filmography