How Elisabeth Moss Became Shirley Jackson for Shirley

In Josephine Decker’s bitingly dark Shirley, Invisible Man star Elisabeth Moss plays novelist Shirley Jackson, most famous for The Haunting of Hill House and a notorious New Yorker story that made her, at one stage, the most reviled writer in America. Moss is earning major acclaim for her performance in the Sundance breakout – and some early awards buzz. With the movie now available to stream, Moss sat down with Rotten Tomatoes to talk about her approach to playing a version of Jackson that was true to her essence, but which allowed room for her own interpretation. And it all started with a herniated disc.

#1

Shirley (2020)

88%

Critics Consensus: Elevated by outstanding work from Elisabeth Moss, Shirley pays tribute to its subject's pioneering legacy with a biopic that ignores the commonly accepted boundaries of the form.

Synopsis: A famous horror writer finds inspiration for her next book after she and her husband take in a young couple.

Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Odessa Young, Logan Lerman

Directed By: Josephine Decker

Thumbnail: © Neon / Courtesy Everett Collection