Inside Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story — Chloë Sevigny Opens Up About Kitty’s Dark Reality
Inside Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story — Chloë Sevigny Opens Up About Kitty’s Dark Reality
Netflix’s latest true crime drama, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has captivated global audiences, becoming the streaming giant’s most-watched show since Bridgerton in 2024. At the heart of this powerful series is Chloë Sevigny’s portrayal of Kitty Menendez, a mother whose life ended in a shocking act of parricide that still sparks debate decades later.
The Complexity Behind a Mother in Crisis
Chloë Sevigny brings nuance and emotional depth to Kitty Menendez, who was murdered alongside her husband, José Menendez (Javier Bardem), by their sons Lyle and Erik in 1989. The real-life Menendez brothers later claimed years of emotional and sexual abuse as justification, igniting one of the most controversial criminal cases in American history.
“People are endlessly occupied, enthralled, and curious about people who have privilege and abuse it,” Sevigny explains in an interview with Gold Derby. “It’s kind of a mystery — how did this really happen?”
A Role Built on Research and Empathy
Sevigny admits there was little documentation about Kitty’s personal history, but what she found shaped her understanding. Abuse in Kitty’s childhood, emotional dependency on José, and the pressures of 1980s womanhood helped frame the character’s motivations. “Her father had been abusive, so that was a real key into how she behaved with José — how she allowed the abuse and how she self-medicated,” Sevigny notes.
Drawing from articles, books, and real-life testimonies, Sevigny embraced Kitty as a deeply flawed, conflicted woman — one often misunderstood by the public.
If you’re interested in similar gripping stories, check out our collection of foreign drama series on Netflix.
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Inside the Dynamics On Set
Working alongside Javier Bardem, who plays the domineering José Menendez, Sevigny describes the atmosphere as intense. “It’s not hard to play scared when his anger bubbles up,” she says. Despite his on-screen intimidation, Bardem was a supportive mentor to rising stars Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch, who portrayed the Menendez brothers in their breakout roles.
Violence, Trauma, and the Emotional Toll
The murder scene took four days to complete and was emotionally exhausting. Sevigny recalls the sensory overload of the staged gunfire and how the prolonged exposure affected her psychologically. “At the end of the first day, I was wrecked. But then you become numb to it, which is more disturbing.”
Chloë Sevigny: Past, Present, and What’s Next
Beyond Monsters, Sevigny reflects on her 30-year acting journey, including her start in Kids and her continued work with visionary directors like Ryan Murphy and Luca Guadagnino. Her next film, After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, promises yet another layered and possibly controversial role — a signature element in Sevigny’s career.
