You're watching the latest season of a prestige drama, maybe scrolling through your phone at the same time, and a familiar face pops up. You think, "Oh, cool, it’s Alexis from Schitt's Creek." Then you look closer. Wait. Is that her? Or is it the woman from Mission: Impossible?
Michelle Monaghan and Annie Murphy have officially reached that rare level of celebrity doppelgänger status where the internet just cannot stop talking about it.
Honestly, it’s understandable. If you’ve spent any time on Reddit or X lately, you’ve probably seen the side-by-side comparisons. There’s a specific kind of energy both actresses bring to the screen—a mix of sharp wit and a very specific bone structure—that has fans genuinely confused.
The White Lotus Confusion
The chatter really hit a fever pitch with the casting of The White Lotus Season 3. When the first glimpses of Michelle Monaghan in character started circulating, people lost it. Specifically, fans of Schitt's Creek were convinced that Annie Murphy had finally landed her big "White Lotus" moment.
They weren't just being weird. Monaghan’s styling for the show—the effortless, slightly high-maintenance resort wear and that specific shade of sun-kissed hair—felt like a direct evolution of Alexis Rose.
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- The Vibe: Both actresses have this way of delivering a line that feels both incredibly sincere and slightly chaotic.
- The Look: It’s the eyes and the smile. In certain lighting, the resemblance is startling.
- The Fan Theories: Some fans joked that Monaghan’s character is just Alexis fifteen years in the future after a very successful career in PR and a few more trips to the Galapagos.
Breaking Down the Career Paths
While the physical resemblance is what gets the clicks, their careers are actually quite different in terms of trajectory. Michelle Monaghan is a veteran of the industry. She’s been the emotional heart of massive blockbusters like Mission: Impossible III and the grit in neo-noirs like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. She has this incredible range—moving from a worried wife to a twin-playing lead in the Netflix thriller Echoes.
Annie Murphy, on the other hand, became a global icon almost overnight thanks to the slow-burn success of Schitt's Creek. She won an Emmy for it, and for good reason. She turned what could have been a one-dimensional "rich girl" trope into someone deeply lovable. Since then, she’s been making some very "anti-Alexis" choices. Kevin Can F**k Himself was a dark, genre-bending look at sitcom tropes, and her episode of Black Mirror ("Joan Is Awful") was basically the internet's favorite thing for a month.
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It's a psychological thing, mostly. We like patterns. When we see two people who look alike but aren't related, it triggers a "glitch in the matrix" feeling that’s fun to talk about. For Michelle Monaghan and Annie Murphy, the comparison is actually a compliment to both. Monaghan gets recognized for having that youthful, vibrant energy that Murphy carries, and Murphy gets compared to an established powerhouse who has sustained a 20-year career in Hollywood.
Interestingly, they’ve never actually worked together. Can you imagine the chaos if they were cast as sisters? The lighting department would have a heart attack trying to make sure people could tell them apart in wide shots.
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Where to See Them Next
If you want to play "Spot the Difference" yourself, both actresses are keeping busy with high-profile projects in 2026.
Michelle Monaghan is currently central to the Bad Monkey universe on Apple TV+. The show, based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel, lets her flex those dark comedy muscles that we don't see often enough. She’s also a major draw for the third installment of The White Lotus, which moved production to Thailand.
Annie Murphy isn't slowing down either. She’s recently been linked to the YA drama Poser on Netflix. She also recently wrapped Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2, which puts her right back in that "prestige ensemble" world where she thrives.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're a fan of either (or both!), there are a few things you should check out to see the nuances of their performances:
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- Watch Michelle Monaghan in "Echoes": She plays identical twins. If you want to see someone master the art of looking like someone else, this is the masterclass.
- Binge "Kevin Can F**k Himself": This is where Annie Murphy proved she wasn't just a one-hit-wonder with Alexis Rose. It's gritty, uncomfortable, and brilliant.
- Check the Credits: Before you post that "I can't believe she's in this!" tweet, double-check the IMDb. Trust me, it’ll save you some embarrassment in the comments section.
The fascination with the Michelle Monaghan and Annie Murphy connection isn't going away anytime soon. As long as they both keep picking high-profile roles in the same "prestige TV" ecosystem, the internet will keep doing what it does best: making memes and questioning reality.
Keep an eye on the upcoming awards season. If both The White Lotus and Murphy's latest projects land nominations, we might finally get that red carpet photo op that confirms they aren't, in fact, the same person.