Taissa Farmiga didn't even want to be an actress. That's the weirdest part. Most people assume that because she’s the younger sister of Vera Farmiga, she was clawing her way onto sets since she was a toddler. Nope. She basically wanted to be an accountant.
Honestly, the only reason we have taissa farmiga movies and tv shows to talk about is because Vera basically bullied her into it. Well, "encouraged" is the PR word, but she cast Taissa as a younger version of herself in Higher Ground back in 2011, and the rest is history. From there, she became the face of a generation’s trauma on American Horror Story and eventually a literal duchess in the 1880s.
It's been a wild ride. If you've been following her lately, especially with the 2025 wrap-up of The Gilded Age Season 3, you've seen her range expand way beyond just "the girl who sees ghosts."
The Horror Era: More Than Just a Scream Queen
Most fans first met her in a basement. Or a creepy attic. Or a haunted school. When Ryan Murphy cast her as Violet Harmon in American Horror Story: Murder House, it changed everything. She wasn't just some final girl; she was moody, depressed, and deeply relatable to every teenager who felt like the world was ending.
Her chemistry with Evan Peters was... a lot. It launched a thousand Tumblr blogs. But if you look at her work across the seasons, she actually plays three very distinct characters:
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- Violet Harmon (Murder House/Apocalypse): The OG emo icon.
- Zoe Benson (Coven/Apocalypse): A witch with a very inconvenient "killer" power.
- Sophie Green (Roanoke): A meta-role where she's basically a fan of her own show.
People often complain that she gets typecast. "She always plays the quiet, pale girl," they say. But they’re kinda missing the point. There’s a specific vulnerability she brings that makes the horror feel real. When she’s running from a demon nun in The Nun and The Nun II, you actually care if she makes it.
The 2023 release of The Nun II was a massive moment for her. It grossed over $269 million. That’s not "indie darling" money; that’s "major movie star" money. In that sequel, she plays Sister Irene again, but this time she’s older, more weary, and discovers a family connection to Saint Lucy. It’s a lot of lore to carry, and she does it without looking ridiculous in a habit.
Breaking the Mold in The Gilded Age
If you haven't seen her as Gladys Russell in HBO's The Gilded Age, you’re missing her best work. Full stop. In the first two seasons, Gladys was basically a doll. Her mother, Bertha (played by the terrifyingly good Carrie Coon), kept her locked up like a Victorian prisoner.
But Season 3, which just finished its run in mid-2025, flipped the script.
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The finale was a total shocker. After being forced into a marriage with the Duke of Buckingham, Gladys didn't just wither away in England. She actually found her footing. She became what fans are calling "Mini Bertha." By the end of the season, she’s pregnant, confident, and running a massive estate.
Seeing Taissa go from a stuttering girl to a woman booting her husband's annoying sister out of the house was satisfying. It proved she can handle the "prestige TV" weight just as well as the "jump scare" movies.
The Indie Credits You Probably Missed
Look, everyone knows the big stuff. But her filmography has some weird, beautiful gems.
- The Final Girls (2015): This is a meta-horror comedy that more people need to see. She plays a girl who gets sucked into an 80s slasher movie that her late mother starred in. It’s funny, but it’ll also make you cry.
- 6 Years (2015): A super raw, mostly improvised drama about a toxic college relationship. It’s uncomfortable to watch. It feels like you're eavesdropping on a couple through a thin apartment wall.
- We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018): This is based on the Shirley Jackson book. Taissa plays Merricat Blackwood, and it is creepy. If you think her AHS roles were dark, this is next level. She’s basically a feral cat in a dress.
She also voiced Raven in the DC Animated Movie Universe for years. If you’ve seen Justice League vs. Teen Titans or Apokolips War, that’s her. She brings a dry, sarcastic wit to Raven that is arguably better than the live-action versions.
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What’s Actually Next for Taissa?
As of early 2026, the buzz is all about The Gilded Age Season 4. HBO has already renewed it, and the plot is expected to follow Gladys’s life in England as she navigates her new role as a Duchess while her parents' marriage in New York falls apart.
There are also whispers about a third Nun movie, though nothing is set in stone. Given the box office numbers, it’s hard to imagine Warner Bros. letting that franchise die.
What most people get wrong about Taissa is the assumption that she’s "the other Farmiga." She isn't. She’s carved out a career that is entirely her own. She picks projects that are slightly offbeat, often dark, and usually centered on complex family dynamics.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to truly appreciate the breadth of taissa farmiga movies and tv shows, don't just stick to the hits.
- Watch The Final Girls first. It bridges the gap between her horror roots and her comedic timing. It's the perfect entry point.
- Catch up on The Gilded Age on Max. If you stopped after Season 1 because it felt "too slow," skip to the Season 2 finale and watch Season 3. The character evolution for Gladys is the best arc in the show.
- Track her indie work on Letterboxd. Films like John and the Hole (2021) show her taking risks with weird, avant-garde storytelling that you won't see on HBO or in the theaters.
Her career is a masterclass in growing up on screen without losing the thing that made her special in the first place: that raw, unpolished, and completely authentic presence. Stay tuned for the Season 4 premiere of The Gilded Age later this year to see the "Mini Bertha" transformation reach its peak.