Lauren LaVera (born June 14, 1994[1]) is an American actress, stunt performer and martial artist. She is primarily known for being the leading actress in several horror films, which has led to her being called a "scream queen" by both critics and audiences. LaVera has received accolades for her performances, such as a Fangoria Chainsaw Award.
Lauren LaVera | |
|---|---|
 LaVera in 2022 | |
| Born | June 14, 1994 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Website | laurenlavera |
One of LaVera's first film projects was being Anya Taylor-Joy's stunt double in the psychological thriller Split (2016). She followed this with small acting parts in television series including Netflix's Iron Fist (2017) and various short films before her breakthrough role as the resourceful heroine Sienna Shaw in Damien Leone's slasher films Terrifier 2 (2022) and the upcoming Terrifier 3 (2024)—both installments in the Terrifier franchise.
Early life
LaVera was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At some point, she studied in Italy and became fluent in Italian.[2]
Career
LaVera started her career as an actress and stuntwoman as a double or in bit parts with appearances in Split (2016), Wetlands (2017), and Iron Fist (2017).
LaVera's first leading role was as Sienna Shaw, a teenage girl that battles the supernatural serial killer Art the Clown in the 2022 slasher film Terrifier 2, alongside David Howard Thornton, Elliott Fullnam, Sarah Voight, Kailey Hyman, Casey Hartnett, and Samantha Scaffidi.[3] The film was well-received by critics, with praise directed at LaVera's performance. IGN's review said that LaVera "rules as Sienna in her angel-winged fantasy armor as a final girl fighting for family, facing her demons, and screaming bloody war cries in Art's mocking face,"[4] while Matthew Jackson of Paste wrote that "LaVera, tasked with injecting humanity into the sequel, lives up to this task with pure star power."[5] LaVera will reprise her role as Sienna in Terrifier 3.[6][7][8]
LaVera appeared in the mob film Not for Nothing, released in October 2022.[9] In December 2022, LaVera was cast as Alessa, a pregnant woman whose antagonizing father disapproves of her relationship with her husband, in Joe Lam's 2023 horror film The Fetus, opposite Julian Curtis and Bill Moseley.[10][11] In February 2023, Bloody Disgusting reported that LaVera would star as Lisa Gray in the supernatural thriller film The Well, directed by Federico Zampaglione.[12]
In 2023, LaVera appeared as a guest judge on the fifth season of Shudder's reality competition series The Boulet Brothers' Dragula (2023).[citation needed]
In 2024, LaVera appeared in a guest starring role in two season four episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Personal life
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Split | Casey Cooke | Anya Taylor-Joy stunt double[14] |
| 2017 | Wetlands | "Buttercup" / Pusher | |
| 2019 | Clinton Road | Kayla | |
| 2022 | Terrifier 2 | Sienna Shaw | |
| Not For Nothing | Kelly | ||
| 2024 | The Fetus | Alessa | |
| The Well | Lisa Gray | [12] | |
| Terrifier 3 | Sienna Shaw | [15] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Iron Fist | Ciara | Episode: "Black Tiger Steals Heart" |
| 2020 | MacGyver | Player | Episode: "Soccer + Desi + Merchant + Titan" |
| Dispatches from Elsewhere | Barista | Episodes: "Peter", "The Boy" | |
| A Taste of Christmas | Ariella Cancio | Television film | |
| 2024 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | Heidi Morris | Episodes: "Beyond the Sea", "Original Sin" |
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | The Editor's Eyeball Award | Terrifier 2 | Won | [16] |