A horror movie icon who shot to fame in a ‘cursed’ blockbuster which threw her personal life into turmoil was seen on a rare public outing this week.
The Oscar nominated star’s debut leading role, saw her become a worldwide star but hit with death threats and sensationally accused of promoting Satanic beliefs.
Her later career would be blighted by box office flops as she was ‘typecast’ as a distressed teen.
She was famously arrested for drug possession aged 18, and also posed nude on the cover of Playboy five years later.
In recent years she has pivoted from acting to a focus on her animal rescue – although did reprise her most iconic role in the film’s 2023 sequel.
So can you guess who she is?
A horror movie icon who shot to fame in a ‘cursed’ blockbuster which threw her personal life into turmoil was seen on a rare public outing this week – who is she?
It’s The Exorcist star Linda Blair! The actress, now 66, starred as possessed Regan MacNeil in the iconic 1973 film aged just 14.
Blair cut a low-key figure in a black tee, straw hat and high waisted trousers as she wheeled her suitcase at LAX.
The original movie debuted in December 1973, following Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) as she enlists the help of two priests (Max Von Sydow and William O’Malley) to exorcise a demon from her daughter Regan.
William Friedkin (The French Connection) directed the original, with The Exorcist author William Peter Blatty writing the screenplay adaptation based on his book.
Fans who flocked to the sensational film, were shocked at scenes that showed Blair’s character involved in terrible violence and profanity.
In one gruesome moment Regan is shown masturbating with a crucifix.
Other scenes show the character’s head-spinning and vomiting over a priest, who was trying to expel the demon from Regan’s body.
The Exorcist was controversial and subsequently banned or restricted in some countries – and it was even claimed the film was ‘cursed’ after a mysterious set fire and mishaps during production.
Friedkin himself said: ‘We were plagued by strange and sinister things from the beginning, it is simply the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.’
It’s The Exorcist star Linda Blair! The actress, now 66, starred as possessed Regan MacNeil in the iconic 1973 film aged just 14
Blair cut a low-key figure in a black tee, straw hat and high waisted trousers as she wheeled her suitcase at LAX
The star looked relaxed as she touched down in LA
Blair kept a low profile as she headed out of the airport
The star was with a companion as she headed out
The original movie debuted in December 1973, following Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) as she enlists the help of two priests (Max Von Sydow and William O’Malley) to exorcise a demon from her daughter Regan
Blair later reprised her role as Regan in the Exorcist sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977 – which was a critical and commercial failure
The film is still considered to be one of the scariest movies of all time, earning $441 million at the box office and earning 10 Oscar nominations, making history as the first horror movie ever to earn a Best Picture nomination.
The role earned Blair a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
At the time of the film’s release, rumors spread Blair had been killed off during its making.
There were other stories that the young star had survived the film, but had come away psychologically damaged after acting out the demonic possession.
Blair later reprised her role as Regan in the Exorcist sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977 – which was a critical and commercial failure.
That same year aged 18 she was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony in the alleged sale and purchase of cocaine.
She pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of conspiracy to possess cocaine, in exchange for three years’ probation.
Blair fractured her spine while thrashing around on a mechanical bed for the film – with the injury developing into scoliosis.
Blair would never reach the heights of her The Exorcist performance again.
She made a cameo as a reporter in Wes Craven’s 1996 blockbuster Scream – seen with David Arquette as Dewey
In 1974 she starred as a runaway teenager suffering sexual abuse in controversial TV film Born Innocent.
That same year aged 15 she dated Australian singer Rick Springfield, who was 25 at the time.
Establishing herself as a Scream Queen, she starred in horror films including Stranger in Our House in 1978, Hell Night in 1981 and and Grotesque in 1988.
She was nominated for five Razzie Awards between 1980-1985.
On a trip to Australia in 2013, Linda Blair admitted to the Daily Telegraph that the films producers had deliberately spread rumors about her and the movie to stir up controversy.
‘There was all this negativity about what I had been through, so I began this world press tour,’ she explained.
‘I went out to England and Australia and all over the world to talk about the film and to show that I was fine.’
In 1982 in an attempt to break free of her horror movie roots, she posed nude for Playboy.
Before The Exorcist: Believer, her last screen role was in ghost drama Landfill in 2021 – pictured 2022
In 1996 she made a cameo in Scream and appeared on Broadway the following year in Grease.
In 2006, she guest-starred on Supernatural, playing the part of Detective Diana Ballard.
In 2010, she appeared as herself on the cable series Pit Boss and Jury Duty.
Before The Exorcist: Believer, her last screen role was in ghost drama Landfill in 2021.
She reprised her Regan role again in 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer.
