How Victoria Pedretti Booked The Haunting of Hill House With Zero Industry Connections

Victoria Pedretti’s ascent in Hollywood was anything but ordinary. With no industry connections and fresh out of drama school, she secured a career-defining role that catapulted her into the spotlight almost instantly. Her gripping performance as Eleanor “Nell” Crain in Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House not only established her as a powerhouse in the psychological horror genre but also set the stage for an enduring career.

From Philadelphia to Carnegie Mellon: The Foundation of a Star

Born on March 23, 1995, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Victoria Pedretti displayed an early passion for performance. Determined to refine her craft, she enrolled in Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious School of Drama, a program known for producing some of Hollywood’s most esteemed actors.

During her time at Carnegie Mellon, Pedretti honed her skills in classical and contemporary acting, learning to embody complex characters with raw emotional depth. Unlike many of her peers who took years to break into the industry, Pedretti wasted no time making her mark. Immediately after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2017, she was thrust into the professional world with a role that would define the early years of her career.

The Haunting of Hill House: A Breakout Role That Redefined Horror

Without an extensive resume or prior television experience, Pedretti auditioned for Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House, a modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel. The psychological horror series, which premiered on Netflix in 2018, followed the Crain family as they navigated the trauma of their haunted childhood home.

Pedretti’s performance as Nell Crain was nothing short of haunting. As the youngest sibling, Nell served as the emotional anchor of the series, her tragic arc delivering some of its most gut-wrenching moments. Her chilling monologue in the infamous “Bent-Neck Lady” episode became an instant classic, earning her widespread acclaim.

Critics and audiences alike were mesmerized. Chad Collins of Dread Central described Pedretti as the “soul of The Haunting of Hill House,” while The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan noted that she “commanded every scene she was in with an effortless magnetism.” For an actress fresh out of drama school, such high praise was rare, yet entirely deserved.

A Seamless Transition Into Hollywood and a Second Netflix Sensation

Pedretti’s impact in The Haunting of Hill House was impossible to ignore. In a Hollywood landscape saturated with familiar faces, her intensity and depth set her apart. Almost immediately, she was cast in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, portraying real-life Manson family member Leslie Van Houten. Though a small role, it further cemented her ability to hold her own alongside industry titans like Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.

That same year, Pedretti took another massive leap in her career. She was cast as Love Quinn, the complex and unpredictable female lead in the second season of Netflix’s psychological thriller You. Interestingly, Pedretti had initially auditioned for the role of Guinevere Beck in the first season but was not selected. However, her audition clearly left an impression, as producers brought her back for the pivotal role of Love Quinn.

Her portrayal of Love was a masterclass in deception. She seamlessly transitioned between charming and sinister, keeping audiences enthralled as her character’s true nature unraveled. Once again, critics were enamored. Vanity Fair called her performance “a perfect storm of vulnerability and menace,” while Vulture declared her the “most intoxicatingly unhinged character on television.”

An Unstoppable Force in Psychological Horror and Beyond

With back-to-back successes in two of Netflix’s most critically acclaimed series, Pedretti quickly established herself as one of the most formidable talents of her generation. She returned to the Flanagan universe in 2020, starring as Dani Clayton in The Haunting of Bly Manor, further solidifying her dominance in the horror genre.

Despite her undeniable association with psychological horror, Pedretti refuses to be confined by it. In recent years, she has begun exploring roles outside the genre, demonstrating the range and versatility that initially made her such a force to be reckoned with.

A Career Built on Talent, Not Connections

What sets Victoria Pedretti apart from many of her contemporaries is the sheer force of her talent. She did not enter the industry with nepotistic advantages, nor did she rely on gimmicks to make an impression. Instead, she let her work speak for itself.

Her meteoric rise from an unknown drama student to one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood is proof that raw ability and an unwavering commitment to craft still hold weight in the entertainment industry. With every role, Pedretti continues to captivate, unsettle, and leave audiences craving more.

She is not just another rising star. She is a phenomenon.