At just 13 years old, Linda Blair shocked audiences with her portrayal of the demon-possessed Regan MacNeil in the iconic horror film The Exorcist. Her performance was so believable and terrifying that it left a lasting impression on viewers, and despite her success, Blair faced numerous challenges in the aftermath of the film’s release.
The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin, was based on William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel, which was inspired by a real-life exorcism in 1949. Released in 1973, the film tells the story of 12-year-old Regan, whose violent and erratic behavior leads her mother to seek the help of a Jesuit priest. The priest eventually realizes that Regan is possessed by a demon and calls on the Catholic Church to perform an exorcism. The film’s intense portrayal of demonic possession, coupled with its religious themes, made it a controversial and unsettling movie.
Despite the controversy, The Exorcist became a box office success and won multiple awards, including Oscars for Best Sound and Best Screenplay. Blair’s chilling performance catapulted her into superstardom, and her role as Regan remains one of the most iconic in horror history. Before landing the role, Blair had been a child model and appeared in numerous print ads and TV commercials. Acting, however, wasn’t her original career choice; Blair had considered working with animals before she auditioned for The Exorcist.
The film’s production was fraught with difficulties, with many believing the set was cursed. Cast and crew members faced injuries and even deaths during and after filming. Special effects designer Marcel Vercoutere, who created the infamous head-spinning effect for Blair, said he felt like they were “playing around with something” dangerous. One of the most bizarre incidents occurred when a bird flew into a lightbox, causing a fire that burned down the entire set where Regan’s exorcism was to take place. The set had to be rebuilt, delaying production for six weeks. Tragically, two actors, Jack MacGowran and Vasiliki Maliaros, both died shortly before the film’s release, eerily mirroring the fate of their characters in the movie.
Blair, being so young, didn’t fully understand the darker elements of the story and remained unaffected by the tragedies surrounding the production. However, the film’s religious themes sparked backlash from viewers, leading to death threats and accusations of Satanism directed at Blair. These events, along with the pressure of constant media scrutiny, took a toll on Blair. In interviews, she described how overwhelming it was to be expected to answer deep questions about faith and the nature of evil at such a young age.
Despite her early success, Blair struggled to break free from the typecasting that followed her after The Exorcist. While she reprised her role in Exorcist II: The Heretic and took on other dramatic roles, she found it difficult to escape the shadow of Regan. Eventually, Blair shifted her focus back to her early passion for animals, founding the Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating abused animals.