Maika Monroe (born Dillon Monroe Buckley; May 29, 1993) is an American actress and professional kiteboarder.[1] She had her breakthrough headlining the horror film It Follows (2014), which won her several accolades—including an Empire Award nomination. She is recognized for her work in the horror genre, particularly for starring in the thriller The Guest (2014), the sci-fi thriller Tau (2018), and the psychological thrillers Greta (2018) and Watcher (2022).
Maika Monroe | |
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![]() Monroe in 2016 | |
Born | Dillon Monroe Buckley (1993-05-29) May 29, 1993 (age 29) |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2009–present |
Monroe made her film acting debut with the drama film At Any Price (2012). Aside from her work in horror, she has also had roles in the drama film Labor Day (2013), the action film Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), the neo-noir coming-of-age film Hot Summer Nights (2017), the comedy-drama film After Everything (2018) and the black comedy film Villains (2019).
Monroe was born Dillon Monroe Buckley[2] on May 29, 1993, in Santa Barbara, California, the daughter of sign language interpreter Dixie and construction worker Jack Buckley.[3][4] She later changed her first name to Maika, by which she had already been known for most of her life.[2] At the age of 17, Monroe left Santa Barbara and moved to Cabarete in the Dominican Republic to continue training in kiteboarding after spending the previous summer there. She subsequently completed her senior year of high school online.[5]
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In April 2012, Monroe signed up for the drama film Labor Day, an adaptation of the novel of the same name.[6] She played Mandy, a farm girl who romances with a young man and eventually becomes his wife and the mother of his child.[7] In June 2013, she joined the cast of the psychological thriller film The Guest.[8][9] In 2014, she starred as Jay in the horror film It Follows,[10] which became a cult hit.[11][12] In 2016, she co-starred in the invasion thriller film The 5th Wave, based on the novel of the same name.[13][14] Monroe also co-starred in the 2016 movie Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to Independence Day (1996), playing former First Daughter Patricia Whitmore.[15]
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Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2012 | At Any Price | Cadence Farrow | |
2013 | The Bling Ring | Beach Girl | |
Labor Day | Mandy Chambers | ||
2014 | The Guest | Anna Peterson | |
It Follows | Jaimie "Jay" Height | ||
2015 | Echoes of War | Abigail Riley | |
Burned | Lila | Short Film | |
2016 | The 5th Wave | Ringer | |
Independence Day: Resurgence | Patricia Whitmore | ||
2017 | Hot Summer Nights | McKayla Strawberry | |
The Scent of Rain and Lightning | Jody Linder | ||
Bokeh | Jenai | ||
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House | Joan Felt | ||
I'm Not Here | Karen | ||
The Tribes of Palos Verdes | Medina Mason | ||
2018 | After Everything | Mia | |
Tau | Julia | ||
Greta | Erica Penn | ||
2019 | Honey Boy | Sandra | |
Villains | Jules | ||
How To Be Alone | Lucy | Short Film | |
2020 | Brothers by Blood | Grace | |
Flashback | Cindy Williams | ||
2022 | Watcher | Julia | |
Significant Other | Ruth Miller | Also executive producer | |
TBA | God Is a Bullet ![]() |
Case Hardin | Filming |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2009 | Eleventh Hour | Maya Wynne | Episode: "Medea" |
2013 | Flying Monkeys | Joan | Television film |
2020 | The Stranger | Clare | Main role |
2020 | JJ Villard's Fairy Tales | Snow White (voice) | Episode: "Snow White" |
Year | Work | Association | Category | Result | Refs |
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2015 | It Follows | Home Media Magazine Awards | Best Scream Queen | Won | |
Hamptons International Film Festival | Breakthrough Performer | Won | |||
Fright Meter Awards | Best Actress In A Leading Role | Nominated | [16] | ||
2016 | It Follows | iHorror Awards | Best Female Performance In A Horror Film | Nominated | |
Empire Awards | Best Female Newcomer | Nominated | [17] | ||
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best Actress | Won | [18] | ||
Independence Day: Resurgence | CinemaCon Awards | Best Ensemble of the Universe | Won | [19] | |
Burned | FilmQuest Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Short | Nominated | [20] | |
Portsmouth International Film Festival | Best Supporting Performance in a Short | Nominated | [21] | ||
2017 | The Scent of Rain and Lightning | Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival | Best Lead Actress | Won | [22][23] |
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National libraries |