Why Kate Siegel Is In So Many Mike Flanagan Horror Movies & Shows

Actress Kate Siegel is regularly a bright spot in the films and TV shows of director Mike Flanagan, and there’s a reason she’s in so many. That’s not to say that Siegel has only appeared in projects involving Flanagan. She’s been in several without him, and will presumably star in more in the future. But it’s Siegel’s collaborations with Flanagan for which she’s best known. This includes starring in 2016’s nail-biting horror/thriller Hush, in which Siegel plays a deaf woman stalked by a ruthless killer.

As a filmmaker, Flanagan seems quite fond of working with the same actors repeatedly as a whole, with other frequent collaborators being Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, and Bruce Greenwood, just to name a few. However, none of them have made it into more of Flanagan’s movies and TV shows than Siegel, playing both small supporting roles and more important parts like in Hush. To her credit, Siegel is frequently praised for her work in these productions, and has become a welcome presence for many.

Casual horror fans might find themselves wondering why exactly Siegel works with Flanagan so often. Sometimes it feels like she might be his creative muse, and while that could well be true, she’s actually much closer to him on a personal level than that.

Why Kate Siegel Is In So Many Mike Flanagan Horror Movies & Shows

For those wondering why Kate Siegel is so often present in Mike Flanagan’s directorial work, the reason is simple, they’re married. Siegel was an actress before their marriage, and even well before she first worked with Flanagan in 2013’s Oculus, Flanagan’s first studio film after his indie debut Absentia. Siegel has since appeared onscreen in Flanagan’s films Ouija: Origin of Evil and Gerald’s Game, starred in the aforementioned Hush, and also played memorable roles in both The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix.

In addition to starring in Hush, Siegel also co-wrote the script with her husband. Siegel will also be part of Midnight Mass, Flanagan’s next horror show for Netflix. Midnight Mass‘ plot is still quite vague, but it concerns a remote island community faced with the supernatural after a mysterious priest arrives in town. The setup sounds like it could evoke Stephen King’s Storm of the Century, a terrific and often overlooked miniseries. Whatever Siegel ends up doing in Midnight Mass, it’s likely it’ll prove just as interesting as her other work with Flanagan. While some might decry such obvious nepotism, if one is a director married to a talented actress, it makes perfect sense to utilize their gifts.

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