Brief
Linda Cardellini discusses returning as Pamela Voorhees in Peacock’s ‘Crystal Lake’
The actress reflects on the blood‑soaked opening, her career milestones and the challenges of early roles.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Linda Cardellini told Elle that she is back as Pamela Voorhees in Peacock’s prequel series Crystal Lake, describing the opening scene where she is covered in blood and stares into a bathroom mirror.
What happened
In the series’ first episode, Cardellini’s character appears fully drenched in blood, her eyes the only visible feature as she looks at herself in a mirror. Cardellini said the role lets her "dive into this character who is touched upon but makes such a huge impression" and acknowledges that Pamela Voorhees is "obviously not right in the head." The series, a prequel to the original Friday the 13th films, premieres on Peacock on Oct. 15.
What the reports add
Cardellini traced her love of performance to a childhood production of The Music Man at age 11 in Northern California. She recalled a teacher who gave her a chance to act, saying, "I always wanted to act," and noted that she later worked at a San Francisco casting agency before landing her first union role as a series regular.
What was said
Cardellini explained, "Once you have a paycheck in hand, it becomes more real," and laughed about her early learning curve on set, admitting she "didn’t understand how to hit a mark" or "Camera right, Camera left." She also said she "faked it" through early gigs, including a mental‑patient role and a love‑interest part in Good Burger, as well as a guest spot on Boy Meets World. Reflecting on her breakout role, she said, "I had no idea what I was really stepping into, and how people would be angry about it for years."
How it came about
Cardellini’s career progressed from the cult‑favorite sitcom Freaks and Geeks, where she played Lindsay Weir, to Emmy‑winning work on Dead to Me and the recent series DTF St. Louis. She credited the risk of taking the Lindsay role at 23 for teaching her to trust her instincts, and she noted that Busy Philipps, a former classmate at Loyola Marymount University, admired her early on. Cardellini’s return to horror marks another distinct chapter in a career that spans comedy, drama and now slasher prequels.
Key facts
- Linda Cardellini returns as Pamela Voorhees in Peacock’s prequel series "Crystal Lake". (elle.com)
- The opening scene shows Cardellini covered in blood, staring at a bathroom mirror. (elle.com)
- Cardellini first discovered acting at age 11 in a production of "The Music Man" in Northern California. (elle.com)
- "Crystal Lake" premieres on Peacock on Oct. 15, 2026. (elle.com)
- Cardellini previously starred in "Freaks and Geeks", "Dead to Me" and "DTF St. Louis". (elle.com)
Sources
- [1] elle.com — originally reported as “Linda Cardellini on 'Crystal Lake,' 'Freaks and Geeks,' and 'Legally Blonde'”
