You may know her as the queen of modern horror, but before entering the scream biz, Maika Monroe was set for a very different career path. In a recent interview, the It Follows star opened up about almost becoming a professional athlete instead of actress.
Growing up in California, Monroe was dead-set on kiteboarding – a extreme water sport that’s part wakeboarding, windsurfing and paragliding. She competed at a high level and looked primed for life on the waves.
But one nasty accident changed everything. “I cracked my head open,” Monroe recalled. While she recovered, it made her realize pursuing sports professionally and chasing another dream wasn’t possible alone.
Surprisingly, choosing acting over athletics wasn’t too tough. “There wasn’t a debate. This is what I needed to follow,” she said of her visceral draw to performing. And what a path it’s led!
Monroe started with roles in indie films but truly broke out terrifying audiences in 2014’s It Follows. The innovative horror flick made her a scream queen legend.
Since then she’s taken on diverse projects, though her connection to scare flicks remains strong. Her next, Longlegs, keeps cementing her place in the horror hall of fame with devoted fans.
Monroe’s unforeseen journey from elite kitesurfer to iconic monster-slayer shows how unpredictable success can be. Her story proves the importance of following your passions, even if the road takes dramatic turns.
