Rose McGowan

**Rose Arianna McGowan** is an Italian-born American actress, film producer, director and singer. She is best known for playing Paige Matthews in The WB supernatural drama series Charmed from 2001 to 2006.

She made her film debut in the 1992 comedy Encino Man, where she played a small role. Her performance as Amy Blue in the 1995 dark comedy film The Doom Generation brought her wider attention, and received an Independent Spirit Award nomination. McGowan then appeared in the 1996 hit horror film Scream and starred alongside Ben Affleck in the 1997 coming-of-age feature Going All the Way. Later, she appeared in several Hollywood films, including Devil in the Flesh (1998), Jawbreaker (1999), Ready to Rumble (2000), Monkeybone (2001) and The Black Dahlia (2006). In 2005, McGowan played Ann-Margret alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Elvis Presley in the CBS miniseries Elvis. In 2007, she starred in Planet Terror, part of the double-feature film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, Death Proof. The following year, she starred in the crime thriller film, Fifty Dead Men Walking.

In 1996, McGowan was the cover model for the Henry Mancini tribute album Shots in the Dark; and she was the face of American clothing company Bebe from 1998 to 1999. She has also appeared on numerous magazine covers, including Seventeen, Interview, Maxim, GQ, Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone.

## Early life

McGowan was born in Certaldo, Tuscany, to American couple Daniel McGowan, an artist, and Terri, a writer. She also has two half-siblings. Her father ran an Italian chapter of the Children of God, in which both he and his wife held membership until 1978. McGowan spent her early childhood at the group's communes, often traveling through Europe with her parents.

Through her father's art contacts in Italy, she became a child model and appeared in *Vogue Bambini* and various other Italian magazines. Her parents returned to the United States when she was 10 years old, and settled in Eugene, Oregon. McGowan had an untraditional childhood, living as a teenage runaway in Portland, Oregon and associating with a group of drag queens in the city. When her parents divorced, she lived with her father in Seattle, Washington, attended Roosevelt High School and Nova Alternative High School, and worked at McDonald's. She took ballet lessons until she was 13. At 15, she officially emancipated herself from her parents and moved to Los Angeles.

## Career

### **Early roles and breakthrough (1992–2000)**

After making her Hollywood film debut with a brief role in the Pauly Shore comedy *Encino Man* (1992), McGowan was cast in the leading role in Gregg Araki's dark comedy *The Doom Generation* (1995), which revolved around a threesome of teens who embark on a sex and violence-filled journey. The film brought her a much wider recognition and the attention of film critics; she received a nomination for Best Debut Performance at the 1996 Independent Spirit Awards. McGowan next obtained the role of Tatum Riley in the slasher cult film *Scream* (1996), as the casting director believed she best embodied the "spunky", "cynical" but "innocent" nature of the ill-fated character. Upon its release, the film became a huge critical and financial success, grossing over $100 million in North America and $173 million worldwide. Amid her growing public profile, she was the cover model for the Henry Mancini tribute album Shots in the Dark, which was released in 1996, and became the face of American clothing company Bebe from 1998 to 1999.

In 1997, she appeared in the short film Seed, directed by San Francisco-born filmmaker Karin Thayer, and played opposite Peter O'Toole in the 1998 film adaptation of the Dean Koontz novel *Phantoms*. McGowan spent the majority of the late 1990s headlining a variety of independent films, including roles in *Nowhere* (1997), where she reunited with Araki, as well as *Southie* (1996), *Going All the Way* (1997), *Lewis and Clark and George* (1997), and *Devil in the Flesh* (1998), where she usually played seductive and mysterious characters. She gained much attention for the revealing fishnet outfit she wore to the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.

In the dark comedy *Jawbreaker* (1999), she portrayed a popular yet malevolent high school student who tries to cover up her involvement in a classmate's murder. McGowan based her performance on that of Gene Tierney's sociopathic character in *Leave Her to Heaven* (1945). To accompany the release of the film, Imperial Teen's music video for the song Yoo Hoo featured McGowan as her character harassing the band members with jawbreakers. Jawbreaker was a critical and commercial failure, but found success through home video release and subsequent television airings; it has developed a cult following. McGowan earned a nomination for Best Villain at the 1999 MTV Movie Awards.

### ***Charmed* and *Grindhouse* (2001–2007)**

In 2001, McGowan obtained the role of Paige Matthews in the popular WB supernatural drama series *Charmed*, as a replacement for the lead actress Shannen Doherty, who had left the show. In the show, about the trio of witches using their combined powers to protect innocent lives from evil beings, McGowan played the character from season four until its final eighth season. In a review of the fourth season, Leigh H. Edwards of *PopMatters* added that the addition of Paige was "contrived and clunky", but welcomed the idea of McGowan joining the show as a witch "since she has major goth cred as Marilyn Manson's former flame". DVD Verdict's Cynthia Boris wrote that McGowan brought "a youthfulness" and "a fresh viewer perspective" to *Charmed*, further noting that "fans have come to enjoy her presence on the show." Sara Paige and Rachel Hyland of Geek Speak magazine described Paige as "snarky, compassionate and whimsical", and believed that "McGowan was well-suited for the role." At the 2001 Wand Awards, McGowan was nominated for Best New Cast Member and at the 2005 Family Television Awards, she won Favorite Sister, for her performance.

McGowan starred alongside Brendan Fraser, Bridget Fonda, and Whoopi Goldberg in the dark fantasy comedy *Monkeybone* (2001) as a cat girl from a limbo-like carnival landscape where nightmares are entertainment. Budgeted at US$75 million, the film only made US$7.6 million; McGowan felt that film "would've been incredible (at least the underworld part) if the men at 20th Century Fox (the suits) hadn't fired the director, a true artist, Henry Selick [half] the way through filming", and called his dismissal a "profoundly stupid move". During Charmed, McGowan portrayed actress-singer Ann-Margret in the CBS miniseries *Elvis* (2005), about the life of Elvis Presley. She also appeared briefly as the roommate of the titular character in Brian De Palma's *The Black Dahlia* (2006), a film noir shot in Los Angeles and Bulgaria and opposite Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank.

In 2007, McGowan headlined Grindhouse, a double feature horror film by directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. In Rodriguez's segment, Planet Terror, she starred as a go-go dancer and the leader of a group of rebels attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a rogue military unit, while in Tarantino's segment, Death Proof, she played a brief role as a victim of a misogynistic, psychopathic stuntman who targets young women with his "death proof" stunt car. While *Grindhouse* made a lackluster US$25.5 million in its theatrical release, it was the subject of much media coverage and critical acclaim from critics; James Berardinelli found McGowan to be the "standout here" and Mick LaSalle considered the film as "the best showcase of [McGowan] career so far".

### **Independent film route (2008–2013)**

Her next film release, *Fifty Dead Men Walking* (2008), revolved around Martin McGartland, a British agent who went undercover into the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). McGowan played a woman in the upper ranks of the organisation who offers herself to McGartland. After the film concluded shooting, McGowan sparked controversy in the United Kingdom, where she stated that she would have joined the IRA had she lived in Belfast during the era and that her "heart just broke for the cause". The film found a limited audience in theaters while critical response was positive. Also in 2008, McGowan took on a recurring role as a con artist on the acclaimed drama series *Nip/Tuck*, and co-hosted the TCM's film-series program *The Essentials* alongside Robert Osbourne, discussing classic Hollywood film.

In 2010, McGowan shot a cameo in the Robert Rodriguez feature *Machete*, a role ultimately cut, but included on the DVD release, and played a semi-homeless junkie in the fantasy drama *Dead Awake*. In the 3-D sword and sorcery film *Conan the Barbarian* (2011), a reimagining of the 1982 film of the same name which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, McGowan starred as an evil half-human/half-witch. Roger Ebert described her role as a "piece of work", writing: "She has white pancake makeup, blood red lips, cute little facial tattoos and wickedly sharp metal talons on her fingers". Filming occurred between March and July 2010 in Bulgaria, and Conan was released on August 19, 2011. Budgeted at US$90 million, the film received negative reviews, and only grossed US$48.8 worldwide.

Besides her role in the big-budgeted Conan, McGowan starred in mainly independent productions during the early 2010s, such as the psychological thriller *Rosewood Lane* (2011) from director Victor Salva, the made-for-television film *The Pastor's Wife* (2011), alongside Michael Shanks, and a film adaptation of *The Tell-Tale Heart*, released in 2016. McGowan lent her voice to the video games *Darkwatch*, playing a femme fatale named Tala, and *Terminator Salvation*, as a troubled soldier named Angie Salter. She guest-starred in an episode of *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* as a grifter who targets New York sex clubs, and also in two episodes of *Once Upon A Time* between 2012 and 2014, playing the role of the young Cora Mills.

### **Professional expansion (2014–present)**

In the third season of *Chosen* (2014), a television series airing via Crackle, McGowan took on the role of an experienced hunter. She made her directorial debut with a short film called *Dawn*, which revolved around a teen from a strict family falls under the spell of a gas-station employee. The 17-minute piece premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, to critical acclaim; *IndieWire* noted: "This was a real gem of a short film. Dawn's salient literary and cultural references, paired with the film's high production value, gorgeous shots, its slow-burner buildup and gripping conclusion, bring something to the table for everyone, and portends an excellent directorial career for Ms. McGowan".

In September 2015, McGowan released her debut single, titled "RM486". The song has strong feminist themes, with its title being a play on the abortion drug RU486 and McGowan's initials. *The Sound* (2017), an independent Canadian horror film, starred McGowan as a best-selling author and paranormal investigator alongside Christopher Lloyd and Michael Eklund. *The Hollywood Reporter* wrote of her role: "Despite her sympathetic situation, [it] isn't a particularly interesting character. A dismissive attitude and superior self-regard don't improve her likability either. McGowan seems comfortable with the role, however [...]".

On January 30, 2018, McGowan released a memoir, *Brave*, in which she details her childhood and her account of the assault by Harvey Weinstein and its aftermath. On January 31, 2018, *Citizen Rose*, a four-part documentary series produced by Bunim/Murray Productions following McGowan and her role in the Me Too movement premiered. In August 2018, McGowan was announced to receive the Inspiration Award at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards.

McGowan appears in the art film *Indecision IV*, which combines dance and gender issues. "Shot in one continuous take, the film [...] was created in May 2018, during a watershed moment in McGowan's life and is a physical expression of her state of mind at that time," a press statement stated. The piece was commissioned by UK's Heist Gallery, and is set to have special screenings at the Institute of Light in East London on December 15 and 16, with proceeds going to the charity Refuge.

## Appearances in music

While dating Marilyn Manson, McGowan appeared in a music video for the song "Coma White"; she performed backing vocals on the song "Posthuman". Both of these songs appear on the album *Mechanical Animals* (1998).

McGowan appeared on a Brian Transeau track called "Superfabulous", from his album *Emotional Technology*, which was also featured on the final *Charmed* soundtrack, *The Final Chapter*. The song has been featured in several films, including *Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!* and *Raising Helen*. She wrote and recorded a song titled "Protection", which was featured in her film *Strange Hearts* (2011). McGowan has also appeared in the Imperial Teen music video for "Yoo Hoo", which was featured on the *Jawbreaker* soundtrack, and she recorded the theme song from the film *Dead Awake* (2010).

McGowan has expressed interest in recording an album of her own. During an interview with *Living TV*, she said, "I was actually thinking of going back and doing more soulful tunes and older tunes ... and I would love to, when I have a little bit more time." In the *Charmed* episode "Sense and Sense Ability", McGowan performed, in character, a cover of the Peggy Lee classic "Fever". She performed three songs from the *Planet Terror* portion of *Grindhouse*, released on the film's soundtrack by the Varèse Sarabande label. The songs are entitled "You Belong to Me" (a Dean Martin/Jo Stafford cover), "Useless Talent #32", and "Two Against the World".

She appeared briefly in the music video for the 2014 single "Break the Rules" by Charli XCX.

## Personal life

McGowan is an activist for LGBT rights and campaigned against California's Proposition 8, which sought to ban same-sex marriage in the state in 2008. She is also known as an activist for Boston Terriers. She has two, named Bug and Fester, and has personally donated to various Boston Terrier rescues. McGowan reportedly encouraged friends to donate to Boston Terrier Rescue Net, and according to BTRN: "Having fallen in love with Bug and Fester, her friends donated generously. It amounted to a considerable contribution, which will go a long way in helping BTRN and the needy volunteers who selflessly give to deserving Bostons."[57]

McGowan is a registered Republican, though she is a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump.

In late 2009, McGowan was among several celebrities who participated in the protest NOH8.

In March 2018, McGowan came out as non-binary.[59] As of 2018, McGowan resides in Mayfair, London.

In January 2019, McGowan pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour drug charge in Virginia concerning cocaine that was found in a wallet she left behind at Dulles International Airport in 2017. She received a US$2,500 fine and a suspended jail sentence.

### **Relationships**

In the early 1990s, McGowan, then relatively unknown, was involved for two years with a man she refers to as William, who, she claims, kept buying her exercise equipment and fashion magazines in an effort to persuade her to get thinner. She developed an eating disorder in her unsuccessful efforts to get her weight down to 84 pounds (38 kg) like the women in the magazines. "I never was able to get below 92 pounds (42 kg)," she wrote later. "I felt like a failure."

That relationship and the eating disorder ended in early 1993 when McGowan met Brett Cantor, a part-owner of Hollywood's Dragonfly nightclub.[63] Cantor was brutally stabbed to death in his house that July, and McGowan stated that it left her "shattered". The killing remains unsolved.

McGowan had a three-and-a-half-year relationship with rock musician Marilyn Manson. After a formal engagement lasting two years, McGowan ended the relationship in 2001 over "lifestyle differences".

Prior to the release of *Grindhouse*, there was speculation that McGowan was dating director Robert Rodriguez. In May 2007, it was reported that they confirmed their relationship while appearing hand-in-hand at the Cannes Film Festival. On October 12, 2007, it was announced by Zap2it.com that McGowan was engaged to Rodriguez. They reportedly split in October 2009.

In July 2013, after one year of dating, McGowan became engaged to artist Davey Detail. They married on October 12, 2013 in Los Angeles. In February 2016, she filed for divorce from Detail, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in November 2016.

### **Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual harassment allegations**

*The New York Times* revealed, in October 2017, that she received a $100,000 settlement from movie mogul Harvey Weinstein in relation to an alleged sexual harassment in 1997. "Women fight on," she wrote afterwards. "And to the men out there, stand up. We need you as allies." It was alleged that the encounter had taken place in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival. More than two decades later, she described the incident as rape.

On October 10, 2017, McGowan accused actor Ben Affleck of lying for saying he was "angry" over Weinstein's alleged abuse of women but failing to indicate whether he knew about it even though she had told him Weinstein had acted inappropriately towards her. Via Twitter, she also attacked other men in the movie industry, tweeting, "All of you Hollywood 'A-list' golden boys are LIARS....You all knew." She later clarified that she told Affleck, while crying, that she had "just come from Harvey's and he said, 'Goddamn it, I told him to stop doing that.' It's not like I'm raging at Ben Affleck. I never said to him, 'I was just raped.' It's just more to illustrate the point of this continual thing of everybody knowing and everybody being part of it, unwittingly or proactively."

On October 12, McGowan alleged that Harvey Weinstein had raped her, and that Amazon Studios dropped her project after she complained. On the same day, McGowan said that Twitter suspended her account for 12 hours after she repeatedly tweeted about Weinstein's alleged sexual misconduct, including toward her. Twitter explained that McGowan's account had violated its privacy policy because one of her tweets included a private phone number. *The New York Times* reported, "Many Twitter users expressed outrage over Ms. McGowan's account being locked." After the tweet was removed, her account was unlocked several hours before the 12-hour ban was set to expire. Through his lawyer, David Boies, Weinstein at one point hired the private intelligence agency Black Cube to spy on McGowan and to stop outlets such as *The New York Times* and *The New Yorker* from reporting their investigations on Harvey Weinstein.

On February 7, 2018, Jill Messick, McGowan's manager at the time of the alleged rape in 1997, died by suicide. Messick's family blamed Weinstein, the media, the public, and McGowan for her death.

## Controversies

In September 2008, McGowan caused controversy while promoting her film *Fifty Dead Men Walking* at a Toronto International Film Festival press conference, when she stated, "I imagine, had I grown up in Belfast, I would 100% have been in the IRA. My heart just broke for the cause. Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it." This prompted director Kari Skogland and the film's producers to issue a public apology, stating that McGowan's views did not reflect their own.

In an August 2011 interview, McGowan talked about her experience working on the film Rosewood Lane with director Victor Salva, who is a convicted child molester and child pornographer, stating, "I still don't really understand the whole story or history there, and I'd rather not, because it's not really my business. But he's an incredibly sweet and gentle man."

In May 2014, McGowan held a defiant party in support of the Brunei-owned Beverly Hills Hotel, despite a boycott over Brunei's anti-gay laws, which prescribes death by stoning for same-sex activities. McGowan explained her stance on the issue thus: "Boycotts only work when they hurt the target's bottom line. We are never going to affect the sultan's bottom line. He's worth $20 billion! This is a vanity project for him. It could sit empty for 100 years and he wouldn't even notice. But meanwhile, we're hurting all the wonderful, struggling people who work in the hotel. I'd like him to see that gays are real people. I think that's the only thing that would change his mind, not a boycott."

In November 2014, while discussing misogyny and sexism during Bret Easton Ellis' podcast, McGowan criticized the gay community for not doing more to help the cause of women's rights, saying, "I see now, basically, people who've fought for the right to stand on top of a float wearing an orange speedo and take molly. And, I see no help, and I see no paying it forward, and I have a huge problem with that. There are so many things to help and do, and I see no extending of a hand outside of the gay community to another community. And that's a problem for me." Rose McGowan also stated, "Gays are misogynistic as straight men, if not more so. I have an indictment of the gay community right now. I'm actually really upset with them." The characterization of LGBT rights activism being centered on drug use and wearing revealing clothing in public were criticized as homophobic or transphobic. She later apologized for generalizing gay men as misogynistic, but defended the rest of her comments.

In June 2015, McGowan sparked controversy with a Twitter post making public what was perceived as a sexist casting call for an Adam Sandler film. McGowan later said, "It was just so dumb. I was offended by the stupidity more than anything. I was offended by the fact that went through so many people's hands and nobody red flagged it. This is normal to so many people. It was probably even a girl that had to type it up. It's institutionally OK." This reportedly led to McGowan being fired by her agent. She later clarified that talent agent Sheila Wenzel was not responsible for "firing" her after she took a stand against sexism in Hollywood. "I'm interested in making the industry better so that women following in my footsteps know that they don't have to take abuse just because she wants be creative," the actress told *People* magazine.

In 2015, McGowan criticized Caitlyn Jenner for stating that "the hardest part about being a woman is figuring out what to wear", after Jenner had been named "Woman of the Year" by *Glamour*. McGowan stated, "We are more than deciding what to wear. We are more than the stereotypes foisted upon us by people like you. You're a woman now? Well f\*\*cking learn that we have had a VERY different experience than your life of male privilege." In response to accusations of transphobia, McGowan stated, "Let me take this moment to point out that I am not, nor will I ever be, transphobic. The idea is laughable. Disliking something a trans person has said is no different than disliking something a man has said or that a woman has said. Being trans doesn't make one immune from criticism."

In early January 2020, McGowan sparked controversy by apologizing to Iran for the United States' behavior in a tweet sent out in the hours after a US airstrike in Iraq killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. She wrote, "Dear #Iran, The USA has disrespected your country, your flag, your people. 52% of us humbly apologize. We want peace with your nation. We are being held hostage by a terrorist regime. We do not know how to escape. Please do not kill us. #Soleimani"

## Trivia

* Auditioned for the role of Lisa Rowe in Girl, Interrupted (1999), which eventually went to Angelina Jolie.
* She won the role of Amy Blue in The Doom Generation (1995), after Jordan Ladd backed out.
* Modeled as a child and dreams of being a museum curator.
* Told Howard Stern that she broke up with Marilyn Manson because she tired of the rock and roll lifestyle he engaged in. When pressed further, she admitted that drug use was a big part of that lifestyle. [October 2001]
* A tattoo of a woman on her right shoulder has been surgically removed.
* She knits, gardens, collects shoes and collects Marlene Dietrich memorabilia.
* The WB network announced that she would be playing Paige Matthews, the long-lost, baby half-sister of Prue, Piper and Phoebe on the television series Charmed (1998). She was cast after Shannen Doherty, who played eldest sister Prue Halliwell, was fired when she refused to sign a two-year contract extension. [June 2001]
* She won the role of Tatum Riley in Scream (1996) after Melinda Clarke turned it down. Coincidentally, the two would later work together when Clarke guest starred on Charmed (1998) in October 2002.
* She attended high school with Nicole Berger
* Ranked #39 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002).
* She ran away at age 9 to escape the Children of God cult that her parents were a part of. River Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix, Summer Phoenix, Rain Phoenix and Joaquin Phoenix were also child members of Children of God.
* Absolutely hates fish.
* Has agoraphobia and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
* Watched Viva Las Vegas (1964) many times in order to prepare for her role of Ann-Margret in the miniseries Elvis (2005).
* Watched Viva Las Vegas (1964) many times in order to prepare for her role of Ann-Margret in the miniseries Elvis (2005).
* Is the favorite actress of both Brian De Palma and Quentin Tarantino.
* Legally emancipated herself from her parents at age 15.
* Collaborated with musician BT on the song "Superfabulous", found on his 2003 CD, "Emotional Technology".
* Ranked #44 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.
* Ranked #14 on Wizard magazine's 'Sexiest Women of TV' list (March 2008).
* Broke her left foot after running into the edge of a doorway made of stone. [April 2008]
* In the movie Rats (2003), the character Rose is based on the writer's experience with the actress Rose McGowan, and played by character actress Eileen Grubba.
* Played the character Tatum Riley in Scream (1996), best friend of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), her character Paige Matthews lives at 1329 Prescott Street, the address of Halliwell Manor on Charmed (1998).
* Asked to have the stripper pole sanitized before doing her go-go dance routine in Planet Terror (2007).
* While filming Scream (1996), she discovered that she could actually fit through a pet flap.
* After Rose's arrival in the United States, the future actress took a brief job at a McDonald's fast food restaurant. During her 5-day stint at the restaurant Rose became a vegetarian in protest of the non-vegetarian options at McDonald's. However, her efforts were pointless and Rose quit the job after just a week.
* She revealed that she still goes to Marilyn Manson (her ex-boyfriend)'s concerts: "What can I say? I'm a groupie but without the sex".
* She adores British pop music.
* Her mother, Terri, was a writer, but she now works for Microsoft. Her father, Daniel, is an artist. Her parents divorced by the time she was 10 and she went to live with grandmother in Washington. Rose has two brothers, two sisters and two half siblings.
* When she was 14, she was sent to a drug rehab center because of her appearance, even though she wasn't on drugs. She hated it, ran away and was homeless for a year.
* She was considered a loner in high school. She wore black and spent most of her time in the library.
* She loves singing karaoke to Patsy Cline.
* Her dog, "Fester", was named after "Uncle Fester" on The Addams Family (1964).
* She frequently bases her "look" on the style of stars from the 1940s, stating that Marlene Dietrich and Ava Gardner are her "style icons".
* She did all her own stunts in the horror movie Scream (1996).
* She admires Sophia Loren, Ralph Fiennes, Susan Sarandon, Linda Fiorentino, Clara Bow, Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Jessica Lange and Ava Gardner.
* Is mentioned in David Navarro's book "Don't Try This At Home". It features pictures of her alone and also with her ex, rock musician Marilyn Manson.
* One of Rose's favorite episodes on Charmed (1998) was Charmed: Charmed Noir (2004), as she loves anything from the 40s time period, which was what the episode was based upon.
* She is a huge fan of Elizabeth Taylor.
* At age 15, she left to live on her own, legally emancipated, supporting herself with several odd jobs, often having to lie about her age. Living on her own meant being forced to live on the streets for a short time, but despite this she later attended art and beauty school before heading to Los Angeles where she was found outside a gym because thought it was "too corny" and had a chance encounter with independent film director Gregg Araki. Her performance in Araki's dark road movie earned her a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 1996 Independent Spirit Awards.
* She dyed her hair blonde, in order to contrast her black hair from Neve Campbell's, in the horror movie Scream (1996).
* She sings in BT's song, "Superfabulous", with Scott McCloud.
* On February 22, 2006, she appeared at UC Irvine to help raise awareness and confront myths about sexual assault on college campuses across the nation. The event was free and open to the public.
* She made $55,000 per episode in her early years of Charmed (1998), which was bumped up to $102,000 per episode from season 7, onwards.
* Did not speak English until age 10, when she and her family moved to the United States.
* Her parents were both American-born. She has Irish, French, and English ancestry.
* Was supposed to star in the lead role in a remake of Red Sonja (1985). Two promotional posters for the movie were released during the Comic Con in 2008. Both featured McGowan, dressed as Red Sonja with fierce red hair. On one she was licking blood from a sword and on the other she was kneeling on a pile of skulls with red plots flying around her. Both posters promoted the movie to be released in 2009. It was never released that year and the project never materialized.
* In 2007 it was announced she was going to star in a film titled "Black Oasis", based on the life of B-movie actress Susan Cabot and directed by Stephan Elliott. The project never materialized.
* The New York Times reported that Rose McGowan was one of at least 8 women with whom producer Harvey Weinstein settled. The incident involving McGowan and Weinstein happened in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival in 1997. The Times added that the $100,000 payment was "not to be construed as an admission," but rather to "avoid litigation and buy peace," according to an official document. Although she declined to comment for that story, McGowan has often hinted that she was sexually assaulted by a studio mogul. She even referred to the incident as "rape" on Twitter, but didn't disclose who raped her, only giving multiple clues, that the man was probably Weinstein. [October 2017]
* She was considered for the role of Trixie in Speed Racer (2008), but the role was given to Christina Ricci.
* (March 1, 2019) Once had an abortion after birth control failed.
* She spent her early years as a child living in a commune and often traveled to Europe with her family.
* She was nominated for a Saturn Award in 2007 for her role as Cherry Darling in Grindhouse--Planet Terror.
* She dated Marilyn Manson for three years starting in 1998. She was then married to Davey Detail from 2013 until 2016. Subsequently, she has been linked to Josh Latin.
* She appeared in director Quentin Tarantino's double feature film Grindhouse.