Lizzie Borden's Real Relationship With Her Maid, Bridget Sullivan, Explained

Published Sep 17, 2026, 3:55 PM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story paints Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan as secret lovers who collude to murder Lizzie’s parents, raising questions about the veracity of the claim. Monster is back with another season, this time taking on the Lizzie Borden story. This is the first time a woman is the “monster” and accused killer in question. Borden’s story is so infamous that it has become a children’s rhyme used in hand claps and jump rope. “Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks; when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.” Famously, 134 years ago, Lizzie was accused of using an axe to murder her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Borden. For the record, there weren’t 40 and 41 injuries; it was 10 to 11 for Andrew and 18 to 19 for Abby Borden. The case was sensationalized, drawing plenty of eyes to the brutal crime. The public quickly decided she was guilty, but the jury found her not guilty after just 90 minutes of deliberation, a decision influenced by societal biases about women and excluded evidence. Monster likes to bend the truth or make things up, though. As such, viewers have started looking at everything in the true crime anthology with a skeptical eye. This season, one of the biggest questions to come from the show is “Did Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan really have a romantic relationship?” The idea that they had trysts is the backbone of the entire story. However, the real relationship between the two women is nothing like what was portrayed. There's No Evidence That Lizzie Borden Had A Romantic Relationship With Bridget Sullivan Courtesy of Netflix © 2026 Despite what's shown in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, there is absolutely no evidence that Lizzie Borden had a romantic relationship with her maid, Bridget Sullivan. There was never any sign of even a friendly relationship, let alone a secret romance. In fact, Bridget testified about Lizzie laughing at the time and location where Abby Borden is believed to have been killed (via Famous Trials). If they were secretly in love, her testimony wouldn’t exactly make sense. Lizzie Borden might not have been found guilty, but that statement from the maid could have swayed the jury. Vicky Krieps, the actor who plays Bridget in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, previously played Ilse Koch, a Nazi war criminal, in Monster: The Ed Gein Story. The rumors started back at the time of the trial because she was 32 years old at the time of the murders, which would have earned her the label of a spinster. What's more, Lizzie Borden never married or had children, despite inheriting a large sum after Andrew Borden’s death. She developed a friendship with stage actress Nance O’Neil (via Project MUSE), as shown in Monster. Society needed an explanation for why a woman wouldn't marry but would have a close friendship with another woman, and they jumped to secret lesbians. On top of that, Evan Hunter's novel Lizzie, published in 1984 under the pseudonym Ed McBain, fictionalizes the story and suggests that Bridget and Lizzie were in a romantic relationship. Unfortunately, the writer blurred the lines too much by using real transcripts from the trial and inquest, bolstering the idea that this was the true story. The unfortunate effect of Lizzie is that the public began believing a completely baseless rumor that was previously much less widespread. Vicky Krieps' Role As Bridget Sullivan In Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Explained Courtesy of Netflix © 2026 Ryan Murphy has a reputation for leaning on outrageous rumors when bringing true-crime stories to life in the Monster series. Frankly, the minute they announced Lizzie Borden as the subject of this season, I knew they'd go with the Lizzie and Bridget romance angle. It’s low-hanging fruit for anyone familiar with the true story. Unfortunately, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story not only included the rumor as fact but also made Bridget directly involved in the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story suggests the two lovers came up with the plan together to escape their lives. However, the show clearly casts Bridget as the ultimate instigator. She’s portrayed as rebellious, putting modern ideals in Lizzie’s head. She manipulates the entire family, paying special attention to Lizzie. She helps try to poison Andrew and Abby. Of course, all of this is fabricated. Everything points to Bridget being a quiet woman working an honest job. Ultimately, Monster is a piece of entertainment that chooses the most salacious storylines, so it’s no surprise they paint Bridget as the mastermind. Release Date September 17, 2026 Network Netflix Directors Max Winkler, Sarah Adina Smith Cast Vicky Krieps Bridget Sullivan Ella Beatty Lizzie Borden Sarah Paulson Aileen Wuornos Charlie Hunnam Andrew Borden Writers Ian Brennan Creator(s) Ian Brennan