The Hidden Heroines of Horror: The Women Who Shaped The Shining

As The Shining celebrates its 45th anniversary this year, it’s time to peek behind the hotel’s infamous doors and meet some of the remarkable women who helped create this masterpiece of horror—and no, we’re not just talking about the creepy twins.

When Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining first haunted theaters in 1980, critics weren’t exactly booking extended stays. The film received mixed reviews, and Stephen King famously loathed this adaptation of his novel. Yet, like the Overlook’s persistent spirits, The Shining refused to fade away, gradually earning recognition as one of cinema’s greatest horror films. The story of the Torrance family’s descent into supernatural madness during a long winter as caretakers of the isolated Overlook Hotel has become a cultural touchstone, spawning countless parodies, analyses, and conspiracy theories.

From Page to Scream

While Jack Nicholson’s unhinged performance as Jack Torrance dominates discussions, it’s worth noting that the film’s emotional core comes from Shelley Duvall’s raw, vulnerable portrayal of Wendy Torrance. Duvall, who sadly passed away in 2024 just shy of the film’s 45th anniversary, endured a notoriously difficult shoot under Kubrick’s fussy direction. Her portrayal of a mother fighting to protect her psychic son Danny from both supernatural forces and her increasingly unstable husband provides the film’s humanitarian anchor amid the supernatural chaos.

Speaking of supernatural chaos, while Nicholson’s “Here’s Johnny!” moment might be the most quoted scene, it’s the film’s female apparitions that deliver its most spine-chilling moments. From the iconic twins in their baby-blue dresses to the young woman in Room 237 who transforms into a decomposing elderly corpse, these feminine phantoms have haunted audiences’ nightmares for decades.

The Novelist Who Knew Fear

Before Kubrick picked up his axe to hack away at King’s novel, he enlisted accomplished author Diane Johnson as his co-screenwriter. What drew Kubrick to Johnson was her 1974 psychological thriller The Shadow Knows, a haunting tale about a single mother terrorized by mysterious forces in a housing project. The novel’s exploration of maternal fear, isolation, and psychological terror proved Johnson was uniquely qualified to help adapt King’s supernatural epic.

Johnson’s literary expertise was crucial in restructuring King’s sprawling novel into a lean, methodical descent into madness. Her experience writing about a mother’s paranoia and terror in The Shadow Knows directly influenced the film’s treatment of Wendy’s character, helping to create a more psychologically complex portrait of a woman fighting for survival. While Kubrick was notorious for his perfectionism, Johnson’s understanding of psychological horror helped ground the supernatural elements in very human fears.

The Sonic Sorceresses

The Shining’s iconic main title theme, with its bone-chilling interpretation of Berlioz’s “Dies Irae,” came from the brilliant minds of Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind. These pioneering electronic composers created a soundscape that was decades ahead of its time. Carlos, already famous for her groundbreaking album Switched-On Bach, was also quietly making history as one of the first openly transgender women in the entertainment industry; she underwent sex reassignment surgery in the early 1970s. Her collaboration with producer Rachel Elkind had previously yielded innovative scores for A Clockwork Orange, but their work on The Shining pushed electronic music into new territory.

While much of their original score went unused in the final film (a decision that reportedly left them furious with Kubrick), their main title theme became one of horror cinema’s most recognizable openings. The haunting vocalization performed by Elkind herself adds an otherworldly element that perfectly sets up the supernatural terror to come.

The Twins Who Terrorized Us Forever (and Ever, and Ever)

“Come play with us, Danny…” These words, spoken by Lisa and Louise Burns as the Grady twins, have been sending chills down audiences’ spines for over four decades. Cast after saying “Hello, Mr. Kubrick” in perfect unison during their audition (which thoroughly spooked the director), the Burns twins brought an ethereal quality to their roles that transcended their brief screen time.

Despite spending most of their time in uncomfortable costumes that were eventually soaked in “Kensington Gore” fake blood, the twins recall their time on set as “like being invited to a very exclusive party.” They even celebrated their 11th birthday with the cast and crew. While Louise’s dreams of becoming the next Judy Garland led instead to a career in science after being denied entry to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and Lisa became a criminal lawyer, both have embraced their place in horror history. They continue to attend conventions and offer Cameos, though they lament never being asked to reprise their roles in various homages and parodies.

The Ghost in Room 237

When it comes to unforgettable horror moments, few can top the scene where a beautiful young woman transforms into a decomposing elderly corpse. That young woman was Swiss model Lia Beldam, who approached the role of the undead Lorraine Massey with remarkable professional calm despite its challenging nature. “I wasn’t really falling over in amazement being in the same room [as Kubrick],” Beldam recalled years later. “It was just another job.” That job, however, created one of cinema’s most shocking transformations.

The week-long shoot gave Beldam plenty of time to perfect her seduction of Jack Nicholson, who she found “absolutely charming” and helpful in directing her performance. While she never pursued acting further, preferring to continue her successful modeling career, Beldam’s brief screen time left an indelible indent on horror history. She passed away in 2021 at the age of 77 following a brief illness.

Her counterpart, the moldering corpse, was not the result of prosthetics on the young model—she was played by another non-actor, Billie Gibson, who was in her seventies at the time. Beldam said that Gibson “was a very nice gentle lady, who was not an actress by profession. She was a friend of the Kubrick’s.” Her makeup was quite grotesque and took five hours to apply. Aside from that, not much is known—Gibson’s activities before and after the film remain a mystery, but we do know that she passed away at the age of 96 in 2012.

The Doctor Is In

Few people realize that one of the film’s most grounding presences came from veteran actress Anne Jackson, who played Danny’s examining doctor. When Kubrick first approached her, Jackson made one thing clear: “If you’re hiring me to have me murdered in the tub, I can’t do it because I’ll have nightmares.” Fortunately, her role involved wielding a stethoscope rather than dodging an axe.

Jackson, who passed away in 2016 at age 90, brought decades of television and stage experience to her role, though Kubrick seemed more concerned with her costume than giving her direction. Despite the director’s notorious penchant for multiple takes, Jackson’s very first take made it into the final film. She would later reunite with Shelley Duvall on the series “Tall Tales & Legends,” coming full circle from their days on the set of The Shining.

Legacy of the Overlooked

As we celebrate Women in Horror Month and The Shining nears its 45th anniversary this fall, it’s worth reflecting on how these women helped craft a horror masterpiece that continues to frighten and fascinate audiences. From Johnson’s psychological insights to Carlos and Elkind’s innovative soundscape to Beldam’s memorable metamorphosis, their contributions demonstrate how female artists shaped the film’s enduring power to terrify.

While Kubrick’s meticulous attention to detail and Nicholson’s spiraling intensity typically dominate discussions of The Shining, these women brought crucial elements that make the film more than just another haunted hotel story. Their work helped transform King’s novel into a complex meditation on isolation, madness, and terror that continues to reveal new layers with each viewing.

So the next time you check in for a rewatch of The Shining, remember the hidden heroines who helped make the Overlook Hotel such an unforgettable destination for horror fans. Just don’t expect room service – and whatever you do, stay out of Room 237.