In October, Nora Yates (she/her), 12, announced her involvement in “Monster: The Ed Gein Story.”
“Monster” is a Netflix original anthology series that narrates various true crime stories. The most recent season follows the story of the infamous Eddie Gein, a serial killer during the 1950s (Netflix).
Yates was selected for the role of Molly Schley, the daughter of Sheriff Arthur Schley, following an audition process that occurred in December 2024. The opportunity was presented by her representatives, and Yates worked with a coach to create audition tapes.
“It was a very long taping process, but I think it was very worth it because we ended up with three really good takes that we submitted,” Yates said. Roughly two weeks later, Yates was chosen for the role.
Filming took place in January of this year, and the season was officially released in October. The set was located in Los Angeles. Yates appears in Episode 6, titled “Buxom Bird,” in a Thanksgiving dinner scene.
“This isn’t the biggest part in the scene, and I’m still being individually talked to and made sure that I know what I’m doing,” Yates said. “It just made me feel special.”
“Monster” is another addition to Yates’ acting portfolio. She has been involved in acting for a few years through various projects, including musical theater.
“Singing got me into acting. I really enjoyed singing, I took voice lessons, and then I did [the musical] “Aladdin.” That was really fun,” Yates said. “I really enjoy being on set. It’s my favorite feeling ever.”
According to Yates, her introduction to on-camera acting began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve been on-camera acting since I was 11,” Yates said. “I started taking classes, and it was really great because [the pandemic] opened up a bunch of online Zoom classes from all the best studios in Los Angeles.”
Additionally, Yates has held roles in multiple movies and television series, including “Frasier,” “Turning Point,” and “How Not to Be a Junkie.” In the future, she hopes to continue pursuing her passion for acting.
“I eventually want to move out to Los Angeles, and I want to continue on-camera acting,” Yates said.
