Rósa Arianna McGowan (born September 5, 1973) is a filmmaker, activist and musician. Born in Italy, she was raised in the Children of God cult, before her American parents fled back to the USA when Rose was 10 amid concerns about the community.
Settling in Oregon, McGowan was bullied at school and rebelled against her family. At 15, she legally emancipated herself from her parents and lived in a squat with drag artists, before moving to Los Angeles to try her hand at acting. Commercials, extra work and a small part in 1992’s 'Encino Man' followed, but McGowan walked away from the industry, deciding to work in cosmetology instead.
In 1994, while standing outside of an LA gym with a moody demeanor, she was discovered by a casting director for Gregg Araki’s 'The Doom Generation', believing she’d be perfect for the role of Amy Blue, an apathetic gen-X femme fatale. Her performance became synonymous with 90s punk cool, and she was nominated for Best Debut Performance at the 1996 Independent Spirit Awards.
Landing an agent, McGowan quickly found further roles, among them parts in the slasher hit 'Scream' and cult indies including 'Jawbreaker', 'Going All the Way', and 'Devil in the Flesh'. With her pale white skin and blood-red lipstick, along with a relationship with controversial rock star Marilyn Manson, McGowan was promoted as a bad girl sex symbol for the 1990s, but began to struggle finding mainstream success.
On advice from her management, McGowan joined the cast of the fantasy drama 'Charmed' in its fourth season, replacing the departed Shannen Doherty as one third of a trio of sister witches. After five seasons on the series, McGowan returned to film with roles in Brian De Palma’s 'The Black Dahlia' and the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez double bill 'Grindhouse'.
While 'Grindhouse' garnered McGowan international attention, particularly for her role as a go-go dancer with a machine gun for a leg, it was an unhappy period in her personal life. A relationship with Rodriguez imploded, a car accident forced her to undergo extensive reconstructive surgery, and her father died.
In 2015, McGowan announced that she was walking away from acting to explore other ventures, due to her own traumatic experiences in the industry and her frustration with the quality of work promoted by Hollywood.
Her filmmaking debut, the short film 'Dawn', premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, and in the same year she released her debut single — an atmospheric slice of electronica called RM486. She has since become a prominent activist across social media, launching her own feminist movement known as Rose Army, and continues to work as an artist, filmmaker and musician.
In 2016 Rose was involved in a sex scandal when multiple sex tapes and nude images were leaked online for the world to see as well as exposing her love for recreational drugs. Some seem to think she leaked the tapes and photos herself for more public exposure and others believe it to be the evils of Hollywood who might be outraged by the fact Rose has spoke out against them.

Sex on Screen
Self
2023

When We Speak
Self
2022

Body Parts
Self
2022

Mothers of the Revolution
Herself
2021

Letters Live from the Archive: International Women’s Day
Self
2021

This Is Pop
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2021

The New York Times Presents
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2020

QT8: The First Eight
Self (archive footage)
2019

Hollywood's Dark Secret
Self
2019

This Changes Everything
Self
2019

Rose McGowan: Being Brave
Self
2019

Citizen Rose
Herself · (4 episodes)
2018

The Sound
Kelly Johansen
2017
The Caged Pillows
Monday
2016

Chelsea
Self · (1 episode)
2016

The Tell-Tale Heart
Ariel
2016
The Weight of Blood and Bones
Madeline
2015

Mondo Taurobolium
Gale
2013

Chosen
Josie Acosta · (6 episodes)
2013

Doctor Lollipop
Dr. Coco / Red Riding Hood (voice)
2012

The Pastor's Wife
Mary Winkler
2011

Once Upon a Time
Young Cora · (2 episodes)
2011

Rosewood Lane
Sonny Blake
2011

Conan the Barbarian
Marique
2011

Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective
Self
2011

Scream: The Inside Story
Self
2011

Dead Awake
Charlie
2010

Gaze
Self (archive footage)
2010

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009

RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2009

Fifty Dead Men Walking
Grace
2008

Death Proof
Pam
2007

Planet Terror
Cherry Darling
2007

Grindhouse
Pam (segment "Death Proof") / Cherry (segment "Planet Terror")
2007

Scream Awards
Herself - Host · (1 episode)
2006

The Black Dahlia
Sheryl Saddon
2006

Elvis
Ann-Margret
2005

Elvis
Ann-Margret · (2 episodes)
2005

Nip/Tuck
Dr. Teddy Rowe · (5 episodes)
2003

Punk'd
Self · (1 episode)
2003

Stealing Bess
Debbie Dinsdale
2003

Strange Hearts
Moira Kennedy
2002

Through the Night with...
Self · (1 episode)
2002

The Killing Yard
Linda Borus
2001
Good Day Live
Self · (1 episode)
2001

Monkeybone
Miss Kitty
2001

The Last Stop
Nancy
2000

Ready to Rumble
Sasha
2000

The Early Show
Self · (1 episode)
1999

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Cassandra Davina · (1 episode)
1999

Sleeping Beauties
Sno Blo
1999

Jawbreaker
Courtney Shayne
1999

Charmed
Paige Matthews · (112 episodes)
1998

Southie
Kathy Quinn
1998

Phantoms
Lisa Pailey
1998

Devil in the Flesh
Debbie Strand
1998

Kiss & Tell
Jasmine Hoyle
1997

Going All the Way
Gale Ann Thayer
1997

The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997

Nowhere
Val-Chick 3
1997

Lewis & Clark & George
George
1997

Scream
Tatum Riley
1996

Bio-Dome
Denise
1996

Seed
Miriam
1996

The Doom Generation
Amy Blue
1995

Intimate Portrait
Self · (1 episode)
1993

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self · (1 episode)
1992

Encino Man
Nora
1992

True Colors
Suzanne · (1 episode)
1990

Class of 1999
Girl Outside Langford's Office (uncredited)
1990

LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1988

Question Time
Self - Panellist · (1 episode)
1979