You know that feeling when you recognize a face, but you can’t quite place why they’re so familiar? For a long time, Catherine O’Hara was that person for millions of people. She was the mom who forgot Kevin in Home Alone. She was the weird, dramatic stepmother in Beetlejuice. But lately, something has shifted.
Honestly, she’s moved from "that lady from that movie" to a full-blown cultural icon. It’s a career renaissance that most actors only dream of having in their 70s.
From the chaotic energy of SCTV to the wig-wearing legend that is Moira Rose, Catherine O’Hara movies and shows represent a masterclass in character acting. She doesn’t just play a role. She inhabits it, usually with a bizarre accent or a frantic energy that nobody else can pull off.
The Schitt’s Creek Effect and the Moira Rose Phenomenon
If we’re talking about her recent surge in popularity, we have to start with Schitt’s Creek. It’s basically the show that changed everything.
Before 2015, O'Hara was a respected comedic veteran. After Schitt's Creek, she became a meme, a fashion inspiration, and a multi-Emmy winner. Her portrayal of Moira Rose is, quite frankly, insane in the best way possible. The vocabulary alone—using words like "baletic" and "bebe"—has entered the daily lexicon of fans globally.
🔗 Read more: Blossom in the Moonlight: Why This Manhua Trend Is Taking Over Your Feed
But it wasn't just about the funny voices. O'Hara brought a weirdly touching vulnerability to a woman who lost everything except her massive collection of designer wigs.
The Tim Burton Connection: From Beetlejuice to The Nightmare Before Christmas
Long before she was a Rose, she was a Deetz.
In 1988, Tim Burton cast her as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice. It was a match made in gothic heaven. Delia is pretentious, obsessed with avant-garde art, and completely oblivious to the ghosts in her house. That dinner party scene? The one where they’re possessed and start singing "Day-O"? That is O’Hara at her peak physical comedy.
She recently stepped back into those black-and-white stripes for the 2024 sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Seeing her back as Delia felt like a warm (if slightly macabre) hug for fans who grew up with the original.
It’s easy to forget she’s also the voice of Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas. She brings a soulful, longing quality to that ragdoll that provides the emotional heartbeat of the whole movie. She even voiced several characters in Burton's Frankenweenie later on.
The Christopher Guest Mockumentaries: Improv at its Finest
If you want to see what she can do when she’s allowed to just run wild, you have to watch the Christopher Guest movies.
We’re talking about Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind. These films are almost entirely improvised. There’s no script for the dialogue—just a general outline of the plot.
- Best in Show (2000): She plays Cookie Fleck, a woman with a very "active" romantic past that keeps haunting her and her husband (played by the legendary Eugene Levy) during a prestigious dog show.
- A Mighty Wind (2003): This one is different. It’s still funny, but her performance as folk singer Mickey Crabbe is actually heartbreaking. When she and Levy sing "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow," it’s so sincere it almost doesn't feel like a comedy.
- For Your Consideration (2006): She plays an aging actress who gets a tiny whiff of Oscar buzz and starts making increasingly desperate (and hilarious) changes to her face and personality to stay relevant.
Don't Forget the Classics: Home Alone and Beyond
For a specific generation, she will always be Kate McCallister.
🔗 Read more: I Love My Boyfriend Lyrics: Why This Princess Chelsea Track is More Than a Viral Meme
The scream. The "KEVIN!" The desperate journey across the country using any means necessary (including a van full of polka players) just to get back to her son. It’s the ultimate "mom" role, but O'Hara gives it a frantic, high-stakes energy that makes it more than just a supporting part.
She also popped up in Martin Scorsese’s After Hours (1985) as a somewhat deranged ice cream truck driver. It’s a small role, but it shows her range. She can do dark, weird, and indie just as well as she does big-budget holiday classics.
What is Catherine O'Hara doing in 2026?
The momentum hasn't slowed down.
As of early 2026, she’s currently starring in The Studio, a sharp-tongued comedy series on Apple TV+ alongside Seth Rogen. Her performance as Patty Leigh has already landed her a Golden Globe nomination this year. Critics are calling it her best work since the Rose family left the creek.
She’s also part of the massive ensemble for Season 2 of The Last of Us on HBO. It’s a departure from her usual comedic roles, leaning more into the grit and tension of a post-apocalyptic world. It proves that even after fifty years in the business, she’s still looking for ways to surprise people.
Where to Start if You’re a New Fan
If you're just diving into her filmography, don't try to watch everything at once. It's too much. Start with the essentials to get a feel for her "levels."
- The Intro: Schitt's Creek. Watch at least through Season 2 to see the character really click.
- The Cult Classic: Beetlejuice. The 1988 original is mandatory viewing.
- The Hidden Gem: Best in Show. It’s probably the funniest movie she’s ever made.
- The Animation: The Wild Robot (2024). Her voice work as Pinktail is surprisingly moving.
Actionable Steps for the Ultimate Binge-Watch
To truly appreciate the breadth of Catherine O’Hara’s work, you need to see her evolve.
First, track down some old SCTV sketches on YouTube—specifically her impressions of Katharine Hepburn or her "Lola Heatherton" character. This is where the foundation was laid. Next, do a double feature of Best in Show and A Mighty Wind to see her chemistry with Eugene Levy; they've worked together for decades, and their shorthand is telepathic. Finally, keep an eye on the 2026 awards circuit. With her current run on The Studio, she’s likely to be a staple on the red carpet this season.
There’s no "wrong" way to enjoy her work, but seeing the thread of her eccentric, high-energy style from the 70s to today makes you realize she hasn't changed—the world just finally caught up to her.