Viewers of Guillermo del Toro's new Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein have been left utterly astounded by a clever casting decision that many completely missed. The revelation that actress Mia Goth portrays two distinct characters in the film has sparked a wave of disbelief across social media.
The Double Role That Fooled Fans
The film, which landed on the streaming service on Friday 8 November, stars Oscar Isaac as the obsessed scientist Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Creature. However, it is Mia Goth's dual performance that has become the major talking point. For the bulk of the movie, Goth appears as Lady Elizabeth Harlander, the fiancée of Victor's brother, William, played by Felix Kammerer. Yet, in a series of flashbacks, she also embodies a younger version of Victor's mother, Baroness Claire.
The transformation is so complete that countless viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their shock. One fan admitted, "I didn't recognise her at all in the first role," while another confessed, "Are you joking? I've watched the movie three times, twice in cinema and one at home, but I still didn't know she played the mother." A third simply stated, "I literally just watched this and had no idea she was the mom omg."
Costumes and Oedipal Undertones
The two roles are visually distinguished by their costumes, with Baroness Claire adorned in deep red and Elizabeth in green. This stylistic choice, combined with Goth's transformative acting, successfully masked her dual presence from many. The casting was also revealed to have deeper narrative significance.
In an interview with The Independent, lead actor Oscar Isaac suggested the decision carried Oedipal undertones. He explained that from Victor Frankenstein's perspective, the only woman he had ever truly seen was his mother. "Whether she really did look like the same person, we don't know, because he's the one telling the story. I suspect she didn't. But, in his mind, it's her," Isaac noted, adding a psychological layer to the dual casting.
Behind the Scenes: A Last-Minute Change That Paid Off
The production of Frankenstein also saw a significant last-minute casting change that ultimately worked in the film's favour. Originally, Andrew Garfield was set to play the Creature, but he dropped out a mere nine weeks before production began due to scheduling conflicts caused by the Hollywood writers' strike.
This left del Toro and his long-time collaborator, makeup artist Mike Hill, in a difficult position. Hill had spent nine months perfecting the Creature's look for Garfield. Stepping into the role was Jacob Elordi, who del Toro has since praised extensively. The filmmaker told Vanity Fair, "Andrew Garfield stepping out and Jacob coming in – I mean, it was like Jacob is the most perfect actor for the creature." He highlighted their exceptional working relationship, saying, "We have a supernaturally good connection. It's like, very few words. Very few things I have to say, and he does it."
Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, based on Mary Shelley's iconic 1818 gothic novel, is available to stream on Netflix now.
