An actress who delivered one of cinema's most chilling performances as a child has shared why she spent decades trying to move on from the role, only to now fully embrace it. Patty McCormack, now 80, shot to fame in 1956 for her portrayal of the murderous eight-year-old Rhoda Penmark in the psychological horror classic The Bad Seed.
From child star to Hollywood history
In the autumn of 1956, audiences were introduced to a uniquely terrifying screen presence. At just 11 years old, Patty McCormack played Rhoda, a pigtailed, angelic-looking girl suspected by her mother of being a psychopathic killer. The performance was so powerful it earned McCormack an Academy Award nomination, making her the youngest actress ever nominated at that time. She also became the youngest recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Despite the acclaim, McCormack revealed in a recent interview that for many years she actively distanced herself from the part. Speaking on the It Happened in Hollywood podcast, the New York-born star explained that her early success was sometimes seen as "old news" in Hollywood circles. "For a long time... it was something that didn't get discussed because it was a past achievement," she said. "And in those days, there was that awful expression, ‘has-been.’"
A deliberate separation from a sinister role
When McCormack moved to Hollywood, she found that her classmates, many of whom had parents in showbusiness, were not impressed by her fame. "I did my best to separate myself from that role and reputation," she recalled. Throughout the 1960s, she took on ingenue roles in various international films, but her iconic past was rarely mentioned. For a period, only dedicated film students and horror aficionados would recognise her and ask about The Bad Seed, which is counted among Stephen King's favourite scary films.
The actress described how the cultural shift brought about by social media and a renewed appreciation for film history changed public perception. "It's not the same anymore... people appreciating histories of people's work. It's such a different world now," McCormack noted.
Embracing a cult classic legacy
As time passed, The Bad Seed achieved cult classic status, and McCormack's view of her most famous role transformed. She began to appreciate the character's lasting impact and unique appeal. A friend even pointed out that some fans identified with Rhoda because she "went against the grain of what was expected." McCormack reflected, "She's a rebel in sheep's clothing, because she dresses really nice and pretty."
Today, McCormack fully celebrates this part of her career. She attends screenings where fans dress up as Rhoda with signature blonde braids and even returned to the franchise for the 2022 sequel, The Bad Seed Returns, playing a different character. Now focused on stage acting, she values the creative freedom of her later years. "I have great freedom now," she said. "You have to be old enough where it doesn’t matter."
From a child star haunted by her own success to an octogenarian icon proudly owning her place in horror history, Patty McCormack's journey with Rhoda Penmark is a fascinating tale of legacy, perception, and ultimately, acceptance.
