Born on March 23rd, 1995, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Victoria Pedretti had a relatively normal upbringing (which may be one of the reasons she’s still so wonderfully down to earth) but always had an affinity for acting.
The American actress chose to attend the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama to pursue her dreams and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).
Sydney Sweeney stuns in a bold purple jacket paired with a statement ruffled skirt and lace-up knee-high boots during Paris Fashion Week (Credit: WENN)
It wasn’t long until Pedretti made her mark in Hollywood. Her talent shone, and she got her first big break in the TV world through her role as Nell Crain on The Haunting of Hill House, which came out in 2018.
Her impressive performance quickly caught attention, leading to more significant TV roles. Notably, she portrayed Dani Clayton in The Haunting of Bly Manor and Love Quinn in the hit series You. With starring roles in both The Haunting series and You, it’s clear that Netflix’s casting department has taken a strong interest in the talented actress.
Victoria Pedretti as Nell Crain in The Haunting of Hill House, standing before the iconic red door in a chilling scene from the Netflix series (Credit: Netflix)
However, Pedretti has been strategic in her career thus far and has avoided being stuck in the TV world. With her casting in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, she’s opened herself up to a whole new level of success in major motion pictures.
Victoria Pedretti’s Role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a Quentin Tarantino film released in 2019. It centers around an aging actor, Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), and his stunt double slash best friend, Cliff Booth (played by Brad Pitt). Dakota Fanning plays the infamous redhead Squeaky Fromme in the movie.
Rick happens to live next door to Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate. Although the Manson family invariably plays a very large role in the film, in classic Tarantino fashion, the plot is larger than life and puts a new spin on the tragic story.
Victoria Pedretti embraces cozy-chic style in a warm-toned dress and a vibrant patterned cardigan, accessorized with bold statement earrings (Credit: Avalon / WENN)
Pedretti plays a Manson family member, Lulu, also known as Leslie Van Houten. The real-life Lulu was just 19 years old at the time of the Manson killings.
Victoria Pedretti as Leslie “Lulu” Van Houten, smiling during a scene from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, capturing her carefree portrayal of the Manson family member (Credit: Columbia Pictures)
She was subsequently convicted of murder and has been in prison ever since. Now 72, Van Houten has been denied parole several times- it is unlikely she will ever be released.
The Casting Process: How Pedretti Landed Her Role in Tarantino’s Film
While the casting process for major movies such as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (and anything else directed by the famous Quentin Tarantino) is notoriously mysterious, Pedretti gave Collider as much insight as she could during an interview in 2020.
It seems that Tarantino and Pedretti had no relationship before her casting in his film, and the actress does not believe he had seen any of her previous work, either.
Pedretti revealed that she got hired for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood before The Haunting of Hill House was released, so she had absolutely no mainstream credits yet.
Quentin Tarantino, the legendary director, attends an event in classic black-tie attire, exuding his signature cinematic flair (Credit: Avalon / WENN)
However, Pedretti stated that Tarantino was seeking a certain level of authenticity when casting the Manson family and was impressed by her resemblance to the real Leslie Van Houten.
Luckily for Pedretti, her looks weren’t the only thing she had to offer. The actress joked that her acting skills “didn’t suck,” so she must have followed up Tarantino’s initial interest with a great audition that cemented her in the role.
What’s Next for Victoria Pedretti? Her Upcoming Projects
So far, Pedretti has had the Midas touch when choosing acting jobs- from The Haunting of Hill House (and Bly Manor) to You and, of course, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; all of her major roles have had worldwide success.
Victoria Pedretti commands attention at the MTV Movie & TV Awards, wearing a sleek pinstriped suit paired with minimalist heels and bold accessories (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
It seems only logical that she will continue to have the same (if not more) success as she becomes an increasingly household name.
Pedretti was set to star in the upcoming film Lucky, which was to be adapted from Alice Sebold’s 1999 memoir. Unfortunately, however, in November 2021, it was announced that the film had lost funding and been dropped.
In 2023, Victoria Pedretti played Irma Eckler in the biographical drama Origin. The following year, she captivated audiences as Angel in the 2024 American thriller Ponyboi.
Victoria Pedretti on Fame: Her Thoughts on Success and Privacy
Although Pedretti has made a name for herself thanks to her immense talent, the rising star seems little interested in being known for anything besides her work.
In just three short years since the release of Hill House, Pedretti went from being utterly unknown to starring in some of Netflix’s largest shows and working alongside A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.
Victoria Pedretti exudes elegance in a soft blue draped dress paired with metallic heels and statement earrings at a red carpet event (Credit: Avalon / WENN)
However, Pedretti has a refreshingly blunt and logical approach to her newfound fame. In a 2020 interview with InStyle, the actress showed appreciation for the fans of her work but was not too happy with the poking and prodding some were doing to her personal life.
Pedretti not only shared that she doesn’t fall prey to the automatic praise given to celebrities (PSA: do not propose to her on Twitter), but also that she dislikes the constant comparisons made of women- though all women are victims of this, celebrities are particularly vulnerable.
Whether it be Jennifer Garner, Hilary Duff, Kat Dennings, or Rachel McAdams, Pedretti would much rather celebrate individuality than conflate all actresses who vaguely resemble one another. The actresses are not related.
Hilary Duff, Victoria Pedretti, and Kat Dennings are often compared for their similar features, but each actress shines with her own unique style and individuality (Credit: FayesVision / Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
“Again, this inference is a weird thing, that women always get from being children. I get so many [comparisons]. They’re not only saying I look like Hilary Duff. They say I look like Kat Dennings, Jennifer Garner, Hilary Swank, Rachel McAdams … And I’ve been getting all of these things since I was a kid, people have been telling me who I look like,” she said about being compared to other talented actresses.
“And I think in a way to compliment me, or make me feel good about the fact that I look like somebody else who is acceptably beautiful in the world. But it’s something we generally do far, far more with women. And I think it’s worth reflecting on why we do that. Because I don’t really look like any of these women. I’m just another white woman with larger lips [who’s] very fair. And that is the continuous thing,” she added.
“I don’t look like these people any more than other people want to say they look like me. And it’s just, why is that significant or important or matter at all? Except for your ability to put someone in a box and say, “Well, we’ve had one of these before. So let’s have another one. You’re going to serve this role that is being given to you.” And it’s like, no, I don’t want that. Nobody should want that.”
Victoria Pedretti shows off her size 7 (US) feet in metallic ankle-strap sandals (Credit: Avalon / WENN)
Pedretti is not interested in being conflated with the characters she plays on screen. She is a talented actress who wants to do her job well and receive praise (when due) for her performance—not for what she ate for breakfast or whomever she may resemble.
Final Thoughts on Victoria Pedretti’s Rising Career in Hollywood
Victoria Pedretti is bound to have worlds of success in Hollywood as one of the hottest up-and-coming stars. Her role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, among others, ensured that. In 2024, Victoria Pedretti made her Broadway debut as Petra Stockmann in the revival of Henrik Ibsen‘s An Enemy of the People. Time will only tell which role she’ll master next.