Who plays the role of Judalon Smyth in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story? Character role explored

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story was released on September 19, 2024. The Netflix show, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, talks about the 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menéndez, committed by their sons, Erik and Lyle Menéndez. The series depicts the brothers' courtroom battles and what happened after their parents died, taking viewers into the shocking details of the case.

One of the key characters in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story is Judalon Smyth, portrayed by Leslie Grossman. Known for her work on shows like American Horror Story, Grossman is key in the series. Judalon Smyth was a patient and was once in a relationship with Dr. Jerome Oziel, the psychiatrist of the Menéndez brothers.

Netflix says about the show:

"Judalon Smyth is a former patient and mistress of Erik Menendez’s therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, who finds herself entangled in the Menendez case — and who ultimately plays a key role in Lyle and Erik’s arrests."

Judalon Smyth revealed recordings made during the brothers' therapy sessions, which revealed disturbing details about the crime. Her testimony was controversial, though, because she said that Oziel had lied to her and made up memories.

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The role of Judalon Smyth in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story

Judalon Smyth’s presence in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story serves as a key narrative element.

Her rapport with the Menéndez brothers' psychiatrist, Dr. Oziel, positioned her in a special window into their behavior. Her participation surfaced when she mentioned that she had heard confessions about the murders while living with Oziel.

In the series, Leslie Grossman brings the complicated character to life by showing how Smyth's personal and emotional problems exacerbated as she got involved in the court case.

In one of the most powerful scenes, Smyth reads out loud the brothers' disturbing account of the crime, including the horrible details about how badly their mother was injured.

Her part in the trial caused a lot of debate because she later said that Oziel had lied to her and made up memories. The defense used Smyth's testimony to discredit Oziel, which made people question whether the recordings were real or not.

While talking to PEOPLE, Leslie mentioned the Menendez case,

"I really don't have a strong opinion about it one way or the other" when it comes to meeting the real-life figures involved in the Menéndez case."

She also said:

"If Judalon reached out and wanted to meet me, I would be happy to talk to her," she says, noting, "I also completely understand this is people's real lives, right? And they maybe would like to not engage with that and that's fine too."

As Judalon Smyth is portrayed in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, the personal cost of her involvement in the case is also touched upon.

The series looks at how the media surrounded her during the trial and how her own mixed feelings affected her. Grossman's performance captures the tension and stress that Smyth felt, bringing out the fact that she decided to become an EMT again years after the trial.

Grossman’s portrayal is especially notable for its subtlety. As Judalon Smyth, she reflects on the emotional burden of being a witness in such a notorious case.

Her relationship with Dr. Oziel is portrayed as manipulative and exploitative, with Smyth later accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her. These elements are woven into the story to show the many layers of complexity surrounding her character.

Even though she played a key part in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, Smyth's life was tough after the trial. Her LinkedIn page says that after the trial, she didn't work for almost ten years. After a break from the public eye in 2012, she retrained as an EMT.

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Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story is streaming on Netflix.