‘Carrie’ star Samantha Sloyan reveals why her Margaret White differs from past portrayals

Sloyan drew inspiration from Piper Laurie’s unsettling performance in the 1976 film

Samantha Sloyan has explained how Mike Flanagan’s reimagining of Margaret White in Carrie allowed her to approach Stephen King’s infamous character differently from previous actresses.

The eight episode Prime Video adaptation of King’s debut horror novel presents a new interpretation of Carrie White’s mother, whose treatment of her daughter stems from a desire to protect her, despite the harm she causes. Speaking to Empire, Sloyan said Flanagan fundamentally changed the relationship between Margaret and Carrie, freeing her from feeling bound to earlier portrayals.

Margaret has previously been portrayed memorably by Piper Laurie in the 1976 film adaptation. Sloyan said she appreciated Laurie’s performance, particularly its danger and unpredictability, and wanted to preserve some of that unsettling quality in her own interpretation.

However, the new version places greater emphasis on Margaret’s emotional complexity and misguided intentions. Rather than approaching the character solely as a frightening religious fanatic, Sloyan described her as a mother struggling with the prospect of her daughter growing up and becoming independent.

“We’re starting from a place of a loving mother,” Sloyan told PEOPLE. She explained that Margaret experiences pain as she feels Carrie moving away from her, even though her attempts to protect her daughter are deeply damaging.

The different characterisation reflects Flanagan’s decision to explore the central relationship from a fresh perspective while retaining elements of the psychological horror associated with the story.

Sloyan also benefited from an established working relationship with Flanagan, having collaborated with the filmmaker on six previous projects. According to the actress, he wanted her for Margaret from the beginning and wrote the role specifically for her.

She described the opportunity to work with a writer she admired as an especially rewarding experience, praising his willingness to advocate for the characters and performers he believes in.

With this adaptation, Sloyan aims to honour the unsettling qualities that made earlier versions memorable while presenting a more emotionally layered Margaret. The result offers a different perspective on the troubled mother and her relationship with Carrie, without removing the damage caused by her behaviour.