Who plays Dolores Roach in The Horror of Dolores Roach? We discuss the 2023 Prime Video original series and the actress who plays the lead role.
Cannibal comedy series The Horror of Dolores Roach offers yet another serial killer storyline for viewers to devour this summer. Focusing on the gripping tale of a killer masseuse called Dolores Roach, this Prime Video original is already winning over countless fans after its initial release.
This quirky comedy series has been a hit with the critics as well, with most commenting on a delirious and down-to-earth central performance from its leading lady. But who exactly plays the infamous titular character in The Horror of Dolores Roach?
Who is Dolores Roach and why is she an important character?
Dolores Roach is an ex-convict, who has just finished a sixteen-year stint in prison for drug-related offences. She’s a likable, if unpredictable criminal, who unintentionally becomes a serial killer masseuse. Dolores is integral to the series because she is the central character. For the series to work, we need to empathize with Dolores and fully commit to her misguided motives.
Returning to her old neighborhood of Washington Heights after her unjust sentencing, Dolores finds herself totally lost in this strange new world. She doesn’t recognize anyone or anything around her. A chance encounter with her old friend Luis (Alejandro Hernandez), who now owns a local restaurant, takes her on a wacky journey to becoming this infamous killer.
Early on, she finds work as a masseuse and the money comes rolling in. But her roommate Luis owes landlord Gideon Pearlman (Marc Maron) a small fortune. They are unable to keep up with the rent. Dolores gives Gideon a free massage, hoping to smooth things over, but the landlord starts to act irresponsibly. Dolores then kills the creep in a moment of sheer madness.
Dolores struggles to dispose of the body and this is where Luis comes in. The chef cooks Gideon’s corpse, placing the human meat in his empanadas for the general public to consume. This sinister twist leads to all manners of chaos.
Who plays Dolores Roach in The Horror of Dolores Roach?
Dolores Roach is played by Justina Machado. The American actress is most famous for her roles in the TV shows: Six Feet Under, Superstore, and One Day at a Time. Machado has been performing in the film and TV industry for over three decades now, but Dolores Roach may be her defining role. It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime performance for Justina Machado, who brings sincerity and authenticity to this complex character.
Is Dolores Roach based on a real person?
The character of Dolores Roach is not based on any one specific real-life individual. The story itself is inspired by the tale of Sweeney Todd and there have been countless examples of killer masseuses in the past, but Dolores Roach is an entirely unique creation.
The creator Aaron Mark has spoken at length about how he took inspiration from the story of Sweeney Todd, but the new Prime Video series puts a modern slant on that classic tale, exploring themes of gentrification and identity in the process.
