Scary Photos of a Young Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil in “The Exorcist”, 1973

When The Exorcist was released in 1973, Linda Blair was just 14 years old. Though the film generated a considerable amount of controversy, the young actress blew audiences away with her haunting performance as possessed preteen Regan MacNeil.

h/t: vintag.es

While the role earned her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, it also became an inescapable source of frustration that ultimately hindered her career. The film’s legacy as one of the scariest movies ever made pales in comparison to the real-life horrors Linda Blair endured as a result of starring in it.

When The Exorcist took in over $66 million at the box office during its initial run, it was the top-grossing Warner Bros. picture of all time, and it earned 10 Oscar nominations, winning in two categories. For its time, the original film featured some stunning visual and makeup effects. Linda Blair, who starred in the film as the possessed adolescent, told that she spent a lot of time getting all different kinds of makeup done, along with having models of her head made for some of the other effects. At the time, she says, it wasn’t really a great experience.