I'm playing the villain, baby, just like you want. I try to give you everything you want.
„
~ Lisa revealing her true colors to Susanna towards the film's climax
Lisa Rowe is the main antagonist in the 1999 psychological drama film, Girl Interrupted. She has been in the institution since she was twelve and has escaped several times over her eight year captivity but is always caught and is brought back eventually. After Susanna Kaysen's arrival at the psyche ward, she forms a bond with the newest member of the ward and begins teaching her the same rebellious, egotistical, and obstreperous acts that she does herself including how to act out against other doctors, rejecting the medications meant for treating her psychological disorders and sadistically abuse the fellow mental patients for amusement (some of which value Lisa as their "leader") but when Susanna comes close to being discharged from the hospital due to her progress, Lisa then shows her true colors as she feels threatened by this and decides to take control of the situation and take back her power by stealing Susanna's journal and turn her friends against her.
She was portrayed by Angelina Jolie who also portrayed Lola and Maleficent in the 2014 film of the same name.
Lisa is one of the many mental patients in the psyche ward, and is extremely obstreperous, cold-hearted, rebellious, cocky, and charismatic. By many of the hospital's doctors and other mental patients, she is considered to be a sociopath. After a horrifying meeting with the newest patient Susanna Kaysen (who is being treated for depression and is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder), she forms a bond with the girl and encourages her to stop taking her medication and resist therapy from the other doctors. Soon, Susanna enjoys her rebellious streak and the camaraderie she finds with Lisa and the girl's actions range from pranks, indulging in fantasies, and mild manipulations to verbally violent attacks on one another. Lisa knows the operation and layout of the facility, the people, and how to manipulate them and circumstances to suit her desires. She is undaunted by the punishments she receives. At one point, after she disappears, she convinces Susanna to break out of the hospital, and they run to the home of the newly released Daisy Randone, who was living a house provided for her by her adoring father.
Lisa has no patience for Daisy, as a rule, but isn't above using her, knowing that the girl will have money and she'll give it to them. But Lisa's hatefulness soon surfaces in short order and she verbally attacks Daisy, exposing the fact that Daisy's has had an incestuous relationship with her father for years and this leaves Daisy desperate and in tears. Though Susanna tries to sooth things over, Daisy withdraws to her room. The following morning, Susanna hears "End Of The World" playing continuously from Daisy's room and is told by Lisa that Daisy has not come out of her room since the verbal abuse from last night and that the same song has been playing all morning. Going upstairs, Susanna is shocked to discover that Daisy has committed suicide by hanging from a noose with her wrists slit, and is appalled by Lisa's insensitive and callous behavior when she searches for and finds whatever cash she can (including searching Daisy's dead body), and then leaves the house to go on the run. Susanna has finally reached her nexus and realizes that she doesn't want to become like Lisa. She phones for an ambulance and then returns to Claymoore to pursue treatment.
Just before her release, however, Lisa is returned to the facility. When she finds out about Susanna's impending release, Lisa strikes out at her. In an effort to secure her superior position at Claymoore and spew hatred at Susanna, Lisa steals Susanna's diary and reads it for the amusement of some of the patients so they can ridicule her together. At this, Susanna explodes, and angrily tells Lisa she is "dead already". Lisa breaks down and she reveals that perhaps she has been living a lie, that she probably isn't a sociopath at all but she is very troubled and the two reconcile. Before Susanna is released the next day, she goes to see Lisa one last time and there are indications that Lisa is going to change for the better.
Appearance[]
Lisa Rowe has medium length supposedly dyed dirty blonde hair, and messy mid forehead length bangs. She has piercing blue eyes, a chiseled face structure with prominent cheek bones, and large chapped lips. She’s 5’7 and skinny. She has cigarette burns in the shape of a cat on her upper arm, covered by a bracelet she always wears. She loves coats and has many of them. She’s most known for two outfits, one is a pair of blue mom jeans and a yellow t-shirt that says “U.S Air Force”. The other is a white v-neck t-shit, brown bell bottom jeans, a black belt with a U.S belt buckle, black heeled booties, and a pair of gold rectangle shaped sunglasses.
Quotes[]
“
Lady, back off!
„
~ Lisa to a woman who's berating Susanna for her affair with her husband
“
No, you were spitting on me, so fucking mellow out!
„
~ Lisa to the married woman when asked if she was being talked to
“
Look, she gave your husband a rim job. Big fuckin' deal! I'm sure he was begging for it, and I heard it was like a pencil anyway.
„
~ Lisa mocking the woman's failed marriage with her husband whom Susanna had an affair with
“
Some advice, okay? Just don't point your fuckin' finger at crazy people!
„
~ Lisa threatening the married woman when she points a finger in her face
“
Take one fuckin' step and I'll jam this in my aorta!
„
~ Lisa threatening to stab herself in the neck with a pencil
“
They didn't release you 'cause you're better, Daisy, they just gave up. You call this a life, hmm?
„
~ Lisa verbally abusing Daisy
“
Taking Daddy's money, buying your dollies and your knick-knacks... and eatin' his fuckin' chicken, fattening up like a prize fuckin' heifer?
„
~ Lisa continuing to abuse Daisy about her living situation especially with her father
“
You changed the scenery, but not the fucking situation - and the warden makes house calls.
„
~ Lisa mocking Daisy about her "situation" not really changing or getting better
“
And everybody knows. Everybody knows. That he fucks you. What they don't know... is that you like it.
„
~ Lisa exposing Daisy's incestuous relationship with her father
“
Hmm? You like it.
„
~ Lisa mocking Daisy's incestuous relationship with her father
“
You wanted your file, I found you your file. You wanted out, I got you out. You needed money, I found you some. I'm fucking consistent-I told you the truth-I didn't write it down in a fucking book! I told you to your face. And I told Daisy to her face - what everybody knew and wouldn't say, and she killed herself. And I played the fucking villain, just like you wanted.
„
~ Lisa attacking Susanna for not congratulating her on her part contributing to getting her "better"
“
Because it makes you the good guy, sweet pea. You come back all sweetness and light, and sad and contrite, and everybody congratulating you on your bravery. And meanwhile, I'm blowing the guys at the bus station for the money that was in her fucking robe!
„
~ Lisa attacking Susanna for being the welcoming "hero" while she struggled to make more money for herself
“
You think you're free? I'm free! You don't know what freedom is! I'm free. I can breathe. And you... will choke on your average fuckin' mediocre life!
„
~ Lisa to Susanna in the ward's basement
“
Good luck, crazy bitch.
„
~ Lisa when she sees Daisy being released from the ward
“
I'm not really dead.
„
~ Lisa to Susanna while crying after her "harsh truth" in which Susanna told her she was dead already
“
I'm gonna miss you, Suzie Q.
„
~ Lisa admitting to Susanna she's gonna miss her when she leaves
“
[takes a deep breath, then looks out the window] Yeah.
„
~ Lisa when told her life is only going to get better
“
All you have is mustard and your chickens! I am going to be the Cinderella at Walt Disney's new theme park, Susanna's gonna be Snow White. You can come if you want. You can be the Cocker Spaniel that eats spaghetti.
„
~ Lisa to Daisy about leaving to Florida
“
That is fucked up, Daisy.
„
~ Lisa to Daisy when she explains her eating disorders
“
No, you're a dyke.
„
~ Lisa to Cynthia when she claims she's a sociopath
“
Yeah I did, Val. Thanks.
„
~ Lisa when asked by the doctors if she enjoyed the fresh air
“
Is that a dare or a double dare?
„
~ Lisa to the doctors when when she's being held locked up again for her rude behavior
“
Make it a hearse.
„
~ Lisa sarcastically to Susanna as she phones for an ambulance after Daisy killed herself
“
Help me understand, Dais 'cause, I thought you didn't do Valium. Tell me how this safety net is working for you.
„
~ Lisa to Daisy about her addiction to laxatives
“
Tell me that you don't take that blade and drag it across your skin and pray for the courage to press down.
„
~ Lisa tempting Daisy about self-harm and cutting herself
“
Tell me how your *daddy* helps you cope with that. Illuminate me.
„
~ Lisa to Daisy about her close relationship with her father
“
I bet he does...with every inch of his manhood.
„
~ Lisa taunting Daisy of her incestuous relationship with her father
“
Well, why don't you go in your room and do nothin'.
„
~ Lisa taunting psyche ward inmate Torch
“
No... But she's been playing that SHIT ALL MORNING!
„
~ Lisa complaining to Susanna about the loud music coming from Daisy's room amid Daisy's abscence
“
What needs to happen? No one's ever gonna' kiss her, man. You know, they're building a new Disneyland in Florida. If I could have any job in the world, I'd be a professional Cinderella. You could be Snow White. And Polly could be Minnie Mouse. Everyone would hug her and kiss her and love her and no one would ever know what was in that big ol' head of hers, you know?
„
~ Lisa about her friend Torch
“
I'm not in your room, Daisy. I'm right fucking here. I was gonna offer you nail polish
„
~ Lisa taunting Daisy by entering her room unwanted
“
Fuck his brains out - use a rubber.
„
~ Lisa to one of the nurses wanting to have sex before the wedding
“
Put your drugs on the bed.
„
~ Lisa trading her laxatives for Daisy's Valium
“
C'mon Daze, don't take advantage of her just 'cause she's new.
„
~ Lisa pushing Daisy for the drugs and refusing to obey her
“
Yeah, why don't you call Valerie, shall we? Let's call Valerie and ask her for some Colace just like Suzie Q's got in her fuckin' hand
„
~ Lisa mocking Daisy of her laxative addiction and need for the drug
“
Why does it STINK in here?
„
~ Lisa to Daisy aloud when she smells a stench coming in her room
“
If talking did shit, we'd be out of here by now
„
~ Lisa about her revealing secrets to doctors leading to their release sooner or later
“
Yeah, well that's what they-rape-me's all about. That's why fuckin' Freud's picture's on every shrink's wall. He created a fuckin' industry. You lie down, you confess your secrets and you're saved. Ca-ching! The more you confess, the more they think about settin' you free.
„
~ Lisa to Susanna about "coughing up" secrets
“
You're playing Betty Crocker and cut up like a goddamn Virginia ham.
„
~ Lisa taunting Daisy after seeing the cut marks on her arms
“
We have to go. We have money... Susanna, don't be stupid. Alright, fine. Be stupid.
„
~ Lisa to Susanna after searching Daisy's dead body for money
“
Razors pain you, rivers are damp / Acid stains you, drugs cause cramps / Gun aren't lawful, nooses give / Gas smells awful, you might as well live.
„
~ Lisa singing a poem about drugs and self-harm
Gallery[]
Images[]
Trivia[]
This is Angelina Jolie‘s third role to play as a Villain in the film. The roles she played as villains are Lola from Shark Tale, and the titular character, Maleficent.
Lisa escapes from the psychiatric hospital several times, but never succeeds. She’s been caught and brought to the hospital all over again.