The term 'Scream Queen' is used to describe actresses who become iconic through their roles in horror films. While the silent era had its share of victims, Fay Wray is widely considered Hollywood's inaugural Scream Queen for her legendary performance in 'King Kong' (1933). Wray’s lung-busting screams as she was carried up the Empire State Building by the giant ape set the standard for the archetype. Decades later, the title was redefined by Jamie Lee Curtis in 'Halloween' (1978). Unlike earlier 'damsels in distress' who relied on heroes for rescue, the modern Scream Queen, often referred to as the 'Final Girl,' is a survivor who fights back against the monster. Curtis, the daughter of 'Psycho' star Janet Leigh, became the face of the 1980s slasher era, cementing the Scream Queen as a permanent fixture in Hollywood lore.