Was Adeline Watkins Ed Gein's Girlfriend? Netflix's 'Monster' Cast Compared To Real Character

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is the third instalment of the Netflix true-crime anthology series, Monster, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The eight-episode series chronicles the life and gruesome crimes of Edward 'Ed' Gein, a notorious murderer and corpse robber from Plainfield, Wisconsin, whose story was the inspiration for many horror films. Released on October 3, 2025, the series features Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein, as well as the central character's two-decade-long bond with his love interest. Here's exploring if the person was real and if she was indeed Ed's girlfriend, as shown in the series.

Who was Adeline Watkins in Monster: The Ed Gein Story?

Actress, Suzanna Son played the role of Adeline Watkins in Monster: The Ed Gein Story. In the series, Adeline was portrayed as Ed Gein's 'only comfort' and confidante, a kindred spirit who shared a fascination with death. The show included scenes, such as Adeline joining Ed on grave-robbing excursions and introducing him to infamous murderers like Ilse Koch. They also supposedly had a 20-year relationship, and Ed Gein proposed to her, to which she responded positively, becoming his girlfriend. Although the person was real, a large part of her portrayal in the series was fictionalised.

Was Adeline Watkins Ed Gein's real-life girlfriend?

Adeline Watkins was a real acquaintance of Ed Gein, but her romantic relationship with him, as shown in Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story, is highly exaggerated. In reality, the extent of their romantic involvement is unclear and subject to conflicting accounts. Adeline first claimed to the Minneapolis Tribune in 1957 that she and Ed Gein had been in a romantic relationship for about 20 years and that he had even proposed to her. She also referred to him as 'good', 'kind', 'polite' and 'sweet', and said that she was actually 'taking advantage of him' and using him to fulfil her darkest desires.

The duo even had frequent meet-ups, discussed many books, and often visited the theatres or taverns, as she shared. Besides normal conversations, they also talked a lot about murders, and she found it 'interesting', according to her statements recorded in the Minneapolis Tribune. Adeline also stated that Ed proposed to her in limited words on their last date in 1955. However, she rejected him, not because of issues with him but because she felt that she "wouldn't be able to live up to what he expected of" her. She said, "I loved him and I still do", after his psychotic deeds were exposed to the world.

After the interview piece was published, she refuted a significant portion of it, claiming that it was exaggerated. In her revised version, she stated that she had known Ed Gein for 20 years, but their interaction became more regular only after 1954, lasting for about seven intermittent months. Adeline maintained that she had never been inside his house. Regarding her two-decade-long consistent bond with Ed, she maintained that her romantic association with him was minimal and infrequent.

Why was Adeline Watkins' character exaggerated in Monster: The Ed Gein Story?

The series creators have acknowledged that they expanded Adeline's role to explore how images and ideas can transform someone. They used her character as a vessel to examine Ed's warped psyche. Showrunner, Charlie Hunnam noted that his interpretation was that Adeline was "in a large part a fantasy of Ed's", blurring the lines between what is real and what exists in his imagination. Notably, the real Ed Gein never spoke publicly about any relationship with Watkins.

What are your thoughts on Monster: The Ed Gein Story's creators taking creative liberties to portray Adeline Watkin and Ed Gein closer than they actually were? Let us know.

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