Jennifer Tilly knows exactly who has been riding for her all these years, and she wears that love proudly.
The legendary actor, horror icon, and longtime LGBTQ+ favorite is officially joining Season 3 of Paramount+’s School Spirits, stepping into the role of school superintendent Dr. Deborah Hunter-Price. While the series has kept many details under wraps, Tilly recently confirmed what fans may already be sensing. Her character is shaping up to be a major new villain.
During a recent interview with School Spirits co-stars Josh Zuckerman and Jennifer Tilly, the conversation turned to something just as iconic as her résumé. Her decades-long relationship with the queer community.
When asked about when she first realized LGBTQ+ audiences had embraced her, Tilly traced it back to her early breakout roles.
“I’d say I first realized I had a gay following after I did Bullets Over Broadway and gay men were coming up to me at clubs going, ‘charm, charm, charm, charm, charm,’” Tilly recalled.
Her iconic turn as Olive Neal earned her an Oscar nomination that year and continues to influence audiences today, especially gay men.
“And I was very pleased, of course, because gay men are fabulous.”
Tilly went on to say that she later felt the love from the lesbian community, notably when she started taking on roles like Violet in Bound and Tiffany in the Chucky franchise.
“Yes, I’ve always had a big following in the lgbtq+ community, and I’m very proud of it.”
Her performances blend camp, glamour, menace, and emotional depth, a combination that has made her an enduring favorite across generations of LGBTQ+ fans. That legacy makes her arrival in the School Spirits world especially fitting, as the series is layered with queer characters, storylines, and a healthy dose of hocus pocus.
“I love the character of Dr. Hunter-Price,” Tilly revealed. “She’s kind of bitchy and not very nice. She’s narcissistic, she’s greedy, she’s a terrible mother. All the things we hold near and dear to our hearts, she’s just like a really fabulous character to play.”
Unlike Tiffany in Chucky, who Tilly describes as a villain with empathy and emotional complexity, Dr. Hunter-Price operates with far fewer redeeming qualities.
“It’s really fun to play somebody that’s sort of a sociopath.”
Tilly hinted that Dr. Hunter-Price’s arc takes a much darker turn, with unsettling developments that push the character into even more disturbing territory. “You’ll just have to stay tuned to see.”
Zuckerman, who appears in the series as Mr. Martin, praised Tilly’s ability to make even the most despicable actions irresistible to watch.
“You seem to relish all of the heinous things that you’re doing,” he said of Tilly on set. “I can’t stand her, but I just love watching her.”
As School Spirits expands its world, Jennifer Tilly’s arrival signals a darker, sharper chapter for the series, anchored by an actor who understands exactly how to make audiences fall in love with someone they love to hate.
School Spirits Season 3 premiered on Paramount+ on January 28, with the first three episodes dropping at once, followed by weekly releases on Wednesdays. Watch the full interview with Tilly and Zuckerman below.