The lead actor in the 1977 film *Suspiria* is **Jessica Harper**, who played the protagonist Suzy Bannion. Since her breakout in the 1970s, she has become a cult film icon, particularly known for her roles in rock musicals and horror, though she has also appeared in major blockbusters and recent prestige dramas.
Here are the other notable films Jessica Harper has been in, organized by why you might recognize her:
### 1. The Cult & Musical Classics
If you remember her singing or in a "campy" or surreal setting, it was likely one of these:
* **Phantom of the Paradise (1974):** In her first major film role, she played **Phoenix**, an aspiring singer caught in a Faustian bargain at a rock theater. This is a Brian De Palma cult classic.
* **Shock Treatment (1981):** This is the direct sequel to *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*. Jessica Harper took over the role of **Janet Majors** (originally Janet Weiss, played by Susan Sarandon). If you’ve seen her singing in a TV studio setting, it was this film.
* **Pennies from Heaven (1981):** She starred alongside **Steve Martin** and Bernadette Peters in this surreal, Depression-era musical. She played Joan, the "plain" and unhappy wife of Steve Martin's character.
### 2. Major Mainstream & Modern Roles
If you recognize her from a more modern or high-budget film:
* **Minority Report (2002):** She played **Anne Lively**, the woman whose murder is at the center of the "Pre-Crime" conspiracy (she is the mother of the precog, Agatha).
* **Suspiria (2018):** She made a cameo/tribute appearance in Luca Guadagnino’s remake of the film that made her famous. She played **Anke Meier**, the missing wife of the psychologist, Dr. Klemperer.
* **Bones and All (2022):** She appeared in this cannibal romance film (reuniting with the 2018 *Suspiria* director) as **Barbara Kerns**, the grandmother of the main character, Maren.
### 3. Comedies and Woody Allen Films
Jessica Harper was a frequent collaborator with Woody Allen and appeared in several beloved 80s comedies:
* **Love and Death (1975):** She had a small role as Natasha in this Napoleonic satire.
* **Stardust Memories (1980):** She played **Daisy**, one of the central love interests in this black-and-white film about a disillusioned filmmaker.
* **My Favorite Year (1982):** She played **K.C. Downing**, the professional and slightly uptight production assistant who has to manage Peter O’Toole’s drunken movie star character.
### 4. Other Notable Films
* **Inserts (1975):** An NC-17 rated (at the time) drama about the early days of Hollywood, where she played Cathy Cake alongside Richard Dreyfuss.
* **The Evictors (1979):** A rural horror/thriller where she played Ruth Watkins, a woman who moves into a house with a bloody history.
* **Safe (1995):** She had a supporting role as Claire in this Todd Haynes film starring Julianne Moore.
* **Nightbitch (2024):** Most recently, she appeared as Norma in this Amy Adams film.
### 5. Television (If you don't recognize her from a movie)
* **It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (1989–1990):** She was a series regular, playing **Phoebe Bass**, Garry’s girlfriend (and later wife), often breaking the fourth wall.
* **See (2021):** She appeared in the second season of the Apple TV+ series as Cora.
**Why you likely recognize her:**
Most people who have seen *Suspiria* also remember her from **Phantom of the Paradise** or **Shock Treatment**, as she is considered a "Scream Queen" and musical icon of that specific 70s/80s era. If you saw her more recently, it was almost certainly her pivotal role as the "mystery woman" in **Minority Report**.