Ari Graynor has been a working actor for more than 20 years, appearing as memorable characters in The Sopranos, Winning Time, and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. But never in her career has the 41-year-old been part of a project that became a cultural lightning rod quite like Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,

In a 1990 article titled "Nightmare on Elm Drive," Vanity Fair reporter Dominick Dunne noted Abramson's reputation as the "most brilliant Los Angeles defense lawyer for death-row cases" and said she was both "fearless and tough" in and out of the courtroom.

Leslie Abramson was the attorney for Erik Menendez during his infamous trial, and went through some big highs and lows following that case.

Ari Graynor is the MVP of Ryan Murphy's "Monsters" Netflix series as Leslie Abramson, the chain-smoking defense lawyer who was vilified at the time for defending the Menendez brothers in the brutal 1989 shotgun killings of their parents.

The Menendez Brothers' 1993 trial was one of the most closely followed cases of its time. Learn more about the lawyer who defended Erik and fought to save him from the death penalty.

Leslie Abramson, who famously defended The Menendez Brothers, also represented Phil Spector in his 2003 murder case.

In 1997, after defending the Menendez brothers, Leslie Abramson wrote a book titled The Defense Is Ready: Life in The Trenches of Criminal Law. Her memoir offers insight into the criminal justice system, and some of the notorious cases she has been involved in.