P. J. Soles, born Pamela Jayne Hardon (Frankfurt am Main, July 17, 1950), is an American actress. She gained prominence in the late 1970s, establishing herself as an iconic figure in genre cinema. Her first notable role was as Norma Watson in Brian De Palma's horror film *Carrie* (1976). Her fame grew further with her performance as Lynda van der Klok in John Carpenter's slasher classic *Halloween* (1978), which cemented her status as one of the leading "scream queens" of her generation. The following year, she landed her first leading role as Riff Randell in the cult musical comedy *Rock 'n' Roll High School* (1979), alongside the punk band Ramones. Her career continued with roles in successful comedies such as *Stripes* (1981), where she co-starred with Bill Murray, and *Private Benjamin* (1980). Although she has not received major awards, P. J. Soles is recognized as a cult and horror cinema icon, maintaining a constant presence on the convention circuit and appearing in minor roles in more recent films, including Rob Zombie's *The Devil's Rejects* (2005).