Sarah Butler, a native of Puyallup, Washington, developed a passion for the arts during her formative years. As a young individual, she actively engaged in various artistic pursuits, including singing in choirs, participating in singing competitions, and performing in high school and community theatre productions.
Upon relocating to Los Angeles, Butler pursued her academic interests in theatre at the University of Southern California. During her time at the university, she landed the role of Belle, the princess in Beauty and the Beast, and performed at Disneyland for a year and a half.
However, Butler's academic pursuits were short-lived, as she eventually dropped out of college to focus on finding a talent agent and auditioning for roles in television and film. Her early credits included guest appearances on the television series CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.
In the following years, Butler appeared in a range of projects, including the film A Couple of White Chicks at the Hairdresser, the 2008 Syfy TV horror film Flu Bird Horror, and the web series Luke 11:17, directed by Don Stark. She also had a recurring role on the web series I Love Vampires.
Butler's breakthrough role came in 2010 when she won the lead in the rape and revenge thriller, I Spit on Your Grave, a remake of the 1978 cult film of the same title. Initially hesitant due to the film's explicit content, Butler was convinced by the strong character arc and "feminist edge" of the story.
In the film, Butler played the role of Jennifer Hills, a novelist who is brutally gang-raped while staying at a cabin in the woods. Her character subsequently seeks revenge on her rapists. Directed by Steven R. Monroe, the film was released on October 8, 2010.
Butler's subsequent projects included the psychological thriller, The Stranger Within, alongside Estella Warren and William Baldwin, which was filmed in Mallorca, Spain, Copenhagen, Denmark, and New York City. She also joined the cast of the independent feature Treachery, starring Michael Biehn, which began filming in Los Angeles in June 2012.
In 2013, Butler starred in the horror film, The Demented, alongside Michael Welch and Kayla Ewell.
