Edvard Munch painted “Love and pain” in the early twentieth century, depicting a woman bent over, hugging a man. Because of the man’s head position, some art critics have called the painting “The Vampire” / “Vampyren”. But it seems that the name reflected the fears of men towards women’s empowerment at that time. On the other hand, a female vampire is portrayed in the famous painting by Philip Burne – Jones, “The Vampire”, dating from the late nineteenth century. The woman is leaning over a man left unconscious.
In the film industry, women portrayed with vampire fangs ranged from desire to get rid of this condition, such as in “Dracula’s Daughter” (1936), to drawing all of the benefits of immortality. Nowadays, vampires in the best movies have supernatural abilities and are involved in passionate stories. Vampires today can run very fast and can fly. Or some of them have a more realistic nature as in the movie “Byzantium”, but also in “Only Lovers Left Alive “ from Jim Jarmusch, with the most interesting female vampire of all time, Eva, played by Tilda Swinton.
Here are some of the most prominent female vampires who have visited the big screen. Warning, this article contains some spoilers.
1. Gloria Holden – Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
Actress Gloria Holden was in 1936 Countess Maria Zaleski, daughter of Count Dracula in the sequel of the movie “Dracula” in 1931. Countess believes that destroying the body of her father, she will get rid of his influence and will be able to live as a human being. When her attempts fail, she flees to native Transylvania. The film was partially inspired by a story written by Bram Stoker.
2. Annette Stroyberg – Et Mourir of plaisir / Blood and Roses (1960)
In this French film, the beautiful Annette Stroyberg reaches the tomb of a woman vampire who soon possesses her causing her to terrorize the locals.
3. Monica Bellucci – Dracula (1992)
We still remember Meridional beauty Monica Bellucci’s vampire fangs. Her character manages to express both horror and passion to the viewers.
4. Salma Hayek – From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
Mexican actress Salma Hayek plays Santanico Pandemonium, the main attraction at the Titty Twister, whose performances seduces, but also bring thrills – when a snake enters the scheme. When the doors are locked, everything becomes frightening. Santanico’s transformation is fatal.
5. Kate Beckinsale – Underworld (2003)
Beckinsale is Selene, a beautiful vampire woman, who sees herself drawn into the middle of a war between vampires and werewolves. Another beautiful set of vampire fangs we all remember.
6. Nina Dobrev – The Vampire Diaries (2009-2013)
Spoiler alert!
Actress with Bulgarian origins, Nina Dobrev is Elena Gilbert in the popular vampire TV series. Orphaned while attending high school, Elena enters into a relationship with vampire Stefan Salvatore. Secrets from the past begin to come to light. By the end of the fourth season, Elena becomes a vampire, a very ruthless one.
7. Kristen Stewart – Twilight Series (2008-2012)
Spoiler alert!
Perhaps the spoiler alert isn’t necessary in this situation, because everybody has seen at least Twilight movie, but we don’t want to take chances. Bella is turned into a vampire in the fourth part of the series, and gains the ability to create a shield for her and other vampires against Volturi mental intrusion. The beautiful relationship with her daughter, and Edward, plus the love story that lasted over five films, make Kristen Stewart one of the most popular women vampires on the big screen.
8. Evan Rachel Wood – True Blood (2008-2011)
The Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie -Anne, played by Evan Rachel Wood, in one of the most popular series, True Blood, is very close to the image of fatal vampire, who hypnotizes with no her victims, which she uses as slaves or blood providers. Her presence on the show is memorable.
9. Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton – Byzantium (2013)
Among the characters there is a big contradiction. Clara (Gemma Arterton) is full of sexuality and brutal in protecting her daughter and Eleanor (Soairse Ronan) is more cerebral .They resemble in some way Louis and Lestat from “Interview with the Vampire”. Mother and daughter were transformed into immortal creatures at different ages, and they are almost like sisters. When the child is 16, and the mother is a beautiful young woman of 24 years, the order of nature is violated. The relationship between them can only be a fantasy, weird and confusing.
Clara was born in the eighteenth century and was forced into prostitution by a powerful and wicked man named Ruthven (Jonny Lee Miller). At one point she had a daughter, who she abandoned in an orphanage, knowing that she would never be able to provide her with a normal childhood. However, she sees an opportunity when the enigmatic character of Darvell (Sam Riley) tells Ruthven he discovered the secret of eternal life. Darvell gives Ruthven a gift that will reveal the secret. Clara manages to steal this and thus become immortal, takes her daughter and thus triggers a series of events taking place in the film.
10. Tilda Swinton – Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Tilda Swinton is Eva, the most remarkable vampire woman seen on the big screen. The archetypal outsider, bohemian, extremely smart and sophisticated – but nevertheless in full possession of animal instincts, fragile, endangered, sensitive to the forces of nature, with a wise perspective on the history of mankind, lover of art, music, literature. Faithfull for centuries to the same man. She considers “medieval” the practice of procuring blood by attacking people.
In the romantic desolation of Detroit, an underground musician (Tom Hiddleston), deeply depressed due to human nature and its activities, is reunited with his beloved and enigmatic optimistic (Tilda Swinton) coming from Tanger. Their love story has already survived several centuries. Only Lovers Left Alive offers a reflexive perspective on vampires.
Are there any other women vampires you admired on the big screen? What do you think sets them apart from the others? Make sure you share your thoughts with the rest of our readers by leaving a comment below.
Photo credits: The Fame, Cine Vedette, Allocine, Staragora, , Sci Fi Pulse, Beyond Hollywood, Collider, Critic, We Got This Covered.