Most Iconic Female Vampires From Movies

Summary

• Iconic female vampires like Mina Harker and Eve bring strong, complex characters to vampire movies.
• Female vampires like Akasha and Santanico showcase alluring presences.
• Selene stands out as a well-written female vampire in the popular Underworld franchise.

Vampires have populated media for quite some time, starting out as bloodthirsty creatures on the pages of books, such as Stoker’s Dracula or Le Fanu’s Carmilla. Eventually, these fanged monsters made it to Hollywood in the year of 1922 with Nosferatu, a silent movie that closely resembled the plot of Dracula.

Ever since, vampires have been popular movie monsters, and they are often perfect for the roles of beautiful yet terrifying villains. They look human, but beneath their skin lurks a beast that will tear open the necks of their victims without blinking. There is plenty of talk about the kings of the night, but what about the queens, who are just as iconic (if not more so) than their male counterparts?

Now A Vampire Herself

Despite being called the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, both the group and the titular movie feature an iconic female character from Dracula fame. The character in question is Mina Harker, who has been bestowed with vampirism by Dracula. Part of an ambitious superhero-esque squad containing many famed novel heroes, such as Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, and Ishmael, this team is tasked with stopping Fantom from assassinating world leaders, as many countries stand on the brink of declaring war.

Mina Harker more than proves that she is a match for any gentleman on this team, as not only is she an immortal vampire, but she is also an accomplished scientist, proving that she has both brawns and brain. Her self-dependence is made very apparent when she is kidnapped, intended to be used to blackmail the other members of the league, and drains the blood of her attacker, not content to play damsel in the tower.

7

Eve (Only Lovers Left Alive)

Only A Vampire Can Truly Love you Forever

An achingly somber yet romantic movie, Only Lovers Left Alive centers around two vampires named Adam and Eve and their peculiar love story that has weathered ages. Unlike other vampire movies in the genre, there aren’t lashings of fantasy, myth, gothic horror, or gore here; the movie essentially follows two vampires as they cruise through the nights and contemplate their own existences and endless future.

The simplicity and grounded nature of this movie leaves plenty of room for strongly written and compelling characters. Eve comes across as a strong and sensible woman with a strong love for Adam, and she seems somewhat protective of him, especially as he falls into a deep depression. Viewers won’t be able to help but root for the couple and grow a deep admiration for Eve.

6

Eli (Let The Right One In)

A Young Girl Navigating Vampirism And A New Friendship

In the small Swedish suburb of Blackenberg, a young girl named Eli moves into the apartment next to Oskar, a young boy who lives with his mother and is the victim of a group of school bullies. Eli comes to be something of a light in his life as the pair become friends, and she encourages him to take a stand against those who pick on him.

But what Oskar doesn’t yet realize is that Eli isn’t quite an ordinary girl; rather, she is a vampire, which is why she expresses that they cannot be friends at first. Whether it is pity, a real desire to connect, or hunger, something compels her to form a bond with Oskar. All throughout the movie, Eli demonstrates that she is not about to sit idly by as bullies continue to torment Oskar, and she even dismembers many of them. While this may be taking things too far, her protective nature is endearing and lets viewers know that, wherever the pair end up, Eli will continue to be a protector.

5

The Brides (Van Helsing)

An Ever-Present Threat

Under orders from the Vatican, Van Helsing journeys to Transylvania to kill Dracula and protect Anna and Velkan Valerious, the last descendants of an ancient Romanian family sworn to slay the vampire. But there is more than just the one vampire to contend with, as Dracula’s three brides, Aleera, Marishka, and Verona, are perhaps even more fearful than Dracula himself.

The three of them are a force to be reckoned with, as they have the ability to fly and are more than capable of tearing their prey apart. Though they eventually fall one by one, the brides are still one of the more exciting parts of the movie, and they have staunchly remained as fan favorites.

4

Santanico Pandemonium (From Dusk Till Dawn)

Her Entrance Is Still Fondly Recalled To This Day

From Dusk Till Dawn sees two robbers take a vacationing family hostage and force them to smuggle them across the border to the gentleman’s club where they are due to meet their contact, Carlos, at dawn. They are eventually given quite a show by the women working there, and one in particular, going by the name of Santanico Pandemonium, gains the adoration of any who behold her.

Not only does she have the most inventive and coolest names of all time, but she also has a magnifying stage presence that makes her the most memorable character in the whole movie, despite not being the main character. An alluringly beautiful woman at first, Santanico reveals her monstrous vampire form after her initial introduction, eliciting disgust and fear while also adding an interesting spin to the vampire mythos.

3

Akasha (Queen Of The Damned)

The Great Mother Of All Vampires

A continuation of Interview with the Vampire, Queen of the Damned brings back famous vampire Lestat, who openly admits on screen that he is a vampire, catching the intrigue of paranormal investigators. His music awakens an ancient vampire known as Akasha, who is, in fact, the first vampire in existence.

Her pursuit of Lestat throughout the movie doesn’t deter Akasha from being a character in her own right, with her alluring and dangerous nature being made clear through her murderous actions, such as burning other vampires to death without hesitation. Every moment on the screen, she commands the audience’s attention, right through to her dramatic death towards the climax. Though it is tragic how fans may never see her grace the screen again, Queen of the Damned still stands as a fantastic legacy to this iconic vampire.

2

Claudia (Interview With The Vampire)

A Thought-Provoking Take On Vampirism In Children

An adaptation of the popular Anne Rice novel, Interview with the Vampire chronicles the existence of vampires Louis and Lestat, as Louis gives his account of his life with him to a reporter. The movie flashes back to showcase his siring, his life as a vampire during the 19th century, and his growing hatred for his sire. In a bid to manipulate him, Lestat sires Claudia, damning her to an eternity as a child.

Her existence is an interesting one, as it does raise the question as to how one would navigate immortality with the body as a child as their mind continues to mature. The audience bear witness to Claudia’s frustrations as she grapples with this herself in the movie, resulting in understandable outbursts of anger at Lestat and Louis. Her tragic story has a tragic conclusion, as she is burned to death under the light of the sun. Still, she left an indelible mark on the movie and will go down in history as one of the most underappreciated movie vampires.

1

Selene (The Underworld Franchise)

Selene Is One Of The Most Cool And Bad-Ass Vampires To Ever Grace the Big Screen

Underworld is a moody series of movies, centering around a vampire named Selene caught in a conflict between vampires and lycans. This individual has also become one of the most popular and beloved movie vampires of all time. With there being five total movies in the main series, fans have plenty of bloody goodness to sink their fangs into, even if later installments such as Blood Wars weren’t as warmly received.

But even in her worst movies, Selene is a stand-out character and a shining example of just how cool, capable, and well-written female vampires can and should be. She is more than a bloodythirsty death dealer, having the wits to question elders and enough compassion to aid the hybrid Michael. Selene’s story may have come to an end, but her legacy still remains. Underworld would not be nearly the same without Selene as the leading lady.