Cunning Villains, Horror Queens, and Femme Fatales We Love To See
The golden age of cinema and television brought us some of the most sultry femme fatales, chilling horror queens, and cunning villains. Do you remember them all?
The Famous Antagonists Of The 20th Century
If you’re wondering about the kind of characters these women played, they often went for roles of seductive women who manipulate others, especially men, to achieve their goals. Some of them loved the world of terror and suspense, while others made the perfect villains who often disrupted the natural order.
Hollywood Press Syndicate, Wikimedia Commons
Theda Bara
The femme fatale’s origins can be traced all the way back to Theda Bara. Born in 1885 in Ohio, Theda Bara skyrocketed to fame in the 1910s, playing a vampire in A Fool There Was. Her fictitious persona as an Egyptian-born woman made her the perfect choice for playing the leading role in the 1917 Cleopatra.
Fox Film Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
Julie Newmar
Julie Newmar, born August 16, 1933, in Los Angeles, California, still holds her status as the unforgettable Catwoman on the Batman TV series. Her feline grace and sultry voice combined set a new standard for comic book villains brought to the screen. The Secret Lives of Julie Newmar is a comic miniseries about her.
A Cat of Nine Tales, Episode 2: Julie Newmar in Batman (1966-68) by Anne Kalgesch
Barbara Stanwyck
During a 6-decade career, Barbara Stanwyck’s strong presence allowed her to star in 85 movies before turning to TV. Her role as Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity set the standard for film noir femme fatales and earned her an Oscar nomination. She later starred in the noir-thriller Sorry, Wrong Number with another nomination.
Studio Publicity, Wikimedia Commons
Diana Rigg
Emma Peel in The Avengers was played by the English actress Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg. Her beauty, combined with a keen wit and martial arts skills, made her the ultimate action heroine of the 1960s. Diana's career spanned theater, film, and TV, including a role in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Diana Rigg: Avenger by Movie Man Eric
Bette Davis
Although Bette Davis starred in several romantic dramas, her most memorable role is playing the bitter, twisted Baby Jane Hudson in the 1962 movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Davis was famous for her intensity and expressive eyes, which she used to create complex, often menacing, female characters.
Warner Bros., Wikimedia Commons
Rita Hayworth
As one of the top stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Rita Hayworth was famous for her seductive charm. The press coined her “The Love Goddess,” and her most iconic role was in Gilda, where she played one of the most famous femme fatales in film history.
Columbia Pictures, photograph by Ned Scott, Wikimedia Commons
Neve Campbell
Fans of horror and thriller movies believe Neve Campbell is one of the most successful scream queens. Born in 1973 in Canada, she became an iconic final girl in horror history with her role as Sidney Prescott in the Scream series. She also played successful roles in other thrillers like The Craft.
Scream | I Want My Girlfriend Back (HD) - Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich | Miramax by Miramax
Barbara Steele
The Queen of All Scream Queens, Barbara Steele, was a well-known name in the 1960s Italian gothic cinema. She was born in 1937 in Birkenhead, England, and delivered chilling performances in films like Black Sunday and The Pit and the Pendulum. Her last role was as a voice actress in the series Castlevania in 2020.
Screenshot taken by Spinoziano from the film by Wikimedia Commons
Ingrid Bergman
Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman is mostly famous for playing a spy in Notorious. Other movies like Casablanca and Murder on the Orient Express earned her the title of the fourth greatest female legend of Classic Hollywood Cinema. During 5 decades of acting, she brought depth and sophistication to her roles, combining strength with charm.
Dell Publishing, Wikimedia Commons
Joan Collins
Although she is famous for her scary roles, Joan Collins was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for her charitable services. She was born in 1933 in London, England, and is best known for her glamorous role as Alexis Carrington on Dynasty, though her acting career took off in the 1960s.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth Taylor
Born in England in 1932, Elizabeth Taylor became the highest-paid actress in the 1960s. Taylor’s role as Cleopatra combined regal authority with deadly allure, making her a queen among femme fatales. She played another dark role in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which earned her the best reviews in her career.
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford played many dark, strong-willed women, most famously in Mildred Pierce, for which she won an Academy Award. She established her image as a flapper in the 1920s and was famous for her intense presence and ability to portray complex emotions in movies like The Women, Sudden Fear, and The Damned Don't Cry.
George Hurrell, Wikimedia Commons
Jessica Lange
Despite starring in several thriller movies like The Postman Always Rings Twice and Cape Fear, Jessica Lange’s performance in American Horror Story made her a modern horror queen. Her complex and chilling portrayals won her a new generation of fans, although she starred in drama, comedy, and musical productions.
Carolyn Jones
Morticia Addams was played by American actress Carolyn Sue Jones in The Addams Family TV series. Jones portrayed Morticia's dark humor and elegance and made her an iconic character in pop culture. By that time, she was already a household name with movies like Bachelor Party, which also earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Best of Morticia Addams | MGM Studios by Amazon MGM Studios
Sarah Michelle Gellar
The series Buffy the Vampire Slayer made Sarah Michelle Gellar a household name in the 1990s. She solidified her horror icon status with movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream 2, and The Grudge. Contrary to her acting roles, she founded a baking company in real life and released a cookbook.
Photographer-Friedman-Abeles, Wikimedia Commons
Glenn Close
No one was doing it like Close in the last couple decades of the 20th century. Alex Forrest, Cruella de Vil, Mrs Farraday, Marquise de Merteuil are just some talented performances and we’re almost certain that she would top this list if we were to rank it.
Cruella de Vil being iconic for 3 minutes straight by JuanDiva
Ursula Andress
Fans still remember Ursula Andress's memorable entrance from the ocean as Honey Ryder in the James Bond film Dr. No. This move inspired several actresses and directors to reprise it, paying tribute to the Swiss femme fatale. Andress's striking beauty and European elegance made her an in-demand actress throughout the 1960s.
Climax Scene from the movie Dr. No(1962) by ಕನ್ನಡ ಗೀತ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ-Kannada Song Lyrics
Janet Leigh
Hitchcock's Psycho is one of the most remembered horror movies, with Janet Leigh playing Marion Crane. Leigh became one of the earliest scream queens, and fans fell in love with her girl-next-door beauty and remarkable screen presence. Her acting range allowed her to play innocent and complex roles easily.
Psycho (1960) Janet Leigh, Driving HD by Eddie 91
Anjelica Huston
Grand High Witch in The Witches (1990) made Anjelica Huston a big hit. Her chilling performance, combined with her statuesque beauty and features, is still remembered and honored in horror cinema. She was also in the 1991 version of The Addams Family and series like Medium.
Anjelica Huston best scenes from The Witches 2/2 by Veronique Laurent
Anne Baxter
Anne Baxter brought elegance and charisma to her role as the cunning Nefretiri in The Ten Commandments. Born on May 7, 1923, Baxter's unique beauty and hypnotizing screen presence made her a memorable antagonist, capable of drawing viewers in easily. Her performance in All About Eve further showed her range.
The Ten Commandments (1956) - I could never love you! by RTE 463
Martine Beswick
Playing the Bond Girl in From Russia with Love and Thunderball made Jamaican-British actress Martine Beswick become a household name. She was known for her exotic beauty and fierce demeanor, which allowed her to portray complex villainesses. Her fight scene in From Russia with Love still remains a fan favorite.
DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE (1971) Clip - Martine Beswick by Dreams Are What Le Cinema Is For
Elsa Martinelli
Bringing her sophisticated European beauty to Hollywood, Elsa Martinelli was known for her roles in Hatari! and The V.I.P.s. Her characters were strong, enigmatic women who had so much charm and mystery. Her effortless elegance and confidence on screen instantly helped make her a symbol of 1960s cinema glamour.
Mario Monicelli, Wikimedia Commons
Tippi Hedren
At the highlight of her career, American star Tippi Hedren appeared on the covers of different magazines like Life and Glamour. Alfred Hitchcock discovered her and introduced her in his famous thriller The Birds, followed by the psychological drama Marnie. She also appeared in Charlie Chaplin's final movie, A Countess from Hong Kong.
