From Eternal Love to Sinister Seduction: Exposing the Captivating Evolution of Vampires in Film and TV
Explore the iconic vampires of the silver screen and TV, from Brad Pitt's mesmerizing performance in 'Interview With a Vampire' to Megan Fox's thrilling portrayal in 'Night Teeth' Discover a captivating list of fanged favorites that includes Robert Pattinson, Ian Somerhalder, Tilda Swinton, and more
Vampires, much like flared jeans and choker necklaces, always manage to make a stylish comeback. And it's no wonder, especially when Hollywood continues to cast exceptional actors to portray them.
In July 2021, Megan Thee Stallion expressed her fondness for vampire-themed TV shows, specifically mentioning her love for Nina Dobrev's character Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries. She even admitted to pausing her viewing when the actress departed in the sixth season. (Luckily, Dobrev made a return for the series finale in 2017, two years later.)
Ian Somerhalder's character, Damon Salvatore, was Megan's top choice on the CW show. However, it is another vampire-themed series, True Blood, that has a special significance for her. When asked by a fan if she had seen it, she replied, "I've watched every season around 10 times. It might be my favorite show, lol."
The romantic appeal of vampires is not universally understood. Over the years, the Twilight cast has playfully made amusing and critical remarks about the highly successful franchise, often led by Robert Pattinson.
In a conversation for Variety's Actors on Actors in November 2019, he described the books as romantic but clarified that they were not on the same level of romance as "The Notebook." He pointed out that "Twilight" revolves around a guy who falls in love with a girl and also desires to consume her blood, due to his own internal struggle rather than external obstacles. Explore Pattinson and other celebrities who have portrayed vampire characters in movies and TV.
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Movie and TV Vampires Through the Years: Ian Somerhalder, Megan Fox and More Fanged Favorites
Vampires, like flared jeans and choker necklaces, have a way of resurfacing in style over time. It's expected, especially when Hollywood consistently casts talented actors to portray these legendary creatures.
In July 2021, Megan Thee Stallion shared her fondness for vampire TV shows. She expressed her love for Nina Dobrev's character Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries and admitted to ceasing watching the show after Dobrev's departure in the sixth season. (Dobrev later returned for the series finale in 2017.)
While Megan's favorite character on the CW show was Ian Somerhalder's Damon Salvatore, it is actually another vampire drama that holds a special place in her heart: True Blood. When a fan asked if she had seen it, Megan revealed that she had watched every season of True Blood around ten times and even considered it may be her favorite show.
Romanticizing vampires is not a viewpoint shared by everyone. Throughout the years, the Twilight cast, particularly Robert Pattinson, has provided amusingly critical remarks about the immensely popular franchise.
"I believe the books have a certain romantic aspect to them, but it's a different kind of romance compared to something like The Notebook," he expressed during a conversation in November 2019 for Variety's Actors on Actors. "The Notebook portrays a tender and heart-wrenching love story, whereas Twilight revolves around a man who discovers the one girl he desires to be with, despite also having an irresistible urge to consume her. Well, not consume her, but rather drink her blood or something along those lines. The barrier between them being together isn't imposed by others, but rather his own physical instincts."
Take a look at Pattinson and other celebrities who have portrayed vampires in movies and television.
Credit: Brian Douglas/Netflix
Sarah Catherine Hook and Imani Lewis
As Juliette Fairmont and Calliope "Cal" Burns in 2022's First Kill
Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC
Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid and Bailey Bass
As Louis de Pointe du Lac, Lestat de Lioncourt and Claudia in 2022's Interview With a Vampire
Credit: Jose Haro/Peacock
Daniela Nieves and Sisi Stringer
As Lissa Dragomir and Rose Hathaway in 2022's Vampire Academy series
Credit: FX Network/YouTube
Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Kayvan Novak and Mark Proksch
As Laszlo Cravensworth, Nadja, Nandor the Relentless and Colin Robinson in season 3 of What We Do in the Shadows in 2021
Credit: Rpc/Pandoa Filmproduktion/Ard Degato
Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston
As Eve and Adam in 2013's Only Lovers Left Alive
Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing/Marvel Entertainment/Moviestore/Shutterstock
Jared Leto
As Dr. Michael Morbius in 2022's Morbius
Credit: Netflix
Megan Fox
As vampire Grace in Netflix's 2021 movie Night Teeth
Credit: François Duhamel/Sygma/Corbis
Brad Pitt
As Louis de Pointe du Lac in 1994's Interview With the Vampire
Credit: © 2008 Summit Entertainment
Robert Pattinson
As Edward Cullen in 2008's Twilight
Credit: The CW Network
Ian Somerhalder
As Damon Salvatore in the first season of The Vampire Diaries in 2009
Credit: Zach Dilgard/AMC
Zachary Quinto
As Charlie Manx in NOS4A2
Credit: Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
James Marsters
As Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Credit: ©New Line Cinema
Wesley Snipes
As the title character in 1998's Blade
Credit: Netflix
Debby Ryan and Lucy Fry
As vampires Blaire and Zoe in Netflix's 2021 movie Night Teeth
Credit: PRASHANT GUPTA
Evan Rachel Wood
As Queen Sophie-Ann Leclerq in the second season of True Blood in 2009
Credit: © HBO
Stephen Moyer
As Bill Compton in the first season of True Blood in 2008
Credit: Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
Angel
As a title character in TV's Angel, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff which ran on the now-defunct WB network from 1999-2004
Credit: The CW Network
Paul Wesley
As Stefan Salvatore in the first season of The Vampire Diaries in 2009
Credit: FOX/Getty Images
Jamie McShane
As Dr. Tim Fanning in The Passage
Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW
Joseph Morgan
As vampire-werewolf hybrid Klaus Mikaelson on The CW's Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals
Credit: ©Warner Bros.
Kiefer Sutherland
As David in 1987's The Lost Boys
Credit: MGM/courtesy Everett Collection
David Bowie
As John Blaylock in 1983's The Hunger
Credit: © 2008 Summit Entertainment
Cam Gigandet, Edi Gathegi and Rachelle Lefevre
As James, Laurent and Victoria in 2008's Twilight
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Kristin Bauer, Alexander Skarsgard and Patrick Gallagher
As Pam, Eric Northman and Chow in the second season of True Blood in 2009
Credit: ©Summit Entertainment
Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz
As Rosalie and Emmett Cullen in 2008's Twilight
Credit: Dimension Films/courtesy Everett Collection
Gerard Butler
As Count Dracula in Dracula 2000
Credit: ©Columbia Pictures
Gary Oldman
As the title character in 1992's Dracula
Credit: François Duhamel/Sygma/Corbis
Tom Cruise
As Lestat de Lioncourt in 1994's Interview With the Vampire
Credit: ©Warner Bros
Kirsten Dunst
As Claudia in 1994's Interview With the Vampire
Credit: WENN.com
Monica Bellucci
As Dracula's Bride in Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1992
Credit: ADH-GLOBE PHOTOS,INC.-RANGEFINDERS
Eddie Murphy
As Maximillian in 1995's A Vampire in Brooklyn
Credit: (c) Warner Brothers
Aaliyah
As Queen Akasha in 2002's Queen of the Damned
Credit: Warner Brothers/Courtesy Everett Collection
Stuart Townsend
As Lestat de Lioncourt in 2002's Queen of the Damned
Credit: Dimension Films/Courtesy:Everett Collection
Salma Hayek
As Santanico Pandemonium in 1996's From Dusk Till Dawn
Credit: ©Summit Entertainment
Jackson Rathbone and Ashley Greene
As Jasper Hale and Alice Cullen in 2008's Twilight
Credit: Warner Bros. Television/Courtesy:Everett Collection
Alex O'Loughlin
As Mick St. John in TV's Moonlight from 2007-2008
Credit: (c) Screen Gems
Kate Beckinsale
As Selene in 2006's Underworld: Evolution
Credit: ©Screen Gems
Scott Speedman
As the Lycan-Vampire hybrid Michael Corvin in 2003's Underworld
Credit: ©Lions Gate
Willem Dafoe
As Schreck in 2000's Shadow of the Vampire
Credit: David Lee / Univer
John C. Reilly
As Larten Crepsley in 2009's Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Credit: ©Hemdale Film Corp
Nicolas Cage
As Peter Loew in 1988's Vampire's Kiss
Credit: Sony Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
Johnathon Schaech
As Kit in the 2001 thriller The Forsaken
