Inspired by a Pixar Character: The Unforgettable Connection to a House of Usher Family Member

Summary

Kate Siegel reveals that her character, Camille L'Espanaye in The Fall of the House of Usher, was based on Mirage from Pixar's The Incredibles.

Camille's character in the show gains depth and intrigue as it is influenced by Edgar Allan Poe's character of the same name from his short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue". This inspiration, along with the presence of numerous hidden Easter eggs in the series, enhances the overall viewing experience.

Kate Siegel, star of The Fall of the House of Usher, has revealed the unexpected inspiration behind her character Camille L'Espanaye. Drawing loosely from the works of 19th-century poet and author Edgar Allan Poe, Mike Flanagan's final Netflix series portrayed the tragic downfall of the powerful Usher family, led by patriarch Roderick Usher and his twin sister Madeline. Siegel, a frequent collaborator with Flanagan, played the role of Roderick's illegitimate daughter Camille, who is best known for her position as the head of public relations for the Fortunato corporation.

In a video shared on Twitter by Mike Flanagan Source, Siegel confesses that she drew inspiration from the character Mirage in Pixar's The Incredibles. She initially admires Mirage as the most beautiful woman she could imagine when she was a young girl, but humorously acknowledges that once the audience notices the similarities between the two characters, it cannot be unseen. Watch the video clip below to hear her remarks.

Camille is completely based on Mirage, a character from The Incredibles. When I was young, she was like my Jessica Rabbit; I thought she was the most beautiful woman imaginable. She is the one who tricks Mr. Incredible into being kidnapped. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. I apologize for shattering your childhood dreams, but Camille is simply Mirage.

However, some avid fans quickly did the math and realized that Siegel would have been 22 years old when The Incredibles was released in 2004. This prompted the actor to correct herself and express her embarrassment.

The Original Basis of Siegel’s Camille L'Espanaye Explained

The animated character in The Incredibles, who served as Syndrome's assistant, is often credited by Siegel as the inspiration for her character. However, creator Flanagan also drew inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe's extensive collection of written works to shape the Usher character. Although Siegel's Camille may have inherited her distinctive silver hair and calm disposition from Mirage, the original character itself is derived from Poe's 1841 short story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue. This story is widely regarded as the first modern detective story and laid the foundation for famous fictional sleuths like Sherlock Holmes created by Arthur Conan Doyle. In Murders in the Rue Morgue, readers are introduced to Poe's brilliant investigator, C. Auguste Dupin, who shares the same name as the Assistant United States Attorney portrayed by Carl Lumbly and Malcolm Goodwin. Additionally, the name Camille belongs to a young girl who, along with her mother, is found murdered under peculiar circumstances.

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Similar to Flanagan's use of Poe's original title to inspire the nickname for the Fortunato research facility, where Camille meets her fate, he also borrowed his unexpected culprit. By unraveling the clues left at the murder scene, Poe's version of Dupin deduces that the killings were committed by an orangutan that was captured in Borneo and brought to Paris for sale. Considering this background, Siegel's unusual choice of inspiration appears even more peculiar. Nevertheless, like other hidden Easter eggs in The Fall of the House of Usher, her revelation adds further complexity to an already captivating show.

Source: Mike Flanagan Source and Kate Siegel/Twitter