Melissa Stribling (7 November 1926 – 22 March 1992) was a Scottish film and television actress, who began her acting career as part of a professional group who presented a different stage play each week at the Croydon 'Grand' theatre. She is best known for playing the role of Mina Holmwood in the horror film Dracula (1958).
Melissa Stribling | |
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Born | Melissa Stribling Smith[1] (1926-11-07)7 November 1926[1] Gourock, Scotland |
Died | 22 March 1992(1992-03-22) (aged 65) Watford, Hertfordshire, England[2] |
Occupation | Actress |
Spouse | Basil Dearden |
Children | James Dearden |
Born in Gourock, Scotland as Melissa Stribling Smith, her career began with a small role in the film The First Gentleman (1948).[2] Stribling is known for playing the role of Mina Holmwood in the horror film Dracula (1958) starring Christopher Lee in the title role.[3] In the 1960s and 1970s, she guest-starred in the TV series Benny Hill (1963), ITV Play of the Week, The Avengers, The Persuaders!, The Dick Emery Show, and The New Avengers.[4] Her last appearance was in the film Paris by Night (1988) with Charlotte Rampling.[5]
In the film Dracula, her character was the victim of a vampire in what can be seen as an erotically charged performance.[6] Dracula and Mina showing sexual pleasure in this way was a first in British cinema.[7]
Terence Fisher remembers her asking him how to play the scene. Terence replied, saying that she should imagine that she had one whale of a sexual night and that it should be shown on her face.[8] The author Mark Clark detailed the first encounter between Dracula and Mina in his book Smirk, sneer, and scream: great acting in horror cinema which he described as an implied erotic scene.[9] Jonathan Rigby complimented her performance in his book English gothic: a century of horror cinema, saying that she is a terrific female lead throughout the film.[10] Terence Fisher said that he told her that she produced a satisfied little facial expression that speaks volumes.[7]
She was married to Basil Dearden; their son is James Dearden, also a film director. Their younger son is Torquil Dearden, a London-based editor at a company specialising in commercials and corporate videos.[11]
Year | Title | J | Notes |
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1948 | The First Gentleman | Lady Conyngham | |
1952 | Wide Boy | Caroline | |
1952 | Crow Hollow | Diana Wilson | |
1952 | Ghost Ship | Party Girl (Vera) | |
1953 | Decameron Nights | Girl in Villa | |
1953 | Noose for a Lady | Vanessa Lane | |
1954 | Thought to Kill | Mary | |
1955 | Out of the Clouds | Jean Osmond | |
1956 | Behind the Headlines | Mary Carrick | |
1957 | Murder Reported | Amanda North | |
1958 | The Safecracker | Angela | |
1958 | Dracula | Mina Holmwood | |
1959 | The Adventures of William Tell | Countess Von Markhein | Episode 'The Young Widow' |
1960 | The League of Gentlemen | Peggy | |
1961 | The Secret Partner | Helen Standish | |
1968 | Only When I Larf | Diana | |
1968 | Journey into Darkness | Helen Ames | (episode 'The New People') |
1970 | The Persuaders! | Lisa Koestler | Episode: "Powerswitch" |
1971 | Crucible of Terror | Joanna Brent | |
1974 | Confessions of a Window Cleaner | Mrs. Villiers | |
1976 | Feelings | Charlotte Randall | |
1988 | Paris by Night | Lady Boeing | (final film role) |
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