For today's Throwback Thursday, let's look at a scream queen of yore: petite English beauty Barbara Steele. Barbara had large, unforgettable brown eyes and a flawless figure that she showed off in European horror films that made people cream as they screamed. #TBT to Barbara and her skincredible body of work.
Barbara was a striking young beauty. Her trademark dark eyes had a mysterious, sophisticated quality to them and she brought that quality to everything. Her most notable role was as the witch Princess Asa Vajda in the Italian horror classic Black Sunday directed by the legendary Mario Bava. She also appeared in 8 1/2 although she didn't go nude in either of those. Don't worry, she did indeed go nude in her career!
Her early sexy work came in 1965's Terror-Creatures from the Grave and 1964's Castle of Blood in which the striking young actress showed off her cleavage in plunging necklines and bare bathtub scenes. The only horror is that we didn't get to see even more!
In 1966's She Beastbrings Barbara back to a witch story in which she becomes possessed by an 18th-century witch after she has a car accident. This film zooms toward Barbara's boobs when she's in bed and being banged from behind. Her cleavage is certainly bewitching!
Barbara struggled to get non-horror work and was disappointed when a role that was written for her (by her screenwriter husband) in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? went to Susannah York instead. She would consistently almost get a break in a mainstream drama and her part would either be relegated to the background (such as in Pretty Baby) or cut completely (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden). This is heartbreaking trivia for those of us who know how talented and gorgeous Barbara truly is. She took several years off of acting before returning to give us another tasty bit of nip.
Finally, she sent Shivers up people's spines and boners in the 1975 film Shivers which showed off a new side of this horror hottie. This David Cronenberg film is a hot one! A scientist creates a parasite that increases someone's libido when it infects them. It is spread through sex - sort of like the modern film It Follows - which makes this viral horror film skincredibly sexual. The infected Barbara makes out with a woman, proving her libido is high enough for all sexes.
Barbara retired from acting for ten years and didn't return until she came back to appear in the 1991 revival of Dark Shadows. How appropriate! She continues to make appearances here and there, showing that her ethereal looks haven't aged much. We're hopeful that history will pay her the respect she has always deserved. #TBT to Barbara's body...of work!
