Barbara Shelley - Actor Profile

Barbara Shelley

Acting
Freshness: Jan 22, 2026
39Total Films
8.8 Highest Rated
Born: Feb 13, 1932
Birth Place: London, England, UK

About Barbara Shelley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Barbara Shelley (born 13 February 1932) was an English film and television actress. She was at her busiest in the late 1950s (Blood of the Vampire) and 1960s when she became Hammer Horror's number one female star, with The Gorgon (1964), Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), Rasputin, the Mad Monk (1966), and Quatermass and the Pit (1967) among her credits. Although she is known as a scream queen, in fact her most famous scream (in the aforementioned Dracula film) was dubbed by co-star Suzan Farmer. She also appeared in Village of the Damned (1960) and in the 1984 Doctor Who serial Planet of Fire. In 2010, writer and actor Mark Gatiss interviewed Shelley about her career at Hammer Films for his BBC documentary series A History of Horror. She died on 3 January 2021, at the age of 88. Description above from the Wikipedia article Barbara Shelley, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. ​

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Barbara Shelley reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 39 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Barbara Shelley's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 31% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Barbara Shelley remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Comedy of Errors, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Barbara Shelley Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Barbara Shelley's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Barbara Shelley.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2012 Back to Black: The Making of Dracula Prince of Darkness Self - Original Cast Member / Helen Kent Super Hit Similar →
2008 Fanex Files: Hammer Films Self Hit Similar →
1994 The World of Hammer: Vamp Helen Kent Average Similar →
1992 The Stranger: More Than a Messiah Charlotte Darton Flop Similar →
1988 Maigret Louise Maigret Hit Similar →
1987 Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood Helen Kent / Sonia (archive footage) Average Similar →
1987 The Dark Angel Cousin Monica Super Hit Similar →
1984 Doctor Who: Planet of Fire Sorasta Average Similar →
1978 The Comedy of Errors Courtesan Super Hit Similar →
1974 Ghost Story Matron Flop Similar →
1972 A Marriage Clare Flop Similar →
1969 The Spy Killer Danielle Flop Similar →
1967 Quatermass and the Pit Barbara Judd Hit Similar →
1966 Rasputin: The Mad Monk Sonia Average Similar →
1966 Dracula: Prince of Darkness Helen Kent Hit Similar →
1964 The Secret of Blood Island Elaine Flop Similar →
1964 The Gorgon Carla Hoffman Average Similar →
1964 Blind Corner Anne Gregory Flop Similar →
1962 Death Trap Jean Anscomb Hit Similar →
1962 Postman's Knock Jean Flop Similar →
1962 Stranglehold Chris Morrison Flop Similar →
1961 The Shadow of the Cat Beth Venable Hit Similar →
1960 A Story of David Abigail Flop Similar →
1960 Village of the Damned Anthea Zellaby Hit Similar →
1959 Bobbikins Valerie Flop Similar →
1959 Deadly Record Susan Webb Flop Similar →
1958 The Solitary Child Harriet Flop Similar →
1958 Blood of the Vampire Madeleine Duval Average Similar →
1958 The Camp on Blood Island Kate Keiller Hit Similar →
1958 Murder at Site 3 Susan Flop Similar →
1957 The End of the Line Liliane Crawford Flop Similar →
1957 Cat Girl Leonora Johnson / Leonora Brandt Flop Similar →
1956 Totò, Peppino e i fuorilegge Baronessa Super Hit Similar →
1956 Supreme Confession Bettina Flop Similar →
1956 Nero's Mistress A Guest at the Villa Average Similar →
1956 Lacrime di sposa Barbara Flop Similar →
1955 Four of the Thundering Jet - Flop Similar →
1955 Luna nova - Flop Similar →
1955 Tragic ballad - Flop Similar →

Barbara Shelley - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Barbara Shelley?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Barbara Shelley is "The Comedy of Errors" with a rating of 8.8/10.

How many movies has Barbara Shelley acted in?

Barbara Shelley has been featured in at least 39 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Barbara Shelley?

Other notable films include "Back to Black: The Making of Dracula Prince of Darkness", "Totò, Peppino e i fuorilegge", and "The Dark Angel".