Barbara Steele
ActingAbout Barbara Steele
Barbara Steele (born 29 December 1937) is an English actress and producer, known for starring in Italian gothic horror films of the 1960s. She has been referred to as the "Queen of All Scream Queens" and "Britain's first lady of horror". She played the dual role of Asa and Katia Vajda in Mario Bava's landmark film Black Sunday (1960), and starred in The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962), The Long Hair of Death (1964), and Castle of Blood (1964). Additionally, Steele had supporting roles in Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963), David Cronenberg's Shivers (1975), Joe Dante's Piranha and Louis Malle's Pretty Baby (both 1978), and appeared on television in the 1991 TV series Dark Shadows. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for producing the American television miniseries War and Remembrance (1988–89). Steele appeared in several films in the 2010s, including a lead role in The Butterfly Room (2012) and supporting role in Ryan Gosling's Lost River (2014). Description above from the Wikipedia article Barbara Steele, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Barbara Steele reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Horror
The majority of Barbara Steele's filmography leans towards the Horror 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 36% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Barbara Steele remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Fear in the Dark, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Barbara Steele Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Barbara Steele's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Barbara Steele.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fellinopolis | Self - Actress (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Boia, maschere e segreti: l’horror italiano degli anni sessanta | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Master of Dark Shadows | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Minutes Past Midnight | The Apparition of the Mill (segment 'The Mill At Calder's End') | Flop | Similar → |
| 2016 | The Phantom | The Widow | Average | Similar → |
| 2015 | Lost River | Belladonna | Average | Similar → |
| 2015 | The Mill at Calder's End | The Apparition of the Mill | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | The Shutterbug Man | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Parasite Memories: The Making of 'Shivers' | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | The Butterfly Room | Ann | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | The Boneyard Collection | Vanessa Peabody (segment "Her Morbid Desires") | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Mario Bava: Operazione paura | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Italian Kings Of B | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | The American Nightmare | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | Hollywood Rated 'R' | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1991 | Fear in the Dark | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Be Pretty and Shut Up! | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | Silent Scream | Victoria Engels | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | The Key Is in the Door | Cathy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | Piranha | Dr. Mengers | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | Pretty Baby | Josephine | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Shivers | Betts | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | Caged Heat | Supt. McQueen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1970 | Ciao, Federico! | Narrator (voice) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Stop the World... I Want to Get Off! | Danielle | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Honeymoon with a Stranger | Carla | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Curse of the Crimson Altar | Lavinia Morley | Flop | Similar → |
| 1966 | Young Törless | Bozena | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | An Angel for Satan | Harriet Montebruno / Belinda | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | The She Beast | Veronica | Flop | Similar → |
| 1966 | For Love and Gold | Teodora | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Once Upon a Tractor | Lady Clerk | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | Nightmare Castle | Muriel Arrowsmith / Jenny Arrowsmith | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | Terror-Creatures from the Grave | Cleo Hauff | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Long Hair of Death | Helen Karnstein / Mary Karnstein | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Monocle's Sour Laugh | Valérie Gasparelli | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Maniacs | Barbara (segment "l'hobby") / Brugnoli's Wife (segment "la cambiale") | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | Castle of Blood | Elisabeth Blackwood | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | A Sentimental Attempt | Silvia | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Ghost | Margaret Hichcock | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | 8½ | Gloria Morin | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Horrible Dr. Hichcock | Cynthia Hichcock | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Elizabeth Barnard Medina | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Black Sunday | Princess Asa Vajda / Katia Vajda | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Sapphire | Student | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Upstairs and Downstairs | Mary | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | The 39 Steps | Extra | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Bachelor of Hearts | Fiona | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Houseboat | Minor Role (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Barbara Steele - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Barbara Steele?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Barbara Steele is "Fear in the Dark" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Barbara Steele acted in?
Barbara Steele has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Barbara Steele?
Other notable films include "Master of Dark Shadows", "Boia, maschere e segreti: l’horror italiano degli anni sessanta", and "8½".