When we hear the word actress, our minds are bound to drift towards bigger stars like Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and even recent ones like Margot Robbie who have delivered some of the greatest movies that will be coveted for generations to come. However, ones from the VHS-era would remember the stunning B-movie actresses who either moved on to mainstream cinema or are renowned for their work in some B-movie hits.
These charmers with their stunning screen presence always stole the show. This this video we will discuss some of these screen goddesses who completely stole our hearts.
Shannon Tweed
Featuring in a popular Canadian wish-fulfillment television series ‘Thrill of a Lifetime’, this Canadian stunner attracted significant attention in her prime. She was also successful as a model and featured as the Playmate of the Year back then. She was a part of a few television series and was cast in Falcon Crest, a prime-time soap opera.
Shannon Tweed is, however, best known for her performances in B-movie hits that mostly involve erotic thrillers. In various forms of erotica, she forged a solid career that saw her become a regular face in several movies.
She is best known for her role in Electra, a movie that probably had one of the most ridiculous plots you could imagine! The plot revolved around a farm boy who was the source of a mysterious serum that could reverse aging. Shannon Tweed, who played the role of Electra, badly wanted the serum, but the only means of getting it was establishing sexual contact! Fans, however, were less than bothered about the flimsy plot as they had before them a gorgeous Shannon delivering a stunning performance.
She has also tried out action flicks like No Contest Shadow Warriors: Assault on Devils Island and Assault on Death Island. In her prime, she was the heartthrob of an entire generation, and one look at her will tell you why!
Adrienne Barbeau
Adrienne Barbeau is best known for her stunning performance in a number of sci-fi and horror movies, some of which were directed by famous director John Carpenter. Adrienne went on to marry this prolific filmmaker and continued to work with him on various occasions. She started off as a Broadway star and soon made her way into movies.
She is the conventional dream girl known to stand out for her beauty. She has done some diverse roles in her career, but some of her most loved roles are from movies like The Fog, Escape from New York, Swamp Thing, and Creepshow. She was hailed as a sex-symbol and termed as a tough broad who could pull off challenging action roles.
Besides John Carpenter, she has also worked with George R. Romero on some entertaining films. We loved her performances on screen, but she also impressed her fans with her voice-acting as Catwoman for the Batman: The Animated Series and the later Batman cartoon series. She still makes an odd appearance every now and then, and her celebrated hearts will remain close to the hearts of B-movie lovers.
Linda Blair
Linda Blair, popular for playing the possessed child Regan on Exorcist, received major acclamation and a Golden Globe Award for her movie. Linda took to movies with ease just like a fish does to water! She reprised her role in the sequence Exorcist II: The Heretic and followed it up with a number of B-movies that propelled her to stardom.
Throughout the 80s, this beautiful actress starred in several exploitation and horror flicks that made her a household name. She particularly stood out in slasher thrillers like Hell Night, Savage Street, and in horror-dramas like Grotesque. She also hosted Reality TV shows for Fox Network and even appeared on shows for Animal Planet.
Her appearance in Playboy, in the early 80s, established her as a sultry siren who could make the guys go weak in their knees. Towards the later parts of her career, she was also cast in some Australian B-movies like Fatal Bond and Dead Sleep. While Linda has excelled across a number of genres with her praise-worthy performances, horror continues to be this blond-beauty’s forte and we have been an avid fan!
Sybil Danning
Sybil Danning is often known to turn heads and claim the attention of a room full of people with her alluring charms. This leggy blond is hailed as the queen of B-movies for her excellent performance playing versatile roles on a number of occasions. She started off as a model early in her career and soon took to films. Her appearance in cinema was coveted by her fans and throughout the 1970s and 1980s they would be hooked on to their screen to catch a glimpse of this beauty.
This Austrian-born actress tasted her first commercial success after she made her move to Hollywood. Before that, she worked with some Italian made fantasy movies like Hercules and The Seven Magnificent Gladiators. A flurry of B-movies came her way, and films like Malibu Express, Chained Heat, and Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf made her a sought-after actress.
Despite suffering a severe injury while shooting, she returned stronger found her roles back in Werewolf Women of the SS and Grindhouse, which was the work of veteran director Quentin Tarantino. She was also cast for the remake of John Carpenter’s original Halloween that was being directed by Rob Zombie. Not only was Sybil Danning popular among the audience, but her work was also appreciated with some big awards like the Saturn Award that she won for her role in Battle Beyond the Stars. Her stunning blue eyes only add to her already charming looks.
Caroline Munro
With her beautiful eyes and charming appearance, Caroline Munro can easily be hailed as one of God’s perfect creation that even her creator would pride over! She has graced the screen regularly throughout the 1970s and 1980s. This English beauty has starred in a James Bond film and several notable mainstream films besides B-movies.
Caroline started off her career at the ripe age of 17 featuring in Vogue Magazine. Once she got an opportunity in films, she started off with some small roles in movies like Casino Royale, Where’s Jack, and A Talent for Loving. Her first introduction to the world of B-movies came with her deal with Hammer Films.
She announced her arrival as a full-scale actress in lead roles with films like Dracula AD and Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter. She turned down some rules that required her to pose nude, but her work in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad was praised by the fans and critics alike. She was also offered to play the role of the villainess Ursa in Superman, but she declined and chose to star in The Spy Who Loved Me.
Later on, she worked with filmmakers like David Hasselhoff and starred in films like Starcrash and The Last Horror Film. This stunning actress has done some wonderful films that has given her audience a lot to cherish.
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nelson is a Danish actress who shot into instant stardom after starring in films like Rocky IV and Cobra alongside Sylvester Stallone. She is also popular for dating the superstar and soon took up roles in mainstream films like Red Sonja and Beverly Hills Cop 2. Unfortunately, with time the bigger roles stopped flowing in, and soon, Brigitte Nielsen was into DTV flicks!
Brigitte was best known for her malleability as an actress. She could effortlessly slip into a villain’s guise as she could of the protagonist. Movies like Compelling Evidence and Chained Heat II testify to her acting prowess, but she has also taken up several trashy roles that are purely for entertainment purposes. Her journey started with modeling, and soon she attained the status thousands desire in the film industry.
Brigitte tested her capabilities further with a rather challenging role in the movie Terminal Force. From the 2000s, she slowly moved away from movies and worked in various reality shows with the occasional film in her kitty. Among her recent works, Creed II deserves a special mention. This charming lady’s presence has indeed made our experience of B-movies better!
Joan Severance
Joan Severance’s journey is much like the conventional model to actress transition like many. What is unique is the thundering success she was able to amass. She was popularized as the luscious femme fatale, a villain in whose hands one would have no qualms in even dying! Since her memorable debut in the first Lethal Weapon film, she has managed to deliver some brilliant performances in low-budget horror and thriller flicks.
In the initial days of her career, she worked as a professional fashion model in Paris. She became an overnight sensation by featuring because of her association with some of the best brands in business and featuring in magazines of international repute like Vogue and Sportswear International.
After being cast in the Lethal Weapon movie in 1987, she worked in some entertaining B-movies such as Lake Consequence, Payback, and Criminal passion. She was loved for her role in the wrestling film titled No Holds barred, opposite Hulk Hogan. She also bagged leading roles in popular hits such as Black Scorpion, Aftershock, and The Last Seduction II.
Besides her brilliance in movies, she also marked her presence on television with a role in the TV series called Wiseguy, where she was the villainess. Her intense eyes and near-perfect features could make your heart skip a beat, and she will be fondly remembered by her fans for her titillating presence that made B-movies special.
Madeline Smith
Madeline Smith launched her career with Hammer Film productions. Hammer Film productions have paved the way for launching the careers of various actresses, and Madeline Smith is one of these names. What started with a film for the production house soon blossomed into a promising career for this English actress, who appeared in numerous B-movies and TV series through the 1970s and 1980s. She is also known as one of the most loved Bond girls featuring in the film Live and Let Die.
Her extraordinary beauty is bound to set anyone’s heart racing. She was able to capture the attention of filmmakers and fans alike with her debut venture Taste the Blood of Dracula in the role of a prostitute. She has worked alongside some veteran actors such as Peter Cushing in Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell and The Vampire Lovers. Her other notable works include The Amazing Mr. Blunden, Theatre of Blood, Up Pompeii, etc.
In the movie Live and Let Die, the-then James Bond actor Roger Moore himself recommended her for the role. While she had a flourishing career with movies, her TV credits were no less successful with hit shows like Doctor at Large, Casanova 73, The Howerd Confessions, and many others. Eventually, she took a break from movies to focus on her family, but not before mesmerizing us with some jaw-dropping performances!
Linnea Quigley
Linnea Quigley is often associated with being the Scream Queen of B-movies. This diva was seen in a number of low-budget horror films delivering her best performances. After her struggles as an extra in the beginning of her career, Linnea was able to secure her position as a successful actress after her film Fairy Tales produced by the famous Charles Band.
This talented actress had a career spanning across 40 years, during which she starred in numerous B-movies from the VHS era. The cult-horror genre brought out the best in her, and her most celebrated role was in the movie titled The Return of the Living Dead. Her performance in horror B-flicks such as Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Night of the Demons, and many others captured the attention of her fans.
Some of her works that would ring a bell with the horror-film enthusiasts are Savage Streets, Silent Night, Deadly Night, Nightmare Sisters, etc. Although she has often been typecast as the conventional, pretty victim in horror flicks, she proved her versatility with her role in the comedy series Vice Academy. Her engaging presence in the movies made her a popular figure among the fans, and her stunning looks left many fans crushing over her!
Karen M. Waldron
Karen M. Waldron with her innocent eyes and burnishing blond hair is a living, breathing dream. This dazzling beauty has starred in a number of movies, her most popular venture being the Return of the Killer Tomatoes. Critics might have slammed the film for his illogical premise but the audience cared only for Karen’s gracious presence that left everyone spellbound.
The sci-fi action thrillers and the B-horror genres suited her best! She worked in movies like Space Cowboys and Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. Besides being an actress, she has also worked on a few movies as a producer. She impressed with her performance in movies like Killing Midnight, and even in some TV series like Baywatch and Dragnet. She might have long-retired from the world of cinema, but she still continues to hold a special place in the hearts of all B-movie lovers.
Michelle Bauer
This gorgeous Californian breezed into B-films like a breath of fresh air. She started proceedings from her stint as a model where she was soon Penthouse Magazine’s Pet of the Month. She briefly starred in adult-movies as well and then went on to audition for director Fred Olen Ray. This spun her career to a complete 360 degrees and she was then cast in the movie, The Tomb.
When we consider Scream-Queens in B-movies, Michelle Bauer is as big a name as Linnea Quigley or Brinke Stevens. She featured in several B-horror flicks that were loved by the audiences. Some of these films include the likes of Maximum Revenge, The Last Embrace, Little Miss Magic, etc.
She was also seen in the TV Mini-Series titled Click and a few other shows on TV. However, her fans know her best for being a part of works like Witch Academy, Blonde Heaven, Demented, and numerous other such movies that brought out the best in her. The gorgeous Michelle Bauer has caused many a heartbreak back in the day with her magical presence on screen!
Barbara Crampton
If you are into B-movies, you have probably watched cult-classics like Castle Freak, Chopping Mall, Re-Animator, and From Beyond. All of these classics had one thing in common and that was the wonderful Barbara Crampton. This blond beauty made her debut with the popular television series Days of our Lives and since then she has not looked back.
Her debut film was titled Body Double, and it was immediately clear that the lady was here to stay. She soon strengthened her position with movies like Re-Animator, We Are Still Here, Little Sister, and Dead Night, all of which are loved by the fans.
While she was constantly working in B-movies, she was also maintaining a television presence with roles in The Young and the Restless, which even got her the nomination for a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Villainess. This veteran actress has lived through an accomplished career that spans several years! Her contributions to B-movies and in making the lives of single men better, are unforgettable.
Traci Lords
Traci’s career has been marred with severe controversies in the very beginning. Traci Lords was involved with some pornographic movies and claimed to be eighteen years old. However, it was later found out that she was only 15, and this scandalized the adult film industry. She did make a turnaround with a career in B-movies, and it started when she starred in Cry-Baby by John Waters.
Traci Lords soon arrived with another movie titled Serial Mom, and while her popularity was growing in movies, she worked on numerous TV roles. One of her most notable roles on television would have to be the one in Melrose Place. She was also impressive in the sci-fi flick ‘Not of This Earth’ by Roger Corman titled.
Through the 90s, she starred in several films including some inconsequential roles! She was a part of films such as Blade, Virtuosity, Skinner, and Excision. She also pursued a career in music, but unfortunately, that never transformed into something serious. She is still an inspiration for many, for turning things around even in the darkest moments of her career and triumph over all odds!