Jonathan Rhys Meyers will be donning fangs in NBC’s upcoming limited series Dracula , but he’s far from the first to play the Count. Here’s a look at some of the more memorable portrayals through the years.
Max Schreck (1922's Nosferatu)
Technically, Max Schreck played "Count Orlok" in Nosferatu, but that's only because they couldn't get the rights to Bram Stoker's Dracula. Regardless, this remains one of the most iconic versions of the character. And after nearly a century he's still terrifying, showing how much you can do with some makeup and a legitimately creepy actor.
Bela Lugosi (1931's Dracula)
Undoubtedly the most famous Dracula of them all, Lugosi's portrayal established many of the conventions that we still see in movies and TV — the style, the charm, the accent. The line "I never drink ... wine" was unique to the film but has been added to subsequent Dracula adaptations. Lugosi's Dracula has also been parodied endlessly, as on Sesame Street with Count Von Count.
Via: Universal Pictures
Gloria Holden (1936's Dracula's Daughter)
OK, so she's not the Dracula, but she's a Dracula, and that has to count for something. As Countess Marya Zaleska, Holden is every bit as seductive and intimidating as Lugosi. I mean, those eyebrows alone! There's also plenty of lesbian subtext — this vampire prefers the ladies, too — which has helped make Dracula's Daughter something of a cult classic.
Via: Universal Pictures
Christopher Lee (1958's House of Dracula)
Christopher Lee earns the distinction of playing Dracula more times than anyone else on this list. He started with House of Dracula (simply Dracula outside of the U.S.) and continued in Dracula: Prince of Darkness, Dracula Has Risen From the Grave, and Taste the Blood of Dracula, among others. None of these captured the spirit and horror of the character like Lee's first Dracula film, though.
Via: Warner Bros.
