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Barbara Steele

Barbara Steele

Actor · Born December 29, 1937 (88) · Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 29, 1937 (88)
From
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 62 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 8% in 30 days

What are Barbara Steele's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Horror9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
24%
Morality
22%
Self
15%
Power
14%
Society
10%
Ideas
8%
Bonds
7%
Survival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 5 · Dark 13

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 8

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 13

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 9 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 11 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 14 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 14
Hero
4 of 14
Trickster
2 of 14
Ally
1 of 14
Shapeshifter
1 of 14
Herald
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Dread
13
Melancholic
9
Absurd
6
Cold
5
Other
13

How their films linger

Haunting14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Barbara Steele's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barbara Steele's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

62 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 22 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Theatre of Horrors: The Sordid Story of Paris' Grand Guignol(2025)

    as (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Ulalume - A Ballad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Narrator: opening credits (voice)

  • Castlevania(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Miranda (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Minutes Past Midnight(2016)

    as The Apparition of the Mill (segment 'The Mill At Calder's End')

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Lost River(2014)

    as Belladonna

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Mill at Calder's End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as The Apparition of the Mill

  • The Shutterbug Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Narrator

  • The Butterfly Room(2012)

    as Ann

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Boneyard Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Vanessa Peabody (segment "Her Morbid Desires")

  • The Capitol Conspiracy(1998)

    as Agent Oakley

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Deep Above (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Mrs. Wagner

  • Dracula in the Movies(1992)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dark Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · as Countess Natalie du Pres · as Dr. Julia Hoffman · as Dr. Julia Hoffman / Countess Natalie du Pres

  • War and Remembrance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 12 episodes · Producer · as Elsa MacMahon

  • The Winds of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 7 episodes · Associate Producer · as Mrs. Stoller

  • Silent Scream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Victoria Engels

  • The Key Is in the Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Cathy

  • Piranha(1978)

    as Dr. Mengers

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Pretty Baby(1978)

    as Josephine

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Space-Watch Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Shivers(1975)

    as Betts

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Caged Heat(1974)

    as Supt. McQueen

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as The Widow Craighill

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Ciao, Federico! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

  • Stop the World... I Want to Get Off! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Danielle

  • Honeymoon with a Stranger(1969)

    as Carla

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Crimson Cult(1968)

    as Lavinia Morley

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The She Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Veronica

  • Young Törless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Bozena

  • An Angel for Satan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Harriet Montebruno / Belinda

  • L'armata Brancaleone(1966)

    as Teodora

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Lucky

  • I Spy(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Giana

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Once Upon a Tractor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Lady Clerk

  • Nightmare Castle(1965)

    as Muriel Arrowsmith / Jenny Arrowsmith

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Terror-Creatures from the Grave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Cleo Hauff

  • The Long Hair of Death(1964)

    as Helen Karnstein / Mary Karnstein

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Easy Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Contessa Bardi-Stucchi (segment "Divorzio italo-americano")

  • The Monocle's Sour Laugh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Valérie Gasparelli

  • White Voices (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Guilia

  • Three for a Robbery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Barbara Sims

  • Les baisers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Thelma (Episode 3: 'Baiser du soir')

  • The Maniacs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Barbara (segment "l'hobby") / Brugnoli's Wife (segment "la cambiale")

  • Castle of Blood(1964)

    as Elisabeth Blackwood

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • A Sentimental Attempt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Silvia

  • The Ghost(1963)

    as Margaret Hichcock

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Hours of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Leila

  • 8½(1963)

    as Gloria Morin

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Iron Captain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Floriana

  • The Horrible Dr. Hichcock(1962)

    as Cynthia Hichcock

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Pit and the Pendulum(1961)

    as Elizabeth Barnard Medina

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Black Sunday(1960)

    as Princess Asa Vajda / Katia Vajda

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Your Money or Your Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Juliet Frost

  • Sapphire(1959)

    as Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Upstairs and Downstairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Mary

  • Adventures in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Dolores

  • The Heart of a Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Girl (scenes deleted)

  • The 39 Steps(1959)

    as Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Bachelor of Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Fiona

  • Houseboat(1958)

    as Minor Role (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Dial 999 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Toni Miller

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 62 titles from 1955 to 2025; peak year 1978.

Biggest box office

Pretty Baby (1978)

$5.8M worldwide

Highest rated

8½ (1963)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Pretty Baby (1978)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19552025

Peak 1978 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 12 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting62 of 62: 60 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score55thProducing2 of 62: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1950s9 · acting1960s28 · acting1970s10 · acting1980s2 · 2 acting · 2 crew1990s4 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s6 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 42% of 24 roles
596474

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Barbara Steele's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Dracula in the Movies (1992)

91st percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

8½ (1963)

Midcredits 97th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Barbara Steele's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles35–85 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles10–73 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles3–60 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles12–45 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles43–68 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Barbara Steele work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barbara Steele's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Roger Corman shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles