Aaliyah's Legacy in Vampire Horror

Who doesn’t love a vampire movie? From Bram Stroker’s Dracula to Robert Eggers’ take on Nosferatu, the subgenre truly has something for everyone, whether that be decrepit, scary vampires or sexy ones able to seduce any mortal. But, there is one movie, however, that rises above the rest. That movie, in particular, is Queen of the Damned.

Queen of the Damned was one of the Top 10, wildly underrated vampire horror movies of the early 2000s era, at least according to Screen Rant. Sure, it may boast a 17% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and only made $45.4 million on a $35 million budget, but it’s remained an important film for many of us. And the biggest reason why we love it so much? World-famous pop star Aaliyah and her turn as the vampire queen, Akasha.

To those unfamiliar with Aaliyah, she was a pop star from the early ‘90s to the early 2000s, known for her popular songs like “Try Again”, “Miss You”, and “Back & Forth”. Outside of her music career, she also decided to partake in some acting, appearing in films like Romeo Must Die and, of course, Queen of the Damned. Although her career path within the entertainment industry—as both a singer and an actor—was growing rapidly, it sadly led to an erupt end. In 2001, Aaliyah suddenly passed away due to a plane crash in the Bahamas.

When she passed on, it felt like the whole world had suddenly stopped. Not only did her legacy impact the R&B world, but it inspired a new generation of Black female leads in the world of vampire horror and beyond. Sure, there have been other Black leads in vampire movies, like William Marshall (Blacula), Wesley Snipes (Blade), and Eddie Murphy (Vampire in Brooklyn). However, these lead roles focused on Black male actors. In addition, these movies were made prior to the existence of Queen of the Damned and Aaliyah’s lead role.

Years after Queen of the Damned, there has been a growing list of popular vampire-focused shows and movies with more lead roles for Black female actors. Perhaps one of the best examples is Tara Thornton from True Blood. From 2008 to 2014, True Blood was one of the top vampire dramas of its time. Rutina Wesley, who played Tara Thornton in True Blood, was one of the main cast of the series. Not only did she play a Black vampire, but a queer vampire, at that.

Then, there’s The Vampire Diaries, which lasted from 2009 to 2017. Kat Graham played one of the show’s leads, Bonnie Bennett. Graham, who is an actor and singer, was able to play the second lead for the entire duration of the iconic series. Even though her character was not a vampire like everyone else, she played a powerful witch who supported her best friend and her vampire acquaintances.

A third and final example is the popular AMC+ series released back in 2022: Interview with the Vampire. Like Queen Of The Damned, this is also an adaptation of Anne Rice’s work. While this isn’t the first adaptation of this specific Rice title, it is a more inclusive one. Aside from Louis de Pointe du Lac being played by actor Jacob Anderson, Claudia is brought to life by the extraordinary Bailey Bass.

These are just three pieces of vampire media that follow in the footsteps of Aaliyah and her royal role in Queen of the Damned. Aaliyah paved the way for future generations of Black female leads, proving that Black women can carry horror with grace, power, and rage. So before Black History Month comes to an end, pay your respects to Aaliyah and this incredible relic of the early 2000s. What better way to celebrate Black excellence?

Tags: Black History Month 2025

Categorized:Editorials