Melissa Stribling

Melissa Stribling was a Scottish actress from the seaside resort of Gourock. Her best known role was playing Mina Holmwood in "Dracula" (1958), based on the novel's Wilhelmina "Mina" Murray. Her version of Mina was depicted as a sexually frustrated housewife, who seems pleased with her encounters with Dracula (played by Christopher Lee).

Stribling made her film debut in the historical film "The First Gentleman" (1948), based on the period that George IV of the United Kingdom served as Prince Regent (term 1811-1820). In the film, she played the role of Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness Conyngham (1770 - 1861), the last known mistress of George IV.

Her next film role was the crime film "Wide Boy" (1952). She played Caroline Blaine, mistress of the "famous" surgeon Robert Mannering (played by Colin Tapley). In the film, a pickpocket finds out about the married surgeon's affair and decides to blackmail him. The film is primarily remembered as the directorial debut of Ken Hughes (1922-2001).

Stribling had a supporting role in the mystery film "Crow Hollow" (1952), playing Diana Wilson, a friend of the main character Ann Amour (played by Natasha Parry). The film was based on a Gothic novel by mystery writer Dorothy Eden (1912-1982). It features Ann investigating who was behind several attempts on her life.

Stribling was next reduced to playing minor characters in the thriller "Ghost Ship" (1952) and "Decameron Nights" (1953), which were both literary adaptations. Her next substantial role was the crime film "Noose for a Lady", based on a mystery novel by Gerald Verner (1897-1980). The film has an amateur detective investigating the murder of his own brother-in-law.

Her next major film was "Out of the Clouds" (1955), a film created with the assistance of the "Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation". It dramatized the lives of typical passengers and crew members of an airplane in London Airport (later renamed to Heathrow Airport). The film was directed by Basil Dearden, Stribling's husband.

Following several minor roles in films, Stribling returned to prominence with a substantial role in "Dracula" (1958). It was one of the earliest hit films for Hammer Film Productions, and helped turn Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing into leading men for horror films. Stribling herself did not benefit much from the film's success.

During the 1960s, Stribling played minor and supporting roles for several films. She also appeared in guest star roles in television. She turned up in then-popular shows, such as the spy series "The Avengers" (1961-1969) and the comedy series "The Benny Hill Show" (1955-1989). She had a recurring role in the soap opera "Compact" (1962-1965), which depicted the lives of people involved in magazine publishing.

In 1971, Stribling's husband Basil Dearden was fatally injured in a road accident. She became a widow at the age of 45. She never remarried. During the same year, she played in her first horror film in several years, "Crucible of Terror". It deals with spirit possession. In the film, a would-be serial killer finds himself attacked by the vengeful spirit of his first victim. The film was a box office flop.

Stribling's next film role was in the sex comedy "Confessions of a Window Cleaner" (1974). The film was part of the film series "Confessions", depicting the sexual adventures of main character Timothy "Timmy" Lea. The character was depicted as a working-class youth who constantly seeks new romantic partners, while dealing with perpetual bad luck. The film series was based on a novel series by Christopher Wood (1935 - 2015).

In 1979, Stribling had her last known television role in the short-lived mystery series "Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson" (1979-1980). Her episode was based on the short story "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" (1892) by Arthur Conan Doyle, a classic locked-room mystery. The television series was commissioned by the state-owned Polish television network "Telewizja Polska", though most of the cast and crew were British.

After a hiatus in her acting career, Stribling returned to the silver screen with the thriller film "Paris by Night" (1988). It was actually her last film role. In 1992, Stribling died in Watford, Hertfordshire. She was 65-years-old at the time of her death. She was survived by her son James Dearden (1949-), a successful screenwriter.

Stribling is long gone, but is still well-remembered by film historians due to her relatively few leading roles. Film historian Jonathan Rigby has argued that she was a terrific female lead in "Dracula", and others have commented that her facial expressions speak volume in the film. She has secured a place in horror film history.