Rhiannon Irons' Top 13 Vampires

When it comes to monster movies, the vampire is often one of the first to be chosen (outside of zombies). Why? What is our appeal to them? Whatever way we look at it, there's something alluring and sexy about the legions of the undead with pointy teeth that blend so well into the shadows.

Today, I'm unleashing my top 13 movie and television vampires that have sparked our imaginations and fuelled our desires to the point that we just want them to bite us.

13: Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) – Interview With The Vampire (1994)

Brooding and pouty, Louis is the quintessential vampire. His good looks and brooding personality make him a ladies man, but unlike his sire, Louis loathes being a vampire. He cannot take a human life and often lived on rats or chickens. It takes him centuries to accept what he is and what power he posses. After that, he becomes a storyteller, warning mortals of what lurks in the shadows of their fair cities.

12: Amilyn (Paul Reubens) – Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992)

Quirky, filled with hate but at the same time bloody hilarious, Amilyn is second only to Lothos (Rutger Hauer). Going against Buffy (Kristy Swanson) and Pike (Luke Perry), Amilyn really has his work cut out for him. With lines like “You ruined my new jacket. Kill him a lot,” it's hard to imagine what the vampire race would be like it Amilyn was in charge. Single-handedly stole the show for this film.

11: Angel (David Boreanaz) – Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1996-2003)

Angel started out as the tall, dark, brooding stranger in the hit TV show before Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) knew what he was. A vampire in love with a slayer is rather poetic and Angel was love's bitch until he lost his soul. Then he reverted back to the killer that he was centuries ago. One moment of sheer happiness undid the curse that held his soul in place. Now, he's back being the sweetie pie we all fell in love with. Just don't give into his brooding ways. We don't need to see Angelus again.

10: Damon and Stefan Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley) The Vampire Diaries (2009-)

In tenth place it's a tie. Why? Who doesn't love a little sibling rivalry, even among the undead. Brothers Damon and Stefan are almost always at odds, mostly because Damon has made it his immortal life's work to torment Stefan. Now that's entertainment.

9: David (Kiefer Sutherland) The Lost Boys (1987)

One of the most enjoyable vampire films available. When Michael Emerson (Jason Patric) and his family moved to Santa Carla, a coastal California town, they discover it chock full of alienated teens like David, who have a very unique way of expressing their angst: vampirism.

8: Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin) Moonlight (2007-2008)

A modern, gentlemanly and gorgeous vampire, private investigator Mick refuses to let go of his humanity entirely. Unlike other vampires, he refuses to hunt women and children and even drinks blood from the morgue. Now if that's not a turn on, did I mention that he's just soooooo dreamy?

7: Blade (Wesley Snipes) Blade (1998)

Based on the comic book series, Blade is technically a dhampir, a human with vampire genetics, a result of his mother being bitten while giving birth. He becomes a vampire hunter to avenge his mother's death in a bleak urban underworld where pure-blood vampires fight humans who have transformed.

6: Selene (Kate Beckinsale) Underworld (2003)

A “death dealer,” vampy Selene engages in a lifelong battle against the Lycans (werewolves) she believes killed her family. And she looked hot while doing it, guns a blazin' while rocking one hell of a hot leather bodysuit.

5: Armand (Antonio Banderas) Interview With The Vampire (1994)

Handsome, feisty and yet a gentle lover, Armand fell for Louis' charms and wanted to show him the ways of the old world. After the death of Louis' child companion, Claudia, Armand and Louis parted ways. But the sexiness that is Armand does return, and forever will hold a place in our hearts as one super hot vampire.

4: Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) Interview With The Vampire (1994)

Oh, Claudia, Claudia, Claudia. The reason why children should never be turned into blood sucking feigns from beyond the grave. Always wishing she could grow up, Claudia was opinionated, stubborn and down right bratty...but she did have a soft spot for Louis, the one that bit her. Born from him, she looked up to him, admiring him. It was her death that sent Louis into a rage, slaughtering his own kind as revenge. Claudia certainly bought out the, well, evil, in everyone.

3: Spike (James Marsters) Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1996-2003)

Originally the big bad of Sunnydale in season 2, Spike won over audiences and became a regular. With his bad boy looks, platinum blonde hair, six-pack abs, he was the vamp that could make those True Blood boys cry. In later seasons, whilst continually stating he was still 'bad' Spike fell in love with Buffy and set about trying to please her the best that he could. “I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.”

2: Dracula (Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Gary Oldman)

You'll note three men and no movie title listed. The reason for this is because these three are my top three. Bela was the original. Christopher is one of the greatest and Gary in Bram Stoker's Dracula was just outstanding. When it comes to the Prince Of Darkness, these three are the best.  And let's face it, you can't have a vampire count down without The Count.

1: Lestat de Lioncourt (Tom Cruise) Interview With The Vampire (1994)

Tom's portrayal of Anne Rice's Lestat was perfection. Lestat is the perfect killer. Loving all things that are beautiful, Lestat offered his victims a choice, the choice he never had. “Evil is a point of view. God kills indiscriminately and so shall we. For no creatures under God are as we are, none so like him as ourselves.”