Claudia (Kirsten Dunst), Interview with the Vampire (plus Louis and Lestat!)
By popular request, the Vampire Claudia returns! I’ve made this character a few times before, but I’m most pleased with this version. I’ve always loved her blue dress, but now I feel I’ve improved enough sculpting hair that her bangs are closer to how I want them.
Claudia, Louis de Pointe du Lac, and Lestat de Lioncourt are available now for purchase at my Etsy shop. Just in time for Halloween! ♀️♂️♂️⚜️
For those unaware, Claudia was based on Anne Rice’s own daughter Michele, who died at five years old from leukemia. The resulting depression led to Anne Rice publishing her first of many gothic horror novels, starting with Interview with the Vampire, in 1976. While Claudia was based on Michele, so was Lestat on her husband Stan (originally intended to be named Lestan) and Louis on herself.
The 1976 novel is unfortunately the only entry in The Vampire Chronicles from Louis’ POV, which came from a place of her own personal trauma. Lestat was obviously a far more flamboyant, fun, fanciable character for her to focus on, but ultimately not as prone to exploring the existential crises and philosophical questioning present in her original novel.
One may also notice that the doll shop owner Madeleine’s backstory is that of a mother who lost a young daughter who likewise never got to grow up. Rice’s house in New Orleans was famously filled with antique dolls, which is imagery very much associated with Claudia.
For obvious reasons, a five year old was deemed unable to handle the demanding role of Claudia, which is that of a woman’s mind driven mad trapped in a child’s body (she’s actually over eighty years old by the end of her story), and so the role was aged up for a then eleven-year-old Kirsten Dunst. There was a nationwide search that included younger actresses, but Dunst was one of the few who could handle the part. She actually didn’t get to see the film until years later, either. The 1994 film also included her first kiss, which was with none other than Brad Pitt, though neither were enthused! Dunst also wore the blue dress when she attended Rice’s Memnoch Ball in 1995.
…Okay not yet, but, a big proper thank you message coming, when I can. It may not be until after the New Year, as I’m still visiting with family and there’s some RL stuff keeping me offline and I don’t have access to make the last few delivery badges, but! KNOW THIS:
@wicked-felina and I are overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who participated this year, this was amazing and so medicinal for all of us, after all, the gifts are ultimately for everyone
Is it morally wrong for any of the adult vampires to date the child vampires? Such as Claudia, and I think Armand? By his description I’m assuming he was at least a teenager when he was turned.
Mentally they’re adults, but physically they’re still children, and it’s very weird to me when they date the adult vampires.
The Vampire Chronicles was my favourite book series growing up so it was really sad to hear about Anne Rice’s passing. Here’s hoping they do her writing justice with the live action series because I’m desperate to see an adaptation where lestat and nicolas interact on screen
i had this scanned pencil sketch laying around in my pc since last year, cleaned it up a little and then i added some color in clipstudio. something a bit claudia from interview with the vampire-inspired because i love her
