Charlize Theron certainly cuts quite a figure as the Evil Queen character in the new “Snow White and the Huntsman” movie. But she’ll have to do more than just look the part to keep up with the best evil queens in movie history. Here are nine of them.
HELENA BONHAM CARTER
“ALICE IN WONDERLAND” (2010)
Bonham Carter, who has built up quite a collection of interesting supporting roles, does the whole regal nutjob thing perfectly. She has a little help here from special effects, but it’s her crazy, menacing manner as the Red Queen that seals the deal.
MALEFICENT
“SLEEPING BEAUTY” (1959)
As animated villains go, Maleficent was languidly, elegantly evil. She had no problem putting the whammy on people (i.e., Sleeping Beauty), and she looked good doing it. Bonus points for the horns.
SUSAN SARANDON
“ENCHANTED” (2007)
Sarandon is wonderful as Queen Narissa, who lives in an animated realm and banishes a beautiful princess to real-life Manhattan. Sarandon dispenses with subtlety and unleashes the full power of her personal charisma.
ALICE KRIGE
“STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT” (1996)
Charisma isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind with the Borg Queen, played by Krige. In the world of “Star Trek,” the Borg collective is all about conquering and assimilating other cultures into zombie-like cyborgs. Of course, Krige does manage to make her Queen character sexy in a cold, calculated sort of way.
ANJELICA HUSTON
“EVER AFTER” (1998)
I’m breaking my own rules here, because Huston doesn’t play a queen in “Ever After.” In this more realistic telling of the Cinderella story, Huston plays Rodmilla, evil stepmother to Drew Barrymore. She’s brilliant in the part, injecting sly humor and full-out slapstick where necessary. And her raised eyebrow, pictured above, almost deserves its own line in the cast list.
JULIA ROBERTS
“MIRROR MIRROR” (2012)
She’s going to be seriously overshadowed and left in the dust by the new Snow White film, but Julia’s take on The Queen is a success nonetheless. She used her image as an A-list movie star to shape a satirical, deliciously dark character.
ALIEN QUEEN
“ALIENS” (1986)
Possibly the most evil queen ever. In one of the greatest movie sequels in history, Sigourney Weaver takes on the mother of the bloodthirsty “aliens” that threaten the universe. This is absolute white-knuckle territory, in part because the queen is so utterly, thoroughly … evil.
DAME JUDI DENCH
“MACBETH” (1979)
Yes, yes, it’s a TV version of Shakespeare’s epic tragedy. So sue me. Dame Judi is spectacular as Lady Macbeth, the power hungry noblewoman who gets to be Queen of Scotland the hard way.
WICKED QUEEN
“SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES” (1937)
She’s the best, without a doubt. Lucille La Verne did the voice work for the Wicked Queen, and she’s simply indelible. Let’s put it this way: Would you ever want to get on her bad side? Thought not.
So are there any great, evil queens I’ve forgotten? Add them to The List!