It’s been 20 years since Queen Of The Damned was released, so what does the cast of the vampire horror movie look like now, and which notable movies have they starred in since? When Queen Of The Damned was released in 2002, neither critics nor Anne Rice – whose Vampire Chronicles series the film was loosely based on – were too impressed by it. However, critical consensus isn’t always gospel and Queen Of The Damned proved a moderate success alongside becoming something of a cult film in the years since its release.
The horror movie is a standalone sequel to 1994’s Interview With The Vampire and picks up with Lestat (formerly played by Tom Cruise) finding fame and fortune as the lead singer of a rock band. He's also pursued by both a paranormal researcher and an ancient vampire queen who is awoken from a centuries-long slumber by his music.
With AMC having recently acquired the rights to Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles series, there’s been renewed interest in Queen Of The Damned of late. So, in the spirit of retrospect, here’s an update on the cast of Queen Of The Damned including what they look like now and their biggest movies since the film came out.
Stuart Townsend – Lestat de Lioncourt
Irish actor Stuart Townsend took over the role of vampire Lestat after he was previously played by Cruise in Queen Of The Damned predecessor Interview With The Vampire. In the years following Queen Of The Damned, Townsend had starring roles in The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Chaos Theory and made his directorial debut with Battle In Seattle. More recently, he’s appeared in films including Grace And Grit and Apache Junction.
Marguerite Moreau – Jesse Reeves
Jesse Reeves is a young paranormal researcher who becomes obsessed by Lestat in Queen Of The Damned. She’s played by Mighty Ducks actress Marguerite Moreau who went on to star in fellow horror movie The Uninvited and family comedy Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Moreau’s more recent films include Into The Ashes and Monuments and she’s also had recurring roles in TV shows like Shameless and Grey’s Anatomy.
Aaliyah – Akasha
R&B singer Aaliyah played the part of an ancient Egyptian vampire queen who is awoken by Lestat’s music and sets out to make him her king as she takes over the world. Tragically, Aaliyah died in a plane crash at the age of 22 just a few months after filming her role as Akasha in Queen Of The Damned, which was posthumously dedicated to her memory. Before her untimely death, Aaliyah starred in one other film – martial arts action movie Romeo Must Die.
Vincent Perez – Marius
Swiss actor Vincent Perez plays Marius – the vampire who turned Lestat into an immortal bloodsucker and sets out to stop Akasha’s ascent. Perez’s biggest movies post-Queen Of The Damned include French coming-of-age drama Puppylove, Vincent Van Gogh biopic At Eternity’s Gate and adventure The Aeronauts. He also directed the movies Alone In Berlin and The Secret.
Paul McGann – David Talbot
British actor and former Doctor Who Paul McGann plays Jesse's mentor in Queen Of The Damned. He’s since appeared in British films like Gypo and Lesbian Vampire Killers but is probably better known for his TV work which includes roles in Luther and Holby City.
Lena Olin – Maharet
Swedish actor Lena Olin’s Queen Of The Damned role is Maharet – Jesse Reeves’ mysterious aunt who knows a little more about vampire lore than she first lets on. In the decade that followed Queen Of The Damned, Olin had roles in movies like Hollywood Homicide and The Reader and more recently earned rave reviews for her work in Maya Dardel and The Artist’s Wife.