The 20 greatest goth beauty looks on film

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The 20 greatest goth beauty looks on film

By Stylist Team

11 years ago

Unless you're 14 and have a penchant for all things on the darker side of life, there are few excuses to whack on the black eyeliner as if your life depended on it.

Which is why we're so happy that World Goth Day is here again (yes, it's totally a thing, we Googled it). It's one of the only times in the year (let's not forget Halloween) when we can rock the goth look without anyone asking us if we've got a vitamin D deficiency.

So, here's to all the brilliantly khol-ed up woman on the big screen who wear their undead style with pride.

Lydia Deetz - Beetlejuice

We don't know about you but Beetlejuice is a pretty creepy guy, particularly when he tries to get the young Lydia to marry him. Then again her hair and white face powder are working for her, so it's not all bad.


Emily - Corpse Bride

Despite the fact that Emily (the corpse bride) is trying to marry Victor against his will and the fact that he's in love with someone else, she always looks immaculate. In a dead sort of way, of course.


Morticia Addams - The Addams Family

Mrs Addams knows how to do a good red nail, doesn't she? Also, top marks for the grey eyeshadow, black eyeliner and the highlighter on the brow bone.


Wednesday Addams - The Addams Family

Stop everything, we've found our Halloween costume. The plaits and the pale face make this one of the easiest looks to replicate too.


Nancy Downs - The Craft

Even though she was megalomaniacal and filled with murderous rage, Nancy still managed to make black lipstick look chic.


Janis Ian - Mean Girls

When discussing Mean Girls, Janis Ian sometimes gets overlooked in the, er, looks department. But just check out that expertly-applied khol and the jet-black tresses. Bonus points for the ever-so-90s mini hair clips.


Catwoman - Batman Returns

The transformation Michelle Pfeiffer makes from the demure Selina Kyle to the leather-clad anti-heroine makes this look so phenomenal.


Sally - The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton is the king of making anything look gothic, including a supposed children's animation. Sally, who's in love with Jack, has a sort of old-school gothic quality - all purple eyes and dark hair. And yes, we know she's a rag doll.


Lucy Harker - Nosferatu

As one of the seminal horror movies ever created, it would be churlish (yes, churlish) of us to dismiss Lucy in Nosferatu. We're massively coveting her flawless skin and nude lips.


Delia Deetz - Beetlejuice

This is what we like to call 90s goth. Delia's make-up is a little lighter than her daughter Lydia's but on closer inspection you can see how brilliant her overall style is. Plus, take a look at the two waves of hair plastered to the side of her face - we're doing this for our next dinner party (it won't include hands made from prawns).


Bellatrix Lestrange - Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

Of all the actresses Tim Burton has worked with it's Helena Bonham Carter who is nearly always the most striking on screen. Case in point is her look in Harry Potter, in which she plays the terrifying Bellatrix Lestrange. The mess of curly black hair is the real winner here.


Enid - Ghost World

Enid's much more composed beauty-wise than say the previous entry of Bellatrix Lestrange but that by no means makes her any less gothic. The poker straight bob and dark lips plus the dark rimmed glasses make this the ultimate goth-geek look.


Santanico Pandemonium - From Dusk Till Dawn

Vampire movies always have to have beautiful women involved and From Dusk Till Dawn really wins with Salma Hayek playing Santanico Pandemonium. That is before she transforms into a vampire. Her make-up before is lovely though.


Queen Akasha - Queen of the Damned

Remember how brilliant Aaliyah was and how beautiful she looked in Queen of the Damned? We're off to perfect our eyeliner flicks and sharp nails, we just probably won't be donning the sharp teeth any time.


Nina Sayers - Black Swan

If you haven't even seen Black Swan, do so immediately, as the make-up alone, particularly when Natalie Portman is wearing the black swan outfit, is just superb.


Dr. Frank-N-Furter - The Rocky Horror Picture Show

OK, so Dr Frank N-Furter might be a chap, but that doesn't matter. His ability to wear all-over eyeshadow should be commended - not a lot of people can pull that off.


Ginger - Ginger Snaps

Ginger in Ginger Snaps isn't your stereotypical goth but she IS a werewolf (sorry, bit of a spoiler there) that doesn't detract from us wanting to have her hair. In conclusion, gingers can be goths too.


Anna Valerious - Van Helsing

Kate Beckinsale's got form for dark and moody tales, just think about the Underworld film series she starred in. Here, she stars are Anna Valerious - her dark curly hair makes us want to ditch the GHDs.


Mina - Bram Stoker's Dracula

The ultimate vampire story has to be Bram Stoker's Dracula, and the heroine is, of course, Mina. Her pale skin and dark hair sets the standard for every goth beauty look.


Maleficent - Sleeping Beauty

While we're still waiting on Angeline Jolie's Maleficent to make its way onto the big screen, we'll have to make do with the Disney version, which we'll sure you'll agree is pretty brilliant. Right, we're off to recreate those eyebrow arches.


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