This Is What Elvira Looked Like Before She Starred On ‘Elvira’s Movie Macabre’

Before Cassandra Peterson was Elvira, she was a struggling actress that was just working as part of an improv group. She convinced her parents to let her start her career as a showgirl in Las Vegas, Nevada when she was just 17 years old. In fact, while working there, did you know that Elvira briefly dated Elvis Presley?

She had a small role in the James Bond 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever and had a topless part in The Working Girls in 1974. It wasn’t until the early ‘80s that Cassandra became Elvira and a star was truly born.

Before she was Elvira, Cassandra was actually a redhead (and is nowadays).

“I heard an interview for a horror hostess and I really wasn’t really sure what the heck a horror hostess was. They saw hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people.”

Cassandra felt that the Fright Night producers liked her because she was a comedian and they wanted someone who had comedy experience. The other people auditioning were trying to be too seductive, that Cassandra was able to nail both the seductive side and the comedy.

Working with her best friend, Robert Redding, Cassandra came up with the sexy, punk vampire after her original idea to look like Sharon Tate in The Fearless Vampire Killers was rejected. They actually took inspiration for the look from Ronettes, mirroring the beehive look and pushing hair height to new levels.

Her character quickly gained attention for the low-cut, cleavage-baring dresses she wore. She actually couldn’t believe they let her wear the outfit, but when she did, ratings went through the roof. The costume was a little uncomfortable. It was skin tight and she wore six-inch heels.

To see more of how Elvira came to be, you can watch the video below!

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