Why listen
The woman who created Elvira opens up about 40 years of Halloween royalty and coming out as queer.
0:00––:––
Enjoy the episode?
Subscribe to PRIDE
Listen & subscribe on
In this episode
- How Cassandra Peterson built Elvira from the ground up
- The personal story behind her decision to come out publicly
- What it means to hold a queer identity behind an iconic character
- How Elvira continues to celebrate and evolve each Halloween season
About this episode
She's a sexy, campy, horror icon and the Mistress of Darkness herself, Elvira. Beloved for her vampire sex appeal and satire, Elvira has been in numerous films and even inspired a comic book character. The woman behind the character, Cassandra Peterson, has been sitting on her throne as the Queen of Halloween for 40 years. But a revelation in Cassandra's memoir had us falling in love with Elvira all over again. Cassandra is queer and has been in a relationship with a woman for decades. Today, We speak with Cassandra about creating the character Elvira, her decision to come out, and how Elvira is celebrating the spooky season.Check out Cassandra's book Yours Cruelly, Elvira here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/yours-cruelly-elvira-memoirs-of-the-mistress-of-the-dark-cassandra-peterson/17373922
Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.
Follow the show and keep up with the conversation across platfroms @Pride.
*This episode originally aired in 2021.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About PRIDE
On Pride, host Caitlynn McDaniel deep dives into the LGBTQ+ stories lighting up our screens — and the people who bring them to life. Each week, she sits down with the stars we love, the creators behind the scenes, and the voices changing the way stories are told.
See all episodes →
