Biography for Maila Nurmi
Maila Nurmi (Vampira) as Vampire Girl
"Can your heart stand the shocking facts about Graverobbers from Outer Space?" That's the question on the lips of the narrator of this tale about flying saucers, zombies and cardboard tombstones. A pair of aliens, angered by the "stupid minds" of planet Earth, set up shop in a California cemetary. Their plan: to animate an army of the dead to march on the capitals of the world. (The fact that they have only managed to resurrect three zombies to date has not discouraged them.) An intrepid airline pilot living near the cemetary must rescue his wife from this low-budget terror. "Can you prove it *didn't* happen?"
Biography for Maila Nurmi
Birth name
Maila Nurmi
Date of birth
21 December 1921
Finland
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Trivia
Once sued Cassandra Peterson claiming that her "Elvira" persona was modeled after what she created as Vampira.
Niece of the Long Distance Runner 'Flying Fin' Paavo Nurmi.
Was fired by Mae West from the cast of West's 1944 Broadway play "Catherine Was Great," because West feared that she was being upstaged.
Once worked with famous stripper Lili St. Cyr.
Is believed to be the first television "horror host."
The only known surviving footage of Maila Nurmi as her "Vampira" character is her role in Edward D. Wood Jr.'s Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959). Unfortunately, she speaks no dialog in this film.
In 1958, singer Bobby Bare recorded a rock 'n' roll song about her, titled "Vampira".
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Links:
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001) (V) (as Maila Nurmi)
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998) .... The Mysterious Woman
... aka Ed Wood's I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998)
... aka I Awoke Early the Day I Died (1999) (USA)
Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr., The (1995)
Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The Plan 9 Companion (1992) (V) .... Herself/Interviewee
... aka Ed Wood Story: The Plan 9 Companion, The (1992) (V) (reissue title)
Population One (1986)
James Dean, the First American Teenager (1975) .... Herself
Magic Sword, The (1962) (as Maila Nurmi) .... The Hag
... aka Seven Curses of Lordac, The (1962) (USA)
... aka St. George and the Dragon (1962)
... aka St. George and the Seven Curses (1962)
Sex Kittens Go to College (1960) .... Etta Toodie
... aka Beauty and the Robot, The (1960)
... aka Teacher Versus Sexpot (1960)
I Passed for White (1960) (uncredited)
Big Operator, The (1959) .... Gina
... aka Anatomy of the Syndicate (1964) (USA: reissue title)
Beat Generation, The (1959) .... Poetess
... aka This Rebel Age (1959) (USA: reissue title)
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1958) .... Vampire Girl
Too Much, Too Soon (1958) (uncredited)
If Winter Comes (1947) (uncredited)
