Maila Nurmi

Biography

Maila Elizabeth Syrjäniemi (December 11, 1922 – January 10, 2008), known professionally as Maila Nurmi, was an American actress best known for creating the camp 1950s character Vampira. She was of Finnish descent.

Known For

The Incredibly Strange Film Show

Self

Plan 9 from Outer Space

Vampire Girl

I Woke Up Early the Day I Died

Woman in Hotel Lobby

Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion

Herself

Romance on the High Seas

Ship Passenger (uncredited)

Vampires: Thirst for the Truth

Self

The Magic Sword

The Hag / Sorceress

Filmography

Year	Movie	Role
2022	Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies	Self - (archive footage)
2013	Vampira and Me	Self (archive footage)
2006	Vampira: The Movie	Herself
2006	American Scary	Herself / 'Vampira'
2004	Monsterama: A Tribute to Horror Hosts	Self
2001	Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies	Herself
2000	The Many Faces of Dracula	Vampire Girl (archive footage)
1998	I Woke Up Early the Day I Died	Woman in Hotel Lobby
1996	The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr.	Herself
1996	Vampires: Thirst for the Truth	Self
1995	Vampira: About Sex, Death and Taxes	Self
1992	Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion	Herself
1991	Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook	Vampire Girl (archive footage)
1986	Population: 1	Mother (uncredited)
1981	Bungalow Invader	Vampira
1975	James Dean: The First American Teenager	Self
1962	The Magic Sword	The Hag / Sorceress
1960	I Passed for White	Girl Poet (uncredited)
1960	Sex Kittens Go to College	Etta Toodie
1959	The Beat Generation	Poetess
1959	The Big Operator	Gina
1957	Plan 9 from Outer Space	Vampire Girl
1948	Romance on the High Seas	Ship Passenger (uncredited)

Year	TV Show	Role
1988	The Incredibly Strange Film Show	Self
1954	The Vampira Show	Vampira