Princess Aura
Encyclopedia
Princess Aura is a fictional character in the Flash Gordon
comic strips and serials. She is the daughter of the series' villain, Ming the Merciless
, and the lover of Prince Barin
, the rightful heir to the throne of Mongo, and is banished with him to the forest world of Arboria.
In 1936, Princess Aura was portrayed by Priscilla Lawson
in the Flash Gordon
film serial. In 1940, the role was portrayed by Shirley Deane in the third Flash Gordon serial, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
.
Melendy Britt
provided the voice of Princess Aura in the 1979 Filmation
animated series. She was portrayed as Ming the Merciless' ostensibly-villainous daughter, who at first aided her father versus Flash and company, but later on would turn against him and join the rebel forces of Mongo - no doubt in part due to her attraction to Flash Gordon. She also had an elite guard of female warriors under her command known as the Witch-Women. After Ming was removed from power, the Witch-Women remained in Princess Aura's service.
Princess Aura also initially resented Dale Arden
and rejected Prince Barin's affections, but would do a complete turn-around and become the former's friend and the latter's love interest as the series progressed. Consequently, her attraction to Flash is downplayed and does not resurface after her desertion of her father.
In 1980, Princess Aura was portrayed by Ornella Muti
in the film Flash Gordon
produced by Dino De Laurentiis
and is shown to have numerous lovers. She saves Flash from death with the help of her lover, a doctor who revives Flash after Ming tries executing him in gas chamber.
In the 1996 Flash Gordon animated series, Princess Aura is a sympathetic young character, who often defies her father because of her attraction to Flash, or for the sake of her mother. In this version, Aura has green skin, but is otherwise perfectly human, because Ming is reptilian.
Anna Van Hooft
portrayed Princess Aura in the 2007 Flash Gordon
television series. She is once again portrayed as a sympathetic character. She vainly seeks her father's approval but Ming, like most other characters on the show regards her with a mixture of pity and contempt. She also has a crush on Flash and a rivalry with Dale who looks down on her as a "royal little brat".
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon is the hero of a science fiction adventure comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by and created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip. Also inspired by these series were comics such as Dash...
comic strips and serials. She is the daughter of the series' villain, Ming the Merciless
Ming the Merciless
Ming the Merciless is a fictional character who first appeared in the Flash Gordon comic strip in 1934. He has since been the main villain of the strip and its related movie serials, TV shows and film adaptation.- First appearance :...
, and the lover of Prince Barin
Prince Barin
Prince Barin is a character in the Flash Gordon stories. He is king of a region of Mongo called Arboria. Barin becomes one of Flash's best friends, and is deeply in love with Princess Aura....
, the rightful heir to the throne of Mongo, and is banished with him to the forest world of Arboria.
In 1936, Princess Aura was portrayed by Priscilla Lawson
Priscilla Lawson
Priscilla Lawson , born Priscilla Shortridge, was an American actress known for her role as Princess Aura in the original Flash Gordon serial ....
in the Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (serial)
Flash Gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial. Told in 13 installments, it was the first screen adventure for the comic-strip character Flash Gordon, and tells the story of his first visit to the planet Mongo and his encounter with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean...
film serial. In 1940, the role was portrayed by Shirley Deane in the third Flash Gordon serial, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe is a 1940 twelve episode serial film about Flash Gordon. It was the last of three Flash Gordon serials made from 1936 to 1940. The serial was produced and copyrighted by Universal Pictures....
.
Melendy Britt
Melendy Britt
Melendy Britt is an American actress active in television and voice acting since the 1970s. Her most notable animated work is for Filmation, voicing characters such as She-Ra, Princess Adora, and the second animated Batgirl...
provided the voice of Princess Aura in the 1979 Filmation
Filmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
animated series. She was portrayed as Ming the Merciless' ostensibly-villainous daughter, who at first aided her father versus Flash and company, but later on would turn against him and join the rebel forces of Mongo - no doubt in part due to her attraction to Flash Gordon. She also had an elite guard of female warriors under her command known as the Witch-Women. After Ming was removed from power, the Witch-Women remained in Princess Aura's service.
Princess Aura also initially resented Dale Arden
Dale Arden
Dale Arden is a fictional character, the fellow-adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon and a prototypic heroine for later female characters, including Princess Leia Organa and Padme Amidala in Star Wars. Flash, Dale and Dr...
and rejected Prince Barin's affections, but would do a complete turn-around and become the former's friend and the latter's love interest as the series progressed. Consequently, her attraction to Flash is downplayed and does not resurface after her desertion of her father.
In 1980, Princess Aura was portrayed by Ornella Muti
Ornella Muti
Ornella Muti is an Italian actress. She was born in Rome as Francesca Romana Rivelli, to a Neapolitan father and Russian mother. Her maternal grandparents immigrated from Leningrad , Russia, to Estonia...
in the film Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (film)
Flash Gordon is a 1980 British/American science fiction film, based on the comic strip of the same name created by Alex Raymond. The film was directed by Mike Hodges and produced and presented by Dino De Laurentiis. It stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, Max von Sydow, Timothy Dalton, Brian...
produced by Dino De Laurentiis
Dino De Laurentiis
Agostino "Dino" De Laurentiis was an Italian film producer.-Early life:He was born at Torre Annunziata in the province of Naples, and grew up selling spaghetti produced by his father...
and is shown to have numerous lovers. She saves Flash from death with the help of her lover, a doctor who revives Flash after Ming tries executing him in gas chamber.
In the 1996 Flash Gordon animated series, Princess Aura is a sympathetic young character, who often defies her father because of her attraction to Flash, or for the sake of her mother. In this version, Aura has green skin, but is otherwise perfectly human, because Ming is reptilian.
Anna Van Hooft
Anna Van Hooft
Anna Van Hooft is an American actress.She is best known for her role in the main cast of the 2007 live-action television series adaptation of the Flash Gordon franchise as Princess Aura....
portrayed Princess Aura in the 2007 Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (2007 TV series)
Flash Gordon is an American science fiction television series that debuted on Sci Fi in the United States on August 10, 2007 and continued airing new episodes through February 8, 2008. It has also appeared on the United Kingdom Sci Fi Channel and SPACE in Canada...
television series. She is once again portrayed as a sympathetic character. She vainly seeks her father's approval but Ming, like most other characters on the show regards her with a mixture of pity and contempt. She also has a crush on Flash and a rivalry with Dale who looks down on her as a "royal little brat".