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
1989
Plan 9 from Outer Space
1957
Romance on the High Seas
1948
The Magic Sword
1962
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
2022
James Dean: The First American Teenager
1975
Sex Kittens Go to College
1960
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
1998
The Many Faces of Dracula
2000
I Passed for White
1960
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies
2001
The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr.
1996

FILMOGRAPHY

All
Movies
TV
Acting
26
2022
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
as Self - (archive footage)
2013
Vampira and Me
as Self (archive footage)
2006
Vampira: The Movie
as Herself
2006
American Scary
as Herself / 'Vampira'
2004
Monsterama: A Tribute to Horror Hosts
as Self
2001
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies
as Herself
2000
The Many Faces of Dracula
as Vampire Girl (archive footage)
1998
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
as Woman in Hotel Lobby
1996
The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr.
as Herself
1996
Vampires: Thirst for the Truth
as Self
1995
Vampira: About Sex, Death and Taxes
as Self
1992
Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion
as Herself
1991
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
as Vampire Girl (archive footage)
1989
The Incredibly Strange Film Show
as Self
1986
Population: 1
as Mother (uncredited)
1981
Bungalow Invader
as Vampira
1975
James Dean: The First American Teenager
as Self
1962
The Magic Sword
as The Hag / Sorceress
1960
I Passed for White
as Girl Poet (uncredited)
1960
Sex Kittens Go to College
as Etta Toodie
1959
The Beat Generation
as Poetess
1959
The Big Operator
as Gina
1957
Plan 9 from Outer Space
as Vampire Girl
1957
The Jet-Propelled Couch
as Vampira
1954
The Vampira Show
as Vampira
1948
Romance on the High Seas
as Ship Passenger (uncredited)