Princess Aura is a fictional character in the

Flash Gordon Flash Gordon is the protagonist of a space adventure comic strip created and 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'' ad ...

comic strips and serials. She has been portrayed by various actresses in the many ''Flash Gordon'' adaptations in film and television.

Character overview

Aura is the daughter of the series' villain,

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, television series and film adaptation. Ming is depicted as ...

, but saves

from her father. She soon realizes that her love for Flash is unrequited, but later falls in love with Prince Barin, the rightful heir to the throne of Mongo. She and Barin are eventually banished to the forest world of Arboria.

Appearances

Comic strips

Princess Aura first appeared in the fourth installment of the 1934 comic strip ''Flash Gordon''. She defies her father and saves Flash, but finds that she cannot seduce him away from Dale Arden. Aura later falls in love with Prince Barin and marries him.

Film

In 1936, Princess Aura was portrayed by Priscilla Lawson in the ''

'' film serial. In 1940, the role was portrayed by

Shirley Deane Shirley Deane (born Shirley Deane Blattenberger; March 16, 1913 – April 26, 1983) was an American film actress. Born to Jesse H. Blattenberger and his wife Zola (née Redden), she was raised by her maternal grandmother. She was best known as ...

in the third ''Flash Gordon'' serial, '' Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe''. In 1980, Princess Aura was portrayed by Ornella Muti in the film ''

'' produced by Dino De Laurentiis and is shown to have numerous lovers. She saves Flash from death with the help of one of her lovers, a royal doctor who revives Flash after Ming tries executing him in a gas chamber.

Television

Melendy Britt provided the voice of Princess Aura in the 1979 Filmation animated series. She was portrayed as Ming the Merciless' daughter, who at first assists her father in battling Flash and company, but turns against him and joins the rebel forces of Mongo. She also has an elite guard of female warriors under her command known as the Witch-Women. After Ming is removed from power, the Witch-Women remain in Princess Aura's service. Princess Aura also initially resents Dale Arden and rejects Prince Barin's affections, but would 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 the 1996 ''

'' animated series, Princess Aura is a sympathetic 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, even though her father Ming is reptilian. She is voiced by Tracey Hoyt. Anna Van Hooft portrayed Princess Aura in the 2007 ''

'' television series. She is once again portrayed as a sympathetic character. Unlike the comic, she has a brother and her mother is alive. 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 is in love with Flash and has a rivalry with Dale who looks down on her as a "royal little brat".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aura, Princess Comics characters introduced in 1934 Fictional princesses Flash Gordon characters Female characters in comics