25 Hottest TV Vampires, Ranked
There’s a reason that vampires never really disappear from mainstream television. Out of all the mythical creatures, vampires are by far the most alluring of the bunch. Whether they’re heroic love interests or monstrous villains — or somewhere in between — a bloodsucker will usually have a certain level of appeal to them. (Barring some that go the truly grotesque route.)
We’ve been watching vampires on TV for almost as long as we’ve been watching TV, so we definitely have our opinion on which ones are the hottest. Admittedly, our list could have been much longer, but we limited ourselves to only two vamps per show, which was hard to adhere to with shows like The Vampire Diaries and Interview With the Vampire. (Since vampires are eternal, this list will be updated when another sexy TV bloodsucker changes our lives forever.)
Keep scrolling to see if your favorite bloodsucker made our list and find out where they land in our ranking.
25. Nadja, What We Do in the Shadows
When it comes to Staten Island’s resident vampires, Natasia Demetriou‘s Nadja knows exactly how to operate in the male-dominated space, rightfully ruling the roost. Aggressive when she needs to be, Nadja’s outbursts are part of her charm, which is heightened by her fashion sense and coordinated colors streaking through her raven locks. A temptress from the very beginning, the vampire originally hailing from Antipaxos cast a spell on her husband, Laszlo (Matt Berry), when he was only human, transforming him to be her eternal companion, and thereby making them the show’s sexiest couple. Even with her on-and-off reincarnated lover, Gregor, Nadja only has eyes for Laszlo, and we couldn’t think of anything swoonier. — Meaghan Darwish
24. Blade, Blade: The Series
Though Wesley Snipes made a lasting impression with his portrayal of Blade on the big screen, it was Sticky Fingaz in Spike TV’s Blade who truly made the role his own. Raw, street-level, and stripped of the cinematic polish that defined Snipes’ version, this Daywalker leans into brute force, realism, and intimidation — adding an extra layer of dangerous allure that makes him as captivating as he is lethal. — Erin Maxwell
23. Sebastian, Legacies
Thomas Doherty‘s Sebastian didn’t get nearly enough time to shine in the short-lived The Vampire Diaries spinoff, Legacies. Regardless, the swashbuckling vamp certainly left an impression on us. We totally get why Lizzie (Jenny Boyd) fell for him so fast. Beyond the billowy shirt — which objectively makes anyone sexier — Sebastian becomes even hotter when it’s revealed that only Lizzie can see him at first. He’s basically her dream man, and the only thing he likes about the modern world — he’d been locked away since the 1600s – is her. Hot. It’s not so hot when he tries to turn Lizzie into a vampire, but he sacrifices himself to save the day. So he’s not so bad, right? — Morgan Pryor
21. Christian Ozera, Vampire Academy
The Peacock adaptation of Vampire Academy deserved a chance to stretch its legs. André Dae Kim‘s turn as vamp Christian Ozera was just getting warmed up. Even with just one season under his belt, Kim’s Christian was still totally swoonworthy and one of the premier hunks at St. Vladimir’s Academy. — Avery Thompson
21. Lemuel Bridger, Midnight, Texas
Lem! Peter Mensah was so perfect as the dreamy vampire Lemuel Bridger in Midnight, Texas. This small town heartthrob’s romance with Olivia (Arielle Kebbel) explored the forbidden romance trope we love so much. Lem may be an eternal hunk, but his undying love for Olivia took his hotness to a new level of romantic. — Avery Thompson
20. Matthew, A Discovery of Witches
Handsome, brilliant, brooding, and hundreds of years old, A Discovery of Witches‘ Matthew Clairmont shatters the myths surrounding vampires by walking in daylight, lacking fangs, and surviving without human blood — though he certainly prefers it. He also defies his kind’s strict taboos by falling in love with a witch, Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer). Matthew Goode makes the centuries-old vampire captivating, blending intellectual intensity with natural charm and just a smidge of danger, thanks to his Blood Rage. — Erin Maxwell
19. Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Tall, dark, handsome, broody, fights his own kind to protect the woman he loves but can’t be with her because a moment of happiness will cost him his soul and turn him into the exact monster she needs to stop? No wonder Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is drawn to this vampire with a soul! David Boreanaz’s character and the vampire slayer try to stay away from each other, but they can’t, and there’s just something so appealing about what you can’t or shouldn’t have. (There’s a reason I’m Team Angel.) And if you love a bad boy, there’s no one who fits the definition more than the soulless Angelus. —Meredith Jacobs
18. Gordon, Supernatural
Gordon may very well be evil, but he’s still Sterling K. Brown. Gordon gets this glint in his eye when he’s about to kill; it’s both terrifying and sexy. Plus, Brown has such star quality in his Supernatural role. It’s no wonder he became an Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated heartthrob after this. — Leah Williams
17. Laszlo, What We Do in the Shadows
If this was a list of the hottest regular human bartenders, you already know that Laszlo Cravensworth (Matt Berry) would be at the top, sporting his “On the Run” alias, Jackie Daytona. However, since we’re ranking vampires, we’ll have to settle for recognizing Laszlo as the hottest vampire in What We Do in the Shadows. Sure, some of those other bloodsuckers are stunning, but it’s Lazlo’s energy that takes him up that extra notch, cursed witch skin hat and all. – Rebecca Perlmutter
16. Father Paul, Midnight Mass
Midnight Mass answers the question: What happens when you combine a hot priest with a hot vampire? The result is Hamish Linklater‘s mesmerizing and mysterious Father Paul, who [spoiler alert] is actually Monsignor John Pruitt, the man who has long seen over St. Patrick’s Church on Crockett Island. Returned to the outward appearance of his youth after an encounter with a vampire he calls an “Angel,” Father Paul is delivering sermons, “miracles,” and sexiness back to the sleepy community, all with a motive that is both admirable and horrifyingly misguided. Religious or not, Father Paul’s a vampire worth sitting in a pew for. — Meaghan Darwish
15. Shauna, The Passage
The Passage‘s lifespan was short-lived, but I’ll never forget Shauna. Before she was Georgia in Ginny & Georgia, Brianne Howey was the captivating, alluring vampire in the FOX drama. Shauna’s undeniable connection with Clark Richards (Vincent Piazza) was such a treat. Their chemistry exploded in the show’s first and only season. She was so magnetic it was no surprise Clark fell HARD for her. — Avery Thompson
14. Klaus Mikaelson, The Originals
The power of Joseph Morgan. He stepped onto The Vampire Diaries as the ultimate villain, but we couldn’t resist that devilish charm. He was our Misunderstood Man. You know who could have fixed him? Caroline Forbes (Candice King). That man was so down bad for Caroline, I’d forgive him even if he attempted another sacrifice. That moment in Season 4 when Klaus saves Caroline from Alaric at the school, pulling her back, whispering in her ear that she’s safe, lightly touching her hair? I still moan a little every time I rewatch it. — Avery Thompson
13. Roman Godfrey, Hemlock Grove
Before he was Pennywise or Nosferatu, Bill Skarsgård was Roman Godfrey in Hemlock Grove. Effortlessly cool with a razor-sharp edge and very questionable morals, Roman was that guy. Hemlock Grove didn’t get the attention it deserved in Netflix’s early days, and the world is finally starting to discover Roman Godfrey’s rizz, as the kids call it. Every time Roman stepped into frame, I let out an audible gasp. He liked being bad — and that made him completely irresistible. — Avery Thompson
12. Damon, The Vampire Diaries
Lives were changed when Damon (Ian Somerhalder) uttered his first line in The Vampire Diaries. (“Hello, brother” will never not be iconic.) His smirk, his leather jackets, his sense of humor – need we say more? Not really, but we will. We don’t blame Elena for ditching Stefan (Paul Wesley) to be with his hotter — we said it — older brother. The bad boy vamp gets more alluring as he falls in love with Elena (Nina Dobrev). With her, he shows his vulnerable side that he’s hidden away for centuries. He becomes a better person for her, but at the end of the day, he will always choose her. Is there anything more attractive than a man who’s down bad like that? — Morgan Pryor
11. Tara Thornton, True Blood
Tara Thornton (Rutina Wesley) will always be the coolest chick in Bon Temps. Tara was anti-vamp (for good reason) in the early seasons of True Blood, so it was quite the shift when she was turned into a bloodsucker at the end of Season 4. Naturally, Tara had some hurdles to overcome (understandable), but the vampire vibe suited her. Remember when she stepped out in that corset look? Jaw. On. The. Floor. That steamy kiss with Pam? HOT. — Avery Thompson
10. The Countess, American Horror Story: Hotel
Hotel breathed new life into the American Horror Story franchise, centering on the Hotel Cortez and its unfortunate array of trapped spirits. The Countess (Lady Gaga in a Golden Globe-winning turn that first proved her mettle on screen) stood at the center of it all, haunting the whole place with her undead charms and impeccable fashions. — Amanda Bell
9. Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
We can’t leave out the bad boy vampire blueprint, Spike. James Marsters‘ Buffy the Vampire Slayer character oozes coolness right off the bat with his bleach blond hair and his button down-leather jacket combo. Regardless of his villain status (at first), Spike’s charisma makes him difficult not to like. Yes, he’s toxic and complicated. He has no soul, so it’s impossible for him to make moral decisions. At the same time, he yearns for Buffy. Goodness and hotness don’t necessarily go hand in hand, you know? — Morgan Pryor
8. Elijah, The Originals
Elijah Mikaelson, the man/original vampire that you are. From the moment that Daniel Gillies‘ character stepped onto the screen in The Vampire Diaries in his signature suit, we were taken by his gentlemanly, honorable persona and the way he treated Elena with respect. When he got a starring role in The Originals spinoff, Elijah further proved himself to be one of TV’s suavest vampires. Next to Klaus and the other TVD boys, Elijah radiates a quiet intensity that makes him stand out. He doesn’t have to be flashy to be threatening. He also doesn’t let anyone mess with his loved ones. Elijah’s devotion to Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) had us totally swooning, making him easily one of (if not the) hottest bloodsuckers we’ve seen. — Morgan Pryor
7. Eric Northman, True Blood
There was a legitimate dispute over whether Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) or Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) was the dreamiest vampire in True Blood until the Season 6 finale came along with a shocking Eric-in-the-buff-moment that served to put an end to that debate. Eric was a cold-blooded killer, but he was also mysteriously refined and captivating. — Amanda Bell
6. Lestat, Interview With the Vampire
Lestat de Lioncourt is a famously hot monster in every adaptation of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, and an infuriatingly irresistibly charismatic one at that, for both the characters and viewers. That’s especially true for AMC‘s Lestat (Sam Reid), whose flamboyant, defiant, and often arrogant personality gives him an undeniable magnetism and swagger that people love and hate. His heightened feelings are only getting amplified when he becomes a rock star in Season 3, now called The Vampire Lestat. He’s spent centuries ignoring a lifetime of trauma with delusional confidence and bravado, but now the brat prince will be forced to look inward. — Kelli Boyle
5. John Mitchell, Being Human
Aidan Turner… as a vampire? Say less. But also, more please! The man is hot in any role — ahem, Poldark and Rivals — but there’s just something about Being Human‘s John Mitchell. The messy long hair, the 5 o’clock shadow, everything is working at full blast to make viewers swoon. John Mitchell is equal parts sexy and complicated. We love a tortured soul, especially when they’re vampires, and Turner’s performance embraced all the shades of this kaleidoscope of a character. BBC’s Being Human began right at the start of the Twilight craze, but Aidan Turner had us all going, “Edward Cullen, who?” — Avery Thompson
4. Katherine Pierce, The Vampire Diaries
Sorry, Elena. You may be her doppelganger in The Vampire Diaries, but Katherine’s energy is 10 times hotter than yours. It’s no wonder that both of the Salvatore brothers were so obsessed with her when they were still human. Even dressed in her 1800s garb, she exuded coolness in flashbacks. It’s all about her personality, though her modern-day wardrobe and styling doesn’t hurt either. Katherine’s hot and not only does she know it, she flaunts it. In fact, she’s got so much confidence that viewers could easily tell when it Katherine was impersonating the more-innocent Elena. Major props to Nina Dobrev for that one. — Morgan Pryor
3. Caleb Morley, Port Charles
When Port Charles introduced Caleb Morley, the sultry, mysterious vampire obsessed with Livvie Locke (Kelly Monaco), I was a changed tween. He was the bedrock for my personal vampire obsession. Caleb and Livvie’s chemistry should be studied by science in perpetuity. No one on soaps has been able to capture the swagger Michael Easton had as Caleb. Deliciously wicked with that seductive voice that could convince you to do just about anything, Caleb Morley deserves eternal praise for being the sexiest vampire on daytime TV. — Avery Thompson
2. Louis, Interview With the Vampire
“He wears woe as others wear velvet; sorrow flatters him like the light of candles; tears become him like jewels.” That’s how Anne Rice describes the beauty of Louis de Pointe du Lac in The Vampire Chronicles. In casting Jacob Anderson, AMC’s Interview With the Vampire found someone who fits that opulent description. And they dressed him ridiculously well to boot, between Louis’ luxurious bespoke suits and other divine tailoring and accessories (the sunglasses). But there’s nothing hotter than the confidence that comes from embracing yourself for who you really are, and Louis does just that with both his vampirism and his queerness in Interview’s first two seasons. There are too many moments where his aura radiates “I’m the hottest person in any room” energy than we can list here, so we’ll just leave you with two things: Season 1 Episode 3, when Louis is shot in the chest, doesn’t flinch, and smoothly tells his prey, “I’ll let you reload” before he strikes; and the fact that he’s so desired by his vampire paramours and basically everyone he meets, fans call him Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ‘ships (in fanfics). — Kelli Boyle
1. Ramona, American Horror Story: Hotel
A blaxploitation legend reborn as a vampire by the Countess (Lady Gaga), Angela Bassett’s Ramona Royale is a seductive mix of danger and desire — the kind of monster you can’t look away from. In American Horror Story: Hotel, Ramona crossed paths with the Countess at a party, and the attraction was instantaneous, both to the high-glam vamp and the audience. Even in her revenge era after the Countess jilts her, she returns to the Hotel Cortez as an avenging goddess — all glamour and grit — determined to destroy the Countess and reclaim her power. She is a force to reckon with, and fans were enraptured. As are we. — Erin Maxwell
