"Cleopatra in the flesh" Topic

(Clearly not all that accurate but quite a pleasant photograph nonetheless.)

I'd leave Rome for that.

Agreed, although this one does look a bit more like the coin portraits.

I still like the Elizabeth Taylor version.
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was a good time to be a Roman Centurion in Egypt….

Liz all the way!!!!!!!!! Mike Adams

What about Monica Bellucci?
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Pol! Poll! a poll for the best .

Give me Liz any day (as she looked between about 1954-1963).

Liz

"Pullo! Go see the Queen!"

Liz looks so 1950s, so I still like the first one at the top of the page.

But you can't see her asp.

Amanda Barrie for me, YouTube link
although Vivien Leigh was very tasty too. YouTube link

I think Waterhouse got it right.

I don't know about Cleopatra, who I suspect looked a bit too much like her very direct ancestor Ptolemy for what you'd call comeliness but when I saw a bust of Augustus' wife Livia Drusilla I was struck by the resemblance to the actress Merle Oberon.

Does that red "X" mean your link isn't working, or are you rating Livia a perfect Roman ten? :)

« Si le nez de Cléopâtre eût été plus court, la face du monde en eût été changée. » (Pascal)

– Elle à l'air d'avoir mauvais caractère, mais elle a un joli nez …
– Un très joli nez !
(Astérix et Panoramix)

But also note how this has been ridiculed by Evans in his "In Defense of History", p. 112 etc.

For me, it's Claudette Colbert ! Hubba Hubba !

River Song!!

My favorite Cleopatra, for obviously NSFW reasons…

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For those who like circularity in their lives:
TMP link

Didn't Cleopotroast have a thing for Julius Squeezer untill she got bit in the asp by a snake?

Gentlemen, gentlemen. Clearly Leonor Varella – the reason for this thread – is the loveliest Cleopatra. Rubbish actor, but lovely.

Another vote for the French beauty Claudette Colbert…interesting, sexy and earthy portrayal of Cleopatra…love the humor of the belch scene.

The Cleopatras was an old 1970s/1980s BBC TV series, but wasn't up to the I Claudius level (or anywhere near it).

The acting wasn't brilliant but Michelle Newall looked good as two of the Cleo's.

I still prefer the late Liz Taylor as Cleopatra – you could understand why Julius Caesar and Mark Antony fell for her.

Steve J

There is a statue of the goddess Hygeia on Cos that looks just like my mum.

Ersatz Liz Taylor:

Nice set of legs on that chair…….

"The Cleopatras was an old 1970s/1980s BBC TV series, but wasn't up to the I Claudius level (or anywhere near it)"

True, but the nipple count was very good – seen as a mark of high historicity in the day!!! :o) To their credit, they weren't afraid of showing proper Egyptian fashion.

Looks like Cleos follow the fashion for women of their day – shapely Liz in the 60s, skinny bints today.

Reality was a shapely, well fed Greek lass with that Ptolemy nose thing going on for her. Fair hair and blue eyes is de rigeur for any Cleo.

Here's an interesting account of a "lost" painting of Cleo from the time of Augustus with some quite nice background info.

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Tho OP's nomination still gets my vote.

You guys forgot Theda Bara:

Q. What did Octavian say when he heard that his plans to lead Cleopatra captive in his triumph had been thwarted by her suicide?
A. "It's the biggest asp disaster in the world!"

(Knowledge of Gracie Fields repertoire probably necessary for appreciation…)