Princess Aura

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Princess Aura
Princess Aura from The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
Publication information
Publisher	King Features Syndicate, Egmont Frew Moonstone and many others
Created by	Alex Raymond
In-story information
Supporting character of	Flash Gordon

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 played by Priscilla Lawson in the Flash Gordon film serial.

In 1940, the role was played by Shirley Deane in the third Flash Gordon serial, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe.

In Filmation's The New Adventures of Flash Gordon animated series (1979-1980), Princess Aura's voice was performed by Melendy Britt. 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, the role was played by Ornella Muti in the film Flash Gordon produced by Dino De Laurentiis.

In the 1996 Flash Gordon animated series, Princess Aura is a stereotypical 1990s spoiled teen, who often defies her father due to her attraction to Flash, or for the sake of her mother, but seems not to realize his reign is actually tyrannical. This version has green skin, because Ming is reptilian.

In the 2007 Flash Gordon, Aura is played by Anna van Hooft. 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".

References