Messalina — Demetrius and the Gladiators Character Profile

About Messalina

Unfaithful wife of Emperor Claudius and Caligula's mistress. Her jealousy and lust drive major conflicts, forcing Demetrius into moral compromise and arena violence.

Messalina — Character Profile

Alignment

Villain

Species

Human

Abilities

Court manipulation, Imperial favor, Jealousy-driven schemes

• Strength: 3/10
• Intelligence: 6/10
• Charisma: 7/10
• Morality: 3/10
• Influence: 7/10

Quick Facts about Messalina

Occupation

politician

Manner of Death

Capital punishment

Messalina's Known Relations

• Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus — Father
• Domitia Lepida Minor — Mother
• Claudius — Spouse
• Gaius Silius — Spouse
• Claudia Octavia — Child
• Britannicus — Child
• Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix — Sibling
• Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus — Sibling
• Marcus Junius Silanus — Sibling
• Decius Calpurnius — Unmarried partner
• Sabinus — Unmarried partner

Messalina appears in 3 titles

• Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
• Caligula (1979) — character page
• Nero (2004) — character page

Character Facts

Played by

Susan Hayward

Appears in

Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)

Role

Protagonist

Relationships (3)

• Messalina — Romantic Affair — Demetrius (Victor Mature)

  Transactional romance born from Demetrius's moral compromise and Messalina's influence.

• Messalina — Power Mistress — Caligula (Jay Robinson)

  Romantic and political possession driving court intrigue and jealousy.

• Messalina — Conflict Jealous Opponent — Lucia (Debra Paget)

  Messalina's envy directly triggers Lucia's suffering and Demetrius's downfall.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of Demetrius and the Gladiators

More characters from Demetrius and the Gladiators

• Demetrius (Victor Mature)
• Peter (Michael Rennie)
• Lucia (Debra Paget)
• Glycon (William Marshall)
• Paula (Anne Bancroft)
• Gladiator (Woody Strode)
• Caligula (Jay Robinson)
• Varus (John Cliff)
• Albus (Jeff York)
• Kaeso (Everett Glass)
• Strabo (Ernest Borgnine)
• Dardenius (Richard Egan)