One of the models for Count Dracula is thought to be Stoker's employer, Henry Irving. This charismatic actor was sometimes viewed as vampirically sucking the energy from those around him, especially his hardworking theatre manager Bram Stoker. Behind his skill, charm and charisma, some people got the feeling Irving didn't have much of a personality of his own, giving an eerie, void-like impression. Stoker had long admired Irving before he started working for him, when he was writing for newspapers as a Dublin theatre critic. Stoker was prone to hero-worship and his admiration may have had a homoerotic tinge, which might be reflected in 'Dracula'. Irving played several highly gothic roles, including Macbeth, Hamlet, Faust, and the captain of The Flying Dutchman. Though his reviews were not always positive, Irving was a mesmerising actor who could leave an audience spellbound. #FairytaleTuesday #folklore #gothic #vampires #books #literature #vampire #history #mythology #theatre #Victorian #weird #Dracula #WorldDraculaDay