History Main / EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette

[[quoteright:280:[[TheWallflower http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wallflower-the_sunako-gloom.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:280: Sunako doesn't get out very much.]]

** SnowWhite, as noted earlier, is a rare heroine example.

** Toph Bei Fong, the palest character who has black black hair

* Rogue, who's a bit of a goth, in ''[[XMenEvolution X-Men: Evolution]]''.

** [[{{Batman Returns:}} Penguin counts as this played straight. He's as pale as it gets.

** Tim's wife Helena Bonham Carter lives, breathes, and just generally embodies this trope.
*** Helena Bonham Carter in a Tim Burton movie = Monkey Suit, not that it makes a difference to Tim.
** Sacrificing the hair, doesn't this technically apply to the [[{{Batman}} Joker]]?
*** The Penguin counts as this played straight. He's as pale as it gets.

* TanithLee played with this by taking the whole "Skin pale as snow, lips as red as blood, hair black as a raven's wing" description and concluding that this meant Snow White and her mother were vampires. So did NeilGaiman.
** Cecelia Eng wrote a {{Filk}} almost certainly based on Lee's story:

* The legend of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuki_onna Yuki-onna or Snow Lady]] in Japanese mythos.

* ''DGrayMan'' has several heroic examples, namely Kanda, Lenalee, Krory and Miranda.

* Precia Testarossa of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', an EvilMatriarch of a BigBad with an IncurableCoughOfDeath. Chrono is a more heroic example.

* [[MoeAnthropomorphism Japan]] from ''AxisPowersHetalia''. While his skin isn't quite up to 'deathly pallor' levels, he still stands out among the cast for his ShinyMidnightBlack hair, MonochromaticEyes, and [[ManInWhite white battle uniform]] that enhances the black-and-white contrast of his hair, eyes, and skin. It's further enhanced by him being known to have [[{{Hikikomori}} shunned sunlight for at least 200 years]] at one point, tending to hang out with nations who have [[BlondeBrunetteRedhead brighter hair colors and skin tones]], and having a generally [[JapanesePoliteness polite]] and [[InscrutableOriental reserved]] demeanor that contrasts with [[LargeHam the majority of the other characters' demeanors]].

* Lelouch from ''CodeGeass'' is this. While not having a deathly pallor, it's obvious that his creator wanted to give him a [[DarkIsNotEvil Dark look]], his clothes being either an all-black uniform or a MalevolentMaskedMan with OminousOperaCape (HighCollarOfDoom included). Meanwhile, his [[EvilCounterpart Evil Counterparts]], Mao And Schneizel are are [[EvilAlbino albino]] and [[BlondGuysAreEvil blond]], respectively. And Suzaku is Dark Skinned with Light Brown hair.

[[folder:RealLife]]
* See the [[TroperTales/EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette Troper Tales page]] for examples from fellow tropers' lives.
* On the villainous side, well, AdolfHitler.
* ZooeyDeschanel. [[NerdsAreSexy Hmm...]]
* Audrey Hepburn fit the bill back in her younger days.
* [[RachelMcAdams Rachel [=McAdams=]]]. The paler she is, the hotter she gets.
* AsiaArgento.
* MadelineZima.
* Alexis Bledel.
* AnnaPaquin is probably the most pale and brunette EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette there is. And then she's playing the tanned, blonde Sookie Stackhouse on ''TrueBlood''...
* Contrary to [[FieryRedhead stereotype]], this is actually the most common skin-hair combination among people of Irish descent. Usually accompanied by BlueEyes.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nt_TirDyKU The Galway Girl]] - Because her hair was black and her eyes were blue.
** Ironically, Irish actress [[KatieMcGrath Katie [=McGrath=]]] who looks ''exactly'' like this trope is naturally fair haired.
** [[{{U2}} Blue-eyed]] [[http://www.theflyshades.com/1992_Bono.jpg boy]] [[HappilyMarried meets]] a brown-eyed [[http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/1623011924_4ded13f6e8.jpg girl...]]
** CillianMurphy [[http://www.peliculas.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/murphy.jpg fits]] [[http://i7.tinypic.com/4zwk5r9.jpg the]] [[http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/2/4/Celebrity-Image-Cillian-Murphy-244032.jpg bill]] too.
** Of course, this is a well-established secondary stereotype, particularly in the United Kingdom (where red hair is also associated with the Scots), known as "Black Irish".
* In TheForties, pale skin (whether objectively or just compared to the ''de rigeur'' tanning of present-day Hollywood) and dark hair was a very popular and glamourous look for film stars. At the time, though, it wouldn't have been considered eerie. [[http://www.galbreath.net/bill/pinups2/images/joanbennettlg.jpg Joan Bennett]], [[http://media.canada.com/5f4aa900-9e28-4adf-a6a3-afa5261ed237/decarlo.jpg Yvonne de Carlo]], Kay Francis, [[http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/hedy-lamarr.jpg Hedy Lamarr]], [[http://img.allposters.com/6/LRG/27/2770/OJXTD00Z.jpg Vivian Leigh]], [[http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/71408039.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=45B0EB3381F7834DC8E19B29C6882E13920E76EFF3E94668ED4C32A0DCE9DFAB Brenda Marshall]], [[http://vargen57.unblog.fr/files/2007/05/merleoberon4.jpg Merle Oberon]], and [[http://nijiironoko.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/norma_shearer_george_hurrell_188.jpg Norma Shearer]] are a few examples.
** Don't forget [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qB_dIrLWN44/Swr1ppsJ31I/AAAAAAAAA_4/gg4uABLa2R8/s1600/2670_1011856982.jpg Gene Tierney]] and [[http://www.fullissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/elizabeth-taylor.jpg Elizabeth Taylor]].
* As mentioned above, Helena Bonham Carter fits this trope to a T.
* AynRand, founder of Objectivism.
* A pale, black-haired, blue-eyed, male example: [[http://findingfreckles.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/tomsturridge061706.jpg Tom Sturridge]].
* Nicole de Boer.
* Eva Green ''appears'' to fit this trope, but is actually a natural blonde.
* ParkerPosey.
* AmandaPalmer.
* Kat Dennings.
* Katy Perry, though she appears with a tan much more often than most of these examples, still frequently looks like this.
* [[http://static.reelmovienews.com/images/gallery/gemma-arterton-pic.jpg Gemma Arterton]], mmm.
* [[{{Evanescence}} Amy Lee]].
* Marissa Nadler.
* BebeNeuwirth is so famously this that not only did she play Lilith Sternin on ''{{Cheers}}'' (and later ''{{Frasier}}''), who is constantly having jokes made about her pale skin, but she is now headlining ''The Addams Family Musical'' on Broadway as Morticia Addams.
* Porn actress Stoya.
* Tarja Turunen (former lead singer of {{Nightwish}}. Also Anette Olzon, the current lead singer of Nightwish.
** This look is fairly common in metal, as can be seen [[http://www.maximummetal.com/maidens/ here]]. Which is as it should be.
* Bettie Page.
* Tommy Wiseau.
* Elizabeth Gillies.
* LadyGaga is one naturally.
* PJHarvey.
* [[JenniferConnelly Jennifer Connelly]].
* [[http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/juliet-landau-9598-903.jpg Juliet Landau]].
* Leighton Meester.
* [[TypeONegative Peter Steele]].
* Does MichaelJackson count? It doesn't get much paler than that. And he's pretty scary-looking.
* Swing Out Sister's lead vocalist [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C4OXrE6De4 Corrine Drewery]]
* AlanRickman in at least four of his roles (DieHard, RobinHood, {{Dogma}}, and the HarryPotter films). He's been completely gray since about 2007, but before that, he had dark-enough-to-pass-for-brown blond hair.
* Nude model [[BuxomIsBetter Lorna Morgan.]]
* Porn star [[{{Pettanko}} Caroline]] [[BabyGotBack Pierce.]]
* This trope is very common in people from North-West Europe and North East Asia.
[[/folder]]

* Quite a few characters in ''{{Bleach}}'' qualify; Rukia Kuchiki, Byakuya Kuchiki, Loly, Cirucci Sanderwicci (dark purple hair), but the best example has to be Ulquiorra Cifer, who has deathly-silver skin.
** After becoming a PhysicalGod of sorts, [[spoiler:Ichigo's [[RedHeadedHero red hair]] has become pitch-black]].

* In ''TheTwelveKingdoms'', the local EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette Taiki is one of the ''kirins'', mythological beasts who are supposed to choose the kings and queens of the lands. He's also the ''only'' brunette among them, since they're almost all blonde, which makes him a rarity among kirins.

* Ohno from ''{{Genshiken}}''.

* Maya from ''BurnUp Scramble'', in contrast to [[{{Mukokuseki}} blonde, green-eyed]] Rio and DarkSkinnedRedhead Lilika. It's hard to be certain of their unnamed boss, as she's never seen in natural light.

* Also Bennett from ''{{Dollhouse}}'', another character played by SummerGlau.

* Sae in ''PeachGirl'' which she uses against Momo.

* Chane and Huey Laforet from ''{{Baccano}}!''

* Aiko from ''MagicalPokaan'' is another example, again hair that is really (dark)blue instead of brown or black.

* Though Maki Izumi from ''MartianSuccessorNadesico'' technically has [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair blue hair]], she's pretty close to this. [[spoiler:The fact that she cracks [[IncrediblyLamePun bad puns]] all the time is just a cover.]]

* Violet Parr from ''{{The Incredibles}}''; although she's more of a ShrinkingViolet, she definitely fits this description.

* While [[HarryPotter Bellatrix Lestrange's]] skin tone is never mentioned, she fits the "brunette" and "unhealthy" (thanks to her stay in Azkaban) parts of the trope. In the film she's played by Helena Bonham Carter (see above). Actually, this trope is played with quite a bit in ''Harry Potter'', with four inter-related characters having The Look. Harry himself is black-haired, short'n'skinny (at least to begin with), and bespectacled: he hardly looks the part of TheHero. Tom Riddle (AKA Lord Voldemort) starts off having black hair and pale skin, before being [[HellishPupils changed by evil]]. Sirius Black has the same dark hair and prison-enhanced paleness as Bellatrix, his cousin. This superficial resemblance points out the initial similarities between Harry and Voldemort, Sirius and Bellatrix, while at the same emphasizing their essential differences and democratizing the EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette look by giving it to the hero, his father figure, the bad guy, and the bad guy's best deputy.

* Phase (Ayla Goodkind) at the SuperHeroSchool Whateley Academy in the WhateleyUniverse. Her hair is jet-black (it was a sandy-blond back when she was a boy, before she mutated). She's quite pale (some wavelength of light may be passing through her). She's also very rich and highly educated, which fits the trope too. But she's one of the good guys. A lot of mutants don't believe that, because her family are the most notorious mutant-haters anywhere.

* Bella Swan of ''{{Twilight}}'' believes that she's not pretty because she falls under this trope.
** Alice Cullen and many other dark-haired vampires fall under this trope as well, having skin so pale, it's completely white and ice cold. They also sparkle in daylight.

* [[TheWoobie River Tam]] of ''{{Firefly}}''. Kinda justified on the pale-skinned part, as she doesn't leave the ship much.

** Likewise, Miranda Lawson from ''[[MassEffect Mass Effect 2]]'', another Bioware game.

* MelanieLynskey. See previous entry...
* AudreyTautou.

* EllenPage.
* SummerGlau.
* KateBeckinsale.

* This was a ''very'' popular type in the films of the Forties: [[http://www.galbreath.net/bill/pinups2/images/joanbennettlg.jpg Joan Bennett]], [[http://media.canada.com/5f4aa900-9e28-4adf-a6a3-afa5261ed237/decarlo.jpg Yvonne de Carlo]], [[http://www.wesleyan.edu/cinema/collections/francis.gif Kay Francis]], [[http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/hedy-lamarr.jpgHeddy LaMarr]], [[http://img.allposters.com/6/LRG/27/2770/OJXTD00Z.jpg Vivian Leigh]], [[http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/71408039.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=45B0EB3381F7834DC8E19B29C6882E13920E76EFF3E94668ED4C32A0DCE9DFAB Brenda Marshall]], [[http://vargen57.unblog.fr/files/2007/05/merleoberon4.jpg Merle Oberon]], and [[http://nijiironoko.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/norma_shearer_george_hurrell_188.jpg Norma Shearer]] are a few examples.

* Nicole de Boer. Obviously, the pretty ones make more of an impression, but these girls all make the beauty ideal of the {{Pale Skinned Brunette}} out of this world.
* Subverted by Eva Green, who appears to fit this trope, but is actually a natural blonde.

* Katy Perry.
* ElizaDushku when she isn't tanned.

* [[http://inyourface.ocregister.com/files/2008/06/selma-blair2-051208-062372.jpg Selma Blair]].

* Does MichaelJackson count? It doesn't get much paler than that.

* Sam of ''DannyPhantom'' falls under the standard pale-skinned, raven-haired [[PerkyGoth goth]] complexion.

* Dib, the HeroAntagonist from ''InvaderZim,'' has pale skin and black hair. His [[CreepyChild scary sister]] Gaz might play this more straight, but her hair is dark ''[[YouGottaHaveBlueHair purple]].''

** Also Mozenrath from the Aladdin TV series - much paler even than usual Disney villains, almost white.

* Yuri of the ''DirtyPair''.

** Nearly all the Homunculi are like this also, except Gluttony, who hardly looks human at all, but at least has some color, and [[AdaptationDecay Wrath/Pride]] who is also rather well-tanned, but his body was created to age like a human being, and reacting to natural light might be a side effect. Actually makes sense, as the other homonculi would "heal" the tan away.

** Nearly all the Homunculi are like this also, except Gluttony and Wrath/Pride., who hardly looks human at all, but at least has some color, and [[AdaptationDecay Wrath/Pride]] who is also rather well-tanned, but his body was created to age like a human being, and reacting to natural light might be a side effect.Actually makes sense, as the other homonculi would "heal" the tan away.

* Nozomu Itoshiki from ''SayonaraZetsubouSensei''.
** Well yeah, but he at least has SOME colour to him. Kiri Komori fits this trope pretty much to a T, being a {{Hikikomori}} who, by nature, doesn't go outside much.
* ''FullMetalAlchemist'': All the Homunculi are like this, bar Gluttony, who hardly looks human at all, but at least has some color.
** [[AdaptationDecay Wrath/Pride]] is also rather well-tanned, but his body was created to age like a human being, and reacting to natural light might be a side effect.
** Actually makes sense, as the other homonculi would "heal" the tan away.
** Kimblee and Archer as well. Both have black hair and Kimblee, of course, has unhealthy-looking skin because of his prison time. Archer has pure white skin that even the Homunculi cannot compete with. It really stands out.
*** Izumi too, though she has an incurable illness as an excuse.
*** All these characters have a normal skin color [[AdaptationDyeJob in the manga]] and the new anime adaptation. Except (obviously) Archer, who is an anime-only character.
** Ling Yao and later [[spoiler: Greed.]]

That said, this is still something of an alignment neutral trope. On the DarkIsNotEvil side of the equation there's the {{Goth}}, StrangeGirl, the {{Trickster}} and AntiHero. Still, some of the more memorable examples of this trope are the likes of TheVamp, BloodKnight, and WickedWitch. Oddly enough, the Pale Skinned Brunette is hardly ever TheBigGuy or a bruiser, as most villains with this complexion complement it with [[LooksLikeCesare haggard, sleep deprived eyes]] and near starved frames. Perhaps to send the message that [[LeanAndMean evil takes a physical as well as]] [[ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil moral toll]]. If they ''are'' on the side of good, though, they'll usually be of TheLancer or TheSmartGuy type.

The PaleSkinnedBrunette is a character not just with black or brown hair and fair skin, but with a downright near deathly pallor, thinness, and [[ShinyMidnightBlack hair as black as midnight]]. This [[DeliberatelyMonochrome black and white]] complexion is [[{{Chiaroscuro}} visually contrasting]], and interesting to look at; serving as a cue to a high contrast or even [[HiddenDepths duality]] about the character. And it's dirt common among villains.

* In ''TheTwelveKingdoms'', the local PaleSkinnedBrunette Taiki is one of the ''kirins'', mythological beasts who are supposed to choose the kings and queens of the lands. He's also the ''only'' brunette among them, since they're almost all blonde, which makes him a rarity among kirins.

* While [[HarryPotter Bellatrix Lestrange's]] skin tone is never mentioned, she fits the "brunette" and "unhealthy" (thanks to her stay in Azkaban) parts of the trope. In the film she's played by Helena Bonham Carter (see above). Actually, this trope is played with quite a bit in ''Harry Potter'', with four inter-related characters having The Look. Harry himself is black-haired, short'n'skinny (at least to begin with), and bespectacled: he hardly looks the part of TheHero. Tom Riddle (AKA Lord Voldemort) starts off having black hair and pale skin, before being [[HellishPupils changed by evil]]. Sirius Black has the same dark hair and prison-enhanced paleness as Bellatrix, his cousin. This superficial resemblance points out the initial similarities between Harry and Voldemort, Sirius and Bellatrix, while at the same emphasizing their essential differences and democratizing the PaleSkinnedBrunette look by giving it to the hero, his father figure, the bad guy, and the bad guy's best deputy.

* The original PaleSkinnedBrunette vampire, however, is {{Dracula}}, with permission from Lord Ruthven.

* [[{{Tsundere}} Heleth]] from Douglas Hill's ''[=ColSec=] Trilogy'' is a PaleSkinnedBrunette with [[FacialMarkings facial tattoos]]. Justified in that she was raised underground (the tattoos help camouflage her in shadows). And she sunburns ''badly''.

* See the [[TroperTales/PaleSkinnedBrunette Troper Tales page]] for examples from fellow tropers' lives.

* AnnaPaquin is probably the most pale and brunette PaleSkinnedBrunette there is. And then she's playing the tanned, blonde Sookie Stackhouse on ''TrueBlood''...

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