Rebecca Michaelson

Rebekah Mikaelson is the sole female Original Vampire, introduced as a major antagonist-turned-antihero in The Vampire Diaries and later starring as a lead character in the spin-off series The Originals (portrayed by Claire Holt). She is over 1,000 years old—one of the world's very first vampires—and is defined by a fierce protectiveness over her family alongside a centuries-long longing for an ordinary human life. Rebekah was born in the 10th century in the New World (modern-day Mystic Falls) to Viking settlers Mikael and Esther. She grew up deeply loyal to her siblings—Elijah, Finn, Kol, Henrik, and especially her half-brother, Klaus. The First Vampires: After her youngest brother, Henrik, was killed by a werewolf, her mother Esther—a powerful witch—cast an immortality spell on her husband and remaining children. Rebekah was transformed into an Original Vampire, possessing unmatched strength, speed, and immortality. The "Always and Forever" Pact: Following their mother's death, Rebekah, Klaus, and Elijah made a sacred vow to stick together "always and forever." For a millennium, she fled across the globe with Klaus to escape their abusive, vampire-hunting father, Mikael. 1920s Chicago & Daggering: In 1920s Chicago, Rebekah fell in love with Stefan Salvatore during his infamous "Ripper" phase. When Klaus discovered their father was closing in, Rebekah refused to leave Stefan behind. In retaliation, Klaus neutralized her with a white oak ash dagger, storing her desiccated body in a coffin for 90 years until reviving her in modern-day Mystic Falls. The Quest for Humanity: Across both The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, Rebekah’s deepest arc revolves around her desire to surrender her immortality, take the magical Cure, find true love, and raise a family—a dream she eventually pursues with Marcel Gerard in New Orleans.

Updated September 23, 2026