Morrigan Hel? Who is this nimble, slithering chanteuse, a lost Celtic dark goddess, renegade fairy queen, heavy metal vocalist, escaped succubus from the Abyss or fetish dominatrix that lets men pay money to masturbate while slobbering over her latex-sheathed flesh? Just who is Morrigan Hel and what is her purpose on earth? Let’s find out shall we.
Morrigan Hel was born in the misty lands of Lampeter, Wales under the star sign of Sagittarius. She now has the legal last name of Erlandsson, due to her marrying former Cradle of Filth drummer Adrian Erlandsson. A graduate of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden where he majored in musical theory, Adrian and common law wife Morrigan Hel have formed an industrial, thrash metal band, Nemhain, based in London, England. As a matter of trivia, Adrian’s brother, Daniel Erlandsson, plays drums for the melodic death metal band, Arch Enemy.
Ok, so what’s with the stage name? Well, it’s an amalgam of two ancient goddesses from Indo-European mythology. Morrigan was an ancient Celtic triune goddess associated with death and war whose totem was the carrion crow. Hel was queen of the Nordic underworld and daughter of chaos god Loki. Both seem a perfect for Amber. Besides, anyone whose musical tastes runs the gamut from Elvis, Johnny Cash and PJ Harvey to Saxon, Dimmu Borgir and Rev. Horton Heat displays a remarkable amount of eclectic dexterity.
Legend has it that by the tender age of five Morrigan Hel captured her first leprechaun, kicked his ass and stole his pot of gold. Actually Amber is an artisan of many different mediums, from fetish model extraordinaire to talented musician to avant-garde stage performer, she is a consummate artist. She’s been the feature model on multiple magazine covers including Pirate, Penthouse, Metal Hammer and Tattoo Revue, to name a few, as well as many posters and album covers. She’s also an accomplished dancer having performed on stage for Cradle of Filth, Ministry of Sound, Moby as well as for funkadelic jam master George Clinton. She’s even got a few film credits under her belt; Judge Dread, Hackers and Still Crazy. Her modeling work has seen her work with some of the best photographers in the industry including Peter Czernich, Emma Delves Broughton, Robert Chouraqui, and Ashley Fontenot.
As you are about to find out, there’s more to Morrigan Hel than meets the eye. She is an articulate, gracious individual, multitalented, very opinionated and savvy. Anyone who can claim in the same breath that their favorite movies are American Werewolf in London, Gone With The Wind, Faster Pussycat Kill Kill and Ilsa She Wolf of the SS, can’t be all sinister.
Michael Lohr (ML): When did you first know that you wanted to be a professional Gothic model and Domina (S&M Mistress)? I mean, such a profession is not usually listed in the career guide at one’s high school.
Morrigan Hel (MH): I didn’t really, it just sort of happened. I trained to be a make up artist originally. I got into going out on the fetish/alternative scene when I was really young, I had long blood red hair and loads of piercings so photographers came up and asked to photograph me more from a body art/freak point of view to begin with. When I first had my website put up there were virtually no alternative/fetish models around in the UK and the few that were didn’t have websites, things we’re very different back then.
ML: Do you think that the horror industry with its movies, books and musical genres such as death metal, black metal are reflective of society’s ills or contribute to society’s ills?
MH: I definitely don’t think the horror industry contributes to society’s ills, if someone is mentally ill and can’t differentiate between fantasy and reality then that’s a problem that needs to be dealt with by society as a whole. Not just penalizing sub cultures.
ML: What’s your favourite horror novel and horror author? Do you read much horror fiction?
MH: I really like Graham Masterton, he’s got some great ideas. Also Clive Barker, Poppy Z Brite, Brian Lumley, Shaun Hutson, Dennis Wheatley, Angela Carter (not strictly horror) the list goes on…
ML: What Anne Rice novel cover did you pose for? Have you been on any other horror or paranormal romance novel covers?
MH: It was for The Witching Hour which was one of my favourite Anne Rice novels as a teenager bizarrely enough. Other than that I’ve been on the covers of a few erotic novels.
ML: What about your favourite horror movie or science fiction movie? Why do they fascinate you so? I’m kind of surprised that you’ve never been hired to play a character on Dr. Who.
MH: The Omen is still one of my favourite horror films, the atmosphere is incredible. You really don’t seem to find that much in modern day horror films. There are obviously exceptions, one being The Ninth Gate directed by Roman Polanski. I played a character called Elisabeth Dahlia in an independent dark thriller called Nature Morte which comes out this year.
ML: I imagine your easiest money is your magazine/book cover work as well as your movie extra work. What’s your least favourite job to do, or your most bizarre?
MH: I’ve done some pretty unusual shoots over the years including giantess fantasy stuff where I crushed fruit underfoot and pretended it was tiny men, a Wellington boot fetish video, fantasy decapitation, a cannibal garden party shoot, dominating teddy bears and all manner of other outlandish activities!
ML: How are your musical endeavors coming along, do you have you been recording and performing music? I know you’re involved with the European metal scene, but how would you describe your own music specifically?
MH: Very well thanks, I’m really focusing everything on my band at the moment. We’ve just finished recording our 4 song demo entitled ” Blood runs free” and are due to go back into the studio soon to record a few more of our own songs and a Misfits song for a Misfits cover album out next year. Our band is called Nemhain (Celtic Goddess of war and frenzy) and we play dark and dirty punk rock n roll! check us out at http://www.nemhain.com
ML: I heard that you’re a fan of the old school British New Wave of Heavy Metal and that your favorite rock concert was Saxon. I love Saxon’s Crusader album. Do you like the newer Eurometal bands like Lacuna Coil, Nighwish, Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica? Do you like Viking metal like Thyrfing, Vintersorg, Einherjer and Moonsorrow?
MH: Yes, I love Saxon. That gig was great musically/performance wise but was also absolutely hilarious, Bif’s a great front man. I’m not really a fan of a lot the newer Eurometal bands, some of it sounds quite heavily produced and you lose any sense of the gritty/raw which is something I really appreciate in music. I’m really into Dimmu Borgir and Arch Enemy rock, as for Viking Metal, I’ve yet to have the pleasure of delving into that genre! I’m really into Captain Pugwash and Balsagoth though.
ML: Please give me a quick response of your first thoughts that come to mind when you read these phrases.
MH: Celtic Frost – An Institution — Megadeth – Mrs. Dave Mustaine with curlers on receiving Dave’s insanity sauce — Iron Maiden – Hell yeah! — Mortiis – Frizzy — Tony Blair – A sorry state of affairs — Virgin Cola – In the bin — Clive Barker – Genius — Gwar – Slymenstra Hymen! —The Exorcist (the original movie) – Classic!
ML: What work did you do with the Adult Channel and Playboy TV? Was it fun working with the “Bunny People?†I’d love to see Playboy do a Gothic Goddess newsstand special edition.
MH: Unfortunately I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting the “Bunny people” I’ve worked with various directors including Tanya Hyde on episodes and movies which have been produced to go out on those channels.
ML: You’ve stated that you have an extensive fetish/fantasy wardrobe and many unusual props. What is your most unusual outfit or professional prop?
MH: I’ve got a custom Vampirella outfit made by House of Harlot and a strap on phallus that squirts out blood!
ML: In the world of Domina, what has been you most bizarre situation or encounter? I once interviewed a professional dominatrix from LA and she told me that she had a regular customer, who was a very well-known actor, who always wanted to suck her toes and masturbate while she read from the Bible. That’s a headtrip for sure!
MH: I’ve punished the director of a few well known horror films, I’ve also had a Pinocchio fetishist, a chicken fetishist and someone who has a clown fixation…..
ML: Speaking of foot fetishism, you are a professional in this field as well. Do you get a lot of requests of this type of fetish fantasy?
MH: Yes, my feet have really high arches which causes me problems with totally flat shoes but it’s great if you’re into high heels and a lot of foot fetishist really appreciate that.
ML: I would have to agree with you, your arches are indeed lovely. What is your favorite fetish, both from a performance standpoint as well as an indulgence standpoint?
MH: From a performance standpoint, definitely Scarlet and the wolf which involves loads of cream, cakes, fake blood, bananas and anything else rude and messy!
ML: Are you a practicing Nordic Pagan, Church of Satan follower or does all religion disgust you?
MH: I follow my own devised path; it’s not a religion per se, just a life philosophy more than anything. I have no time for organized religion.
ML: Are there any political or nonprofit causes that you support?
MH: I support and make monthly donations to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).
ML: You were born in Lampeter, Wales. Have you ever explored your Welsh heritage or learned any of the Welsh language?
MH: We had to learn Welsh in school, I can still remember a few things such as how to count and curse!
ML: Do you have a favorite country that you like to visit? I personally like Iceland in the summer and South Africa and Jamaica anytime. Iceland is worth going to for their Icelandic pancakes and gorgeous women anytime really.
MH: I love going to Sweden, Scotland and parts of the USA. I really want to go to Australia though and preferably to play the Big Day Out! For those of you that don’t know, the Big Day Out is an annual music festival that tours Australia and New Zealand.
I want to thank Morrigan Hel for stopping by to discuss her life, loves, hates, desires and future goals. I wish her all the best luck in the world with her many endeavors. To learn more about the mistress of ravens, please go to her official website http://www.morrigan-hel.com/ or check out her My Space website http://www.myspace.com/morriganhel. If you want real time information and feedback from Ms. Hel herself, go to her personal blog http://blog.myspace.com/morriganhel.
Also, if you’re a fan of Ms. Hel or her husband Adrian Erlandsson as well as of industrial and heavy metal music, go check out her band, Nemhain at http://www.nemhain.com or go to her My Space http://www.myspace.com/nemhainband.
Oh, and lest I forget, for those of you adventures types that are curious about Morrigan’s professional dominatrix talents you can go here http://www.mistressmorrigan.com/. But be forewarned, playing with a she-devil can get you burned, or at least terribly blistered by her hellhound leather riding crop. Ouch, hey watch that melting wax Missy!
About Michael Lohr:
Michael Lohr is a professional journalist, outdoorsman, music critic, treasure hunter and adventurer. His writing has appeared in such diverse magazines as Rolling Stone, Esquire, The Economist, National Geographic Adventure, Cowboys & Indians and Men’s Journal, to name a few.
His webpage can be found at: http://www.internet.is/artist/writer/michael_lohr.htm
And if theres a hot Welsh accent to go with that face…wow.
I have no clue who this person is, but is fraken hot.
In fact she is so fraken hot I couldn’t even spell SHE is fraken hot.
Good interview. i have never heard of her before but i looked her up and found some more pictures and things