The iconic femme fatales of the '90s - where are they now?

Fashionable, fearsome and focused, the femme fatale was a staple of '90s cinema. But what have these beloved antagonists been up to since?

Nicole Kidman looks back over her right shoulder in a grey textured dress and her red hair blowing in a strong breeze.© Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Daisy Finch
Daisy FinchAudience Writer
March 27, 2026
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The 'femme fatale' has transformed from a derogatory label to an almost aspirational combination of cunning and seductive style. The '90s penchant for velvet, lace and a little dash of enchantment made it the perfect decade for some of cinema's best (and most glamorous) antagonists to call home. 

We're peering from behind the sofa at some of the '90s scariest movies and catching up with the decade's best femme fatales to find out where they are now. Luckily enough, none of them are facing charges for capturing authors or carving ice picks... Yet.

Split image of Sarah Michelle Gellar, shown on the left in a black coop neck tshirt and silver necklace, facing to the left of the image but turning her head to look directly int9 the camera lens.\on the right, in a white strapless dress holdinf her hands together in front of her and grinning at the camera.© Getty Images,Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

Sarah Michelle Gellar's role as Buffy overlapped with a far more sinister one in 1999's 'Cruel Intentions'

Sarah Michelle Gellar, 'Cruel Intentions'

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star was two years into her role as Ms Summers when she took on the role of spoiled Kathryn Merteuil who makes a wager on seducing the headmaster's daughter.

Sarah has kept busy in the world of acting, most recently with roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026). She is married to Scooby Doo co-star
Freddie Prinze Jr. and has welcomed two children with the actor.

Split image of Rebecca De Mornay, shown on the left in a pleated white strapless dress looking out just to the left of the camera. On the right, looking just to the right of the camera wearing a white dress with a high neckline and small colourful print.© Getty Images

Rebecca De Mornay infiltrates the life of one of her husband's victims and her picture-perfect family

Rebecca De Mornay, 'The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'

When Rebecca's sex offender husband gets caught and takes his own life, she loses her child and sets out on a twisted revenge mission, targeting one of her husband's victims and her seemingly perfect family.

She's still working onscreen, recently appearing in Netflix's Lucifer, 2024 drama Off the Record and three episodes of NCIS. She's a mother of two, whom she shares with ex-partner Patrick O'Neal.

Katy Bates in the '90s wearing a high necked black dress and holding an Oscar, and on the right in a boatneck blue dress with grey sparkly embellishments.© Getty Images,Penske Media via Getty Images

Kathy Bates is Paul Sheldon's biggest fan, and his biggest threat, in Misery

Kathy Bates, 'Misery'

Kathy Bates takes 'super-fan' to an entirely new level in Misery. The 1990 horror stars James Caan as famous author Paul Sheldon who finds himself at the mercy of Kathy's Annie Wilkes, for which the actress won an Oscar.

Since putting down her favourite novel, Kathy has appeared in hits like American Horror Story, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and Matlock. She was married to Tony Campisi between 1991 and 1997 and has since kept quiet about her personal life.

Split image showing actress Jennifer Jason Leigh in a white shirt and black jacket with a white flower buttonhole looking slightly to the left of the camera, and current day with a long wavy bob and cream frayed jacket.© Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images,Variety via Getty Images

Jennifer proves that maybe it's best to live with pre-existing friends in 'Single White Female'

Jennifer Jason Leigh, “Single White Female”

Sometimes you get lucky with roommates and meet a group of strangers who quickly become a home away from home, sometimes... you don't. Jennifer brings the obsessive and over protective Hedy Carlson to life in 1992 crime horror Single White Female.

She's since worked on The Hateful Eight (2015), The Woman in the Window and appears in several episodes of Netflix mini series Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen. 

Nicole Kidman shown on the left as a young woman looking over her right shoulder at the camera with long ginger hair and a pink jacket. On the right, in 2026 in a sleeveless yellow dress with silver, black and white embellishments, and blonde hair.© Sygma via Getty Images,AFP via Getty Images

Nicole Kidman's journey to the top in shows your career might not be worth dying for

Nicole Kidman, 'To Die For'

Based on a true story, 1995 comedy To Die For follows a newscaster with professional ambition that won't shirk from murder in her journey to the top. The feature is certainly one of the Oscar-winning actress' darker hits.

Nicole remains one of Hollywood's favourite A-listers, with notable roles in Moulin Rouge! and Practical Magic as well as more recent hits like Nine Perfect Stangers and Scarpetta. She was married to ex-husband Keith Urban for almost 20 years and shares two children with the singer. 

Split image of Sharon Stone, on the left in the 1990s smiling widely in a black sparkly dress and on the right in a halterneck brown knitted dress with a thick cream textured shawl.© Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images,Getty Images

Sharon Stone defined the femme fatale in 'Basic Instinct'

Sharon Stone, 'Basic Instinct'

Guilty or not, the ice pick murder weapon has wormed its way into public consciousness as did Sharon Stone's iconic white outfit as femme fatale Catherine Tramell. 

The Oscar-nominated actress and mother of three had several hits throughout the '90s, including Casino, The Quick and the Dead and Sliver. She's featured in several fashion campaigns since, and worked on shows like Euphoria and Ratched.

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