Vanessa Ives is a fictional character in Penny Dreadful, portrayed by Eva Green in the Showtime series created by John Logan.
Unlike many of the characters in the show taken from existing fiction, Ives was created by Logan specifically for the series.
The Ives character has been widely praised by critics, as has Green's performance, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 2016.
One evening, Vanessa spotted Mina's father, Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton), having sex with her own mother.
She checked herself into a mental asylum, where she befriended an orderly (Rory Kinnear) who would later die and be reanimated by Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) as an undead creature calling himself John Clare.
[5] As they continue their search for Mina, Vanessa pursues a romantic relationship with the enigmatic Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney).
During this time, she befriends John Clare, a homeless man who she does not recognize as the reanimated orderly from her imprisonment in the Banning Clinic.
[9] After fleeing back to Ballentree Moor, Vanessa and Ethan return to London when the leader of the Nightcomers, Evelyn Poole, takes Malcolm captive in her manor.
[11] Having spiraled into a deep depression, Vanessa is convinced to see Florence Seward (Lupone), a psychiatrist who she is shocked to find greatly resembles her late friend, the Cut-Wife.
Vanessa also falls in love with Dr. Alexander Sweet (Christian Camargo), a zoologist whom she met at a museum.
However, upon their confrontation, Dracula asks Vanessa to join him in bringing about the Apocalypse, and promises to love her unconditionally and eternally.
After saying the Lord’s Prayer, Ethan shoots her and Vanessa dies in his arms, but not before happily declaring she can finally see God.
Malcolm and Ethan are despondent, but find solace knowing that Vanessa finally found peace in death.
[12] Unlike many of the characters in the show taken from existing fiction, Vanessa Ives was created by writer John Logan specifically for the series.
"[13] The Mother of Evil, the all-powerful demon capable of destroying mankind, was also created specifically for the series by Logan.
She is described as a prophesied god-like being capable of freeing Lucifer or Dracula, and overthrowing Heaven at their side.
Anchored by a tour de force performance by Eva Green, Vanessa hides almost endless complexity.
Speaking of her performance in the first-season episode "Seancé," IndieWire writes, "The way she contorts not just her body – in gruesome, if not traditional movements – but her lips, as they spit out vile voices not her own, is positively haunting.
"[19] Eric Diaz of Nerdist, reflecting upon the end of the series, wrote, "Eva Green as Vanessa Ives was really a Master Class in acting, and hopefully someone will give her a damn Emmy this time.
"[15] In 2016, Eva Green was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama.