Does Lestat take notes on actors playing him in adaptation and inspired works to experiment with others in real life? For example, Tom's artful kicking of the coffin box, Somerhalder's (Damon Salvatore) artful neck-breaking, and Pattinson's MTV award-winning fighting style.

This is a tough one! I waited a long time and I still don't have an elegant answer.

I think, overall, Yes, Lestat enjoys vampire media and is inspired to try certain things he sees fictional vampires doing. I'm a picky eater about my vampire media, so I don't have enough of a database to get specific*. I really enjoyed 30 Days of Night (Josh Hartnett's character infecting himself with vampirism to gain the powers to defend his human companions?? And then choosing to die in the sunrise in the arms of his ex?? Yes??) and I'm sure Lestat would think of the 30DoN vampires as more like sharks than vampires, not creatures he would want to emulate, but I think he'd love the authenticity of Only Lovers Left Alive, and Let the Right One In. I could see him holding back tears watching those two films, relating too much, thinking about Claudia and Nicki 😭

[^X by @horroredits] I bet Lestat thoroughly enjoys vampires that share some of his qualities like Colin Farrell as Jerry Dandridge in Fright Night (2011). Even if they get killed in the movie 😅

When it comes to vampires playing Lestat specifically, I'd think he feeds on the attention as it makes him feel relevant he's deeply flattered by having anyone portray him at all - all the way down to the cosplayers at the NOLA ball and online! There was definitely fic about Lestat being drawn to actors who have played him. But on the surface, he critiques all of them as inadequate because ultimately, there's only One True Vampire Lestat 😎

*Tagging in @gothiccharmschool, @wicked-felina, @hekateinhell, @covenofthearticulate, @monstersinthecosmos, @desertfangs, @nightislandnoveltymug, @annabellioncourt, @vampire-scripture, @cloudsinvenice, and @somevagrantchild for their more specific thoughts!

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Bonus:

Anne Rice had posted her thoughts on this from time to time, here's one I found quickly, about Lestat's feelings about vampires in media who feed messily:

[X I don't have the date of her post, probably June, 2014]

Fanart by @devmin-art 💓

And here's a fic by the legendary @gairid/ @vampchronfic that explore Lestat's etiguette guide ideas!