Kathryn Merteuil
Encyclopedia
Kathryn Merteuil is a fictional character who appears in Cruel Intentions
and Cruel Intentions 2
, portrayed by actresses Sarah Michelle Gellar
and Amy Adams
, respectively. Based on the Marquise de Merteuil in Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
's Les Liaisons dangereuses
, Kathryn serves as the primary antagonist of the series.
addict, and a sufferer of bulimia nervosa
. She prides herself on destroying the lives of others whilst controlling them to suit her own ends. Kathryn is part of the wealthy modern-day society of the Upper East Side
of New York
. She portrays herself differently while at school and in the public eye: a popular, well-adjusted young woman, a devout Christian
, and Student Body President at the exclusive Manchester Prep. She is able to deceive most of those around her with this facade of moral integrity, coming across as a model student. Throughout the film, Kathryn is shown to be narcissistic and a sociopath. However, at the end of the film, her true colors are exposed to the public. Although it is easy to hate her, one must not forget she is the product of a social status arena that creates loneliness and envy in its circle. She did not grow up in an environment conducive to kindness and empathy.
clinic. It is later mentioned in the same movie that Cassidy comes from a long line of black widows (a reference to Kathryn and her just as devious mother).
Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions is a 1999 American drama film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. The film is an adaptation of the 18th-century French epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Laclos and is set among wealthy teenagers living in modern New York...
and Cruel Intentions 2
Cruel Intentions 2
Cruel Intentions 2 is the 2000 American comedy-drama prequel to Cruel Intentions and was released direct-to-video. It was written and directed by Roger Kumble, who was also responsible for the first film. The film stars Robin Dunne, Sarah Thompson, Amy Adams, and Keri Lynn Pratt...
, portrayed by actresses Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Prinze , known professionally by her birth name of Sarah Michelle Gellar , is an American actress, singer and executive producer...
and Amy Adams
Amy Adams
Amy Lou Adams is an American actress and singer. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous...
, respectively. Based on the Marquise de Merteuil in Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Pierre Ambroise François Choderlos de Laclos was a French novelist, official and army general, best known for writing the epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses ....
's Les Liaisons dangereuses
Les Liaisons dangereuses
Les Liaisons dangereuses is a French epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos, first published in four volumes by Durand Neveu from March 23, 1782....
, Kathryn serves as the primary antagonist of the series.
Cruel Intentions
Kathryn is portrayed as a manipulative mastermind, who is also an alcoholic, a cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
addict, and a sufferer of bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging or consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time, followed by an attempt to rid oneself of the food consumed, usually by purging and/or by laxative, diuretics or excessive exercise. Bulimia nervosa is...
. She prides herself on destroying the lives of others whilst controlling them to suit her own ends. Kathryn is part of the wealthy modern-day society of the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She portrays herself differently while at school and in the public eye: a popular, well-adjusted young woman, a devout Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, and Student Body President at the exclusive Manchester Prep. She is able to deceive most of those around her with this facade of moral integrity, coming across as a model student. Throughout the film, Kathryn is shown to be narcissistic and a sociopath. However, at the end of the film, her true colors are exposed to the public. Although it is easy to hate her, one must not forget she is the product of a social status arena that creates loneliness and envy in its circle. She did not grow up in an environment conducive to kindness and empathy.
Cruel Intentions 2
A prequel to the original film shows a younger Kathryn. She also has a deceptive appearance, and is president of the banned Manchester Tribunal behind closed doors. She once again uses her powers of manipulation to control the situation, and it is revealed it is she who manipulated Sebastian into the cruel incarnation seen in the first film. This film focuses on when Sebastian and Kathryn's characters first meet, and their pleasure from plotting to destroy and seduce each other. She is still as devious, even threatening the vice-principal to do whatever she wants, otherwise she will go to the School Board and tell them he seduced her last summer when actually it is she who seduced him. In this film, Kathryn doesn't appear to have a cocaine addiction.Cruel Intentions 3
It is revealed in this film that she forced her cousin, Cassidy Merteuil, to move to California to avoid her reputation, and it is also revealed she is in a methadoneMethadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
clinic. It is later mentioned in the same movie that Cassidy comes from a long line of black widows (a reference to Kathryn and her just as devious mother).
In popular culture
- The character of Blair WaldorfBlair WaldorfBlair Cornelia Waldorf is the main character of Gossip Girl, introduced in the original series of novels and also appearing in their television and manga adaptations. Described as "a girl of extremes" by creator Cecily von Ziegesar, she is a comical overachiever who possesses both snobbish and...
in Gossip GirlGossip GirlGossip Girl is an American young adult novel series written by Cecily von Ziegesar and published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. The series revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite...
is based on Kathryn, though she is considerably less villainous. Also, the character Georgina SparksGeorgina SparksGeorgina Sparks is a fictional character in the Gossip Girl novel series and a recurring character on the television series Gossip Girl. She is portrayed by actress Michelle Trachtenberg on the show...
, also from Gossip Girl, is based on Kathryn as well, though her malevolence isn't hidden from the public.