Julie Strain, Heavy Metal Warrior Queen, 1962-2021
Julie Strain, the model, actress and Heavy Metal muse, died on January 10 after a long battle with dementia. The 6’1″ Strain was a constant presence in Heavy Metal during the 1990s, posing as a strong warrior woman for contributors including Olivia de Berardinis, Simon Bisley, Luis Royo and others. Her association with Heavy Metal reached its peak in 2000, when she served as the model and voice of the animated heroine Julie in the film Heavy Metal 2000 and its spinoff/sequel video game Heavy Metal F.A.K.K.2.
Julie Strain was known as many things: B-movie actress, scream queen, Penthouse Pet of the Year, and, for a decade, Heavy Metal publisher Kevin Eastman’s wife. Strain’s over-the-top glamazon appearance was complemented by an irreverent personality. Julie knew that what she was doing was pretty ridiculous, and she embraced it. Some actresses do B-movies in the meantime, because they have to, with the dream of making it t