To some viewers, Elvira is thoroughly all about her sex appeal. For many others — particularly young women and gay men — she is the marriage of sexiness and intelligence. Peterson is to credit for this confluence, as she has had a very strong hand in developing this character. Though she initially auditioned for the ready-made role of a horror TV hostess, Elvira herself is a product of Peterson's own craft and creativity, her own over-sexualized, sardonic, weird and wonderful brainchild — not, as many might assume, the whims of some guy in Hollywood with a vampire fetish.
Peterson has writing credits on many of Elvira's biggest appearances, including her very first film, the simply-titled Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. For the Movie Macabre series, she helped with many of the jokes, along with fellow Groundlings alum John Paragon, after watching the features together. She currently has an animated film script that she's ready to pitch, as well as an animated television show in the works! Maybe once the film is made, it'll turn into a Halloween classic like The Nightmare Before Christmas or It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
