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The female gremlin from Gremlins 2: The New Batch is named Greta, a distinctive character known for her green hair, feather boa, and high femme aesthetic who became an unexpected LGBTQ+ icon.
While most gremlins appear male or genderless, Greta stands out as the only explicitly female gremlin in the franchise, transformed through a scientific serum in the Clamp Center laboratory. Her bold presentation and romantic pursuit of security chief Forster made her memorable among fans.
In this guide, I’ll explore Greta’s complete character profile, the science behind her transformation, other female gremlins throughout the franchise, and her significant cultural impact as a queer icon embraced by the LGBTQ+ community.
From her origins in Roald Dahl’s original gremlin mythology to modern collector’s items fetching hundreds of dollars, female gremlins represent an fascinating aspect of gender representation in monster cinema.
Greta is a female gremlin character from Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), distinguished by her dramatic appearance featuring bright green hair, a white wedding dress, feather boa, and bold red lipstick.
Created when a regular gremlin drinks a gender-changing serum in the Splice O’ Life laboratory, Greta immediately adopts a hyper-feminine presentation and personality, rejecting advances from other gremlins while pursuing the human security chief Forster.
High Femme Aesthetic: A bold expression of femininity characterized by dramatic makeup, elaborate clothing, and confident gender presentation that Greta embodies and has been celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community.
Unlike other gremlins who cause chaos through destruction, Greta’s storyline focuses on romance and pursuit, performing a musical number and surviving the film’s climax as the only gremlin not killed by sunlight or electric gremlin.
Her survival and distinctive personality made Greta stand out in the franchise, leading to her adoption as an unexpected cultural icon representing bold gender expression and identity exploration.
Greta’s transformation occurs in the Clamp Center’s Splice O’ Life laboratory, where genetic experiments create various gremlin mutations through different serums.
When a regular gremlin drinks from a beaker labeled with female symbols, it immediately transforms, developing feminine characteristics including green hair, makeup, and a preference for feminine clothing found in the laboratory.
Quick Summary: The gender transformation serum permanently alters the gremlin’s physical appearance and behavior, creating Greta’s distinctive female presentation and romantic interests.
This scientific explanation differentiates Greta from other gremlins, who are technically genderless or considered male in the franchise’s loose biological rules. The serum provides a canonical explanation for why Greta is uniquely female.
While the film doesn’t explore the permanence of this transformation, Greta maintains her female identity throughout the movie, suggesting the serum’s effects are lasting rather than temporary.
While Greta is the most prominent female gremlin, the franchise includes several other female-presenting gremlins across different media:
Character | Movie/Game | Distinguishing Features | Fate |
---|---|---|---|
Deagle | Gremlins (1984) | Impersonates Mrs. Deagle with wig, hat, gloves | Killed by sunlight |
Christine | Gremlins 2 | Phantom of the Opera-inspired, musical theme | Electrocuted by Electric Gremlin |
Nurse Gremlin | Gremlins 2 (cut scene) | Nurse uniform, medical role | Scene cut from final film |
Greta | Gremlins 2 | Green hair, wedding dress, feather boa | Survivor, only female gremlin left |
The Deagle gremlin from the original 1984 film wears Mrs. Ruby Deagle’s distinctive wig, hat, and gloves, creating a female-presenting character through costume rather than biological transformation.
This impersonation suggests early exploration of gender presentation in the franchise, with the gremlin adopting female characteristics through clothing and behavior rather than physical transformation.
Appearing in Gremlins 2, Christine draws inspiration from The Phantom of the Opera with a half-mask and musical theme, creating another female-presenting character with distinctive visual elements.
Her tragic demise at the hands (or rather, electricity) of the Electric Gremlin adds to the film’s pattern of eliminating most gremlins by the conclusion.
While not gremlins, female Mogwai appear in the Gremlins video game for Nintendo Wii and DS, expanding gender representation to the pre-gremlin stage of the creatures’ life cycle.
Grace is described as “very poised” and loves toys and music, while Valerie sings and juggles, showing distinct personalities beyond Gizmo’s established character template.
These game-exclusive characters suggest the franchise’s interest in exploring gender diversity within the Mogwai/gremlin species, even if not fully realized in the theatrical films.
Greta has been enthusiastically adopted by the LGBTQ+ community as an icon of queer representation, particularly celebrated for her unapologetic gender expression and high femme aesthetic.
“Greta represents bold gender expression in a mainstream film, creating a space for gender exploration that resonated with queer audiences seeking representation in unexpected places.”
– LGBTQ+ Film Analysis Community
Fans debate whether Greta represents transgender identity, drag performance, or simply gender transformation through scientific means, but regardless of interpretation, her confident presentation has made her beloved within queer communities.
The character’s survival and romantic subplot, rather than being played for horror, create a surprisingly positive representation of gender diversity in 1990s family entertainment.
Collectible merchandise featuring Greta and other female gremlins represents a significant market, with prices ranging from affordable miniatures to premium collectibles:
Authentication tips include checking for official licensing, examining paint quality on distinctive features like green hair and feather boa, and verifying seller reputation in the collector community.
⏰ Collector’s Tip: Original NECA releases from 2025 typically hold value better than reissues, with packaging condition significantly affecting resale prices.
The female gremlin is named Greta, appearing in Gremlins 2: The New Batch as a distinctive character with green hair, a wedding dress, and a feather boa who pursues security chief Forster.
Yes, female Mogwai named Grace and Valerie appear in the Gremlins video game for Nintendo Wii and DS, with Grace described as poised and Valerie as a singing, juggling character.
Greta is the only female gremlin because she transformed through drinking a gender-changing serum in the laboratory, while other gremlins are technically genderless or considered male according to the franchise’s loose biological rules.
Gizmo is technically male, voiced by male actor Howie Mandel, but Mogwai/gremlin biology is ambiguous in the franchise, with creatures reproducing asexually through water contact rather than traditional biological means.
From Roald Dahl’s original “Fifinella” concept to Greta’s modern cultural impact, female gremlins represent an intriguing exploration of gender identity in monster cinema.
What began as a single character in a 1990 sequel has evolved into a symbol of gender expression and LGBTQ+ representation, demonstrating how unexpected characters can find meaningful cultural resonance decades after their creation.
As the Gremlins franchise potentially develops with announced sequels, the legacy of Greta and other female gremlins suggests opportunities for continued exploration of gender diversity in creature features, proving that even in monster movies, representation matters.