# Stella Mendoza — The Avenger character guide > Stella Mendoza in The Avenger by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Mendoza, Mendoza **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-headhunter ## Snapshot A studio star with a temper like a lit fuse, Stella Mendoza guards her position with claws out, even if it means crushing a rival extra to keep it. ## Who they are Stella Mendoza has clawed her way to leading lady status on Jack Knebworth's lot, and she has no intention of surrendering it to a newcomer. When she confronts Adele Leamington with a handful of banknotes and a story about being cut from the picture, her charm drops away and something harder shows through. She is entangled with Sir Gregory Penne, a connection that makes her both useful to the investigation and dangerous to trust. ## Relationships ### [Mike Brixan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/mike_brixan) _romantic_ Mike and Stella share a deep romantic bond, with strong emotional and physical attraction between them. ### [Sir Gregory Penne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/sir_gregory_penne) _rivalry_ Sir Gregory views Stella as a threat or obstacle, and their interactions are marked by tension and opposition. ### [Jack Knebworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/jack_knebworth) _friendship_ Jack and Stella are close allies and friends, often cooperating to support Mike and their shared cause. ### [Bhag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/bhag) _friendship_ Bhag and Stella share a friendly, supportive relationship, often working together as part of Mike's inner circle. ### [Lawley Foss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/lawley_foss) _friendship_ Lawley and Stella are friends and allies, often cooperating within their group. ### [Reggie Connolly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/reggie_connolly) _friendship_ Reggie and Stella share a friendly relationship, likely as part of the same social or operational circle. ### [Jack Knebworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/jack_knebworth) _friendship_ Jack and Stella are close allies and friends, often cooperating to support Mike and their shared cause. ### [Mike Brixan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/mike_brixan) _romantic_ Mike and Stella share a deep romantic bond, with strong emotional and physical attraction between them. ### [Mike Brixan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/mike_brixan) _romantic_ Mike and Stella share a deep romantic bond, with strong emotional and physical attraction between them. ### [Jack Knebworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/jack_knebworth) _friendship_ Jack and Stella are close allies and friends, often cooperating to support Mike and their shared cause. ### [Sir Gregory Penne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/sir_gregory_penne) _rivalry_ Sir Gregory views Stella as a threat or obstacle, and their interactions are marked by tension and opposition. ### [Sir Gregory Penne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/sir_gregory_penne) _rivalry_ Sir Gregory views Stella as a threat or obstacle, and their interactions are marked by tension and opposition. ## In the story ### [IV: The Leading Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/iv-the-leading-lady) Temperamental star who quits after a confrontation with Knebworth over her lateness and demands. ### [XIII: The Trap That Failed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xiii-the-trap-that-failed) Visits Knebworth to apologize and ask for her role back, but is rejected; shows anger beneath a penitent facade. ### [Mendoza Makes a Fight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xiv-mendoza-makes-a-fight) Fights to keep her position, confronts Adele Leamington, and argues with Jack Knebworth. ### [XVI: The Brown Man from Nowhere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xvi-the-brown-man-from-nowhere) Ambitious and unscrupulous; plans to form the Stella Mendoza Picture Corporation; later sees Brixan in Chichester and wonders if he was engaged professionally. ### [Mr. Foss Makes a Suggestion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xvii-mr-foss-makes-a-suggestion) Mentioned as having a past relationship with Penne; described as wealthy with diamonds. ### [XIX: The Midnight Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xix-the-midnight-visit) Confronts Penne about money and his murderous activities, is forced into the drawing-room where Brixan is hiding, and screams in terror. ### [XX: A Narrow Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xx-a-narrow-escape) Leaves Griff Towers after a visit, speaking with Sir Gregory Penne. ### [XXII: The Head](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxii-the-head) Invites Brixan to her home, hints at a secret, but postpones her confession after a phone call from Sir Gregory Penne. ### [XXIII: Clues at the Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxiii-clues-at-the-tower) Mentioned by Penne as a witness to Foss's departure from Griff Towers. ### [XXV: The Man in the Car](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxv-the-man-in-the-car) Mentioned as a possible key witness who may know the author of the manuscript. ### [XXVI: The Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxvi-the-hand) Visited late at night by Brixan and Knebworth; reveals her relationship with Penne, his cowardice, and his history of raiding villages in Borneo. ### [XXXI: John Percival Liggitt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxi-john-percival-liggitt) Drives recklessly near Adele; in a desperate hurry to reach Sir Gregory Penne at Griff Towers. ### [XXXII: Gregory's Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxii-gregory-s-way) Visits Penne to secure funding but is imprisoned; arms herself with a Browning pistol. ### [XXXIV: The Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-search) Found unconscious at Griff Towers; mutters 'Kill him, Adele' before fainting. ### [XXXV: What Happened to Adele](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxv-what-happened-to-adele) Present in the locked room at Griff Towers, her white face suggests she is also a captive or unwilling participant. ### [XLII: Camera!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xlii-camera) Watches the filming with good-natured contempt; returns to the studio. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/stella_mendoza - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters