Leeloo

The fifth element, recreated from a Mondoshawan spacecraft wreck.

Leeloo is a humanoid woman recreated by the government from a severed hand in metal armor recovered from the wreckage of a Mondoshawan spacecraft. She is the occupant of the sarcophagus that, together with four engraved stones representing the four classical elements, forms the only weapon capable of defeating a great evil that appears every 5,000 years. Alarmed by unfamiliar surroundings and high security after her reconstruction, she escapes and jumps off a ledge, crashing into the flying taxicab of Korben Dallas, a former special forces major. Cornelius recognizes her as the fifth element. She remembers her previous life and, after recuperating, tells Cornelius that the stones were not on board the Mondoshawan ship.

Quick Facts

Role: The fifth element
Actor: Milla Jovovich
Affiliation: The Mondoshawan Mission

Lore & Background

Leeloo is the fifth element, the occupant of a sarcophagus that, together with four engraved stones representing the four classical elements, forms the only weapon capable of defeating a great evil that appears every 5,000 years. The Mondoshawans, aliens who meet their Earth contact at an ancient Egyptian temple in 1914, take the weapon to protect it and return it before the great evil's re-emergence. On their way to Earth in the 23rd century, a Mondoshawan spacecraft carrying the weapon is ambushed and destroyed by Mangalores, alien mercenaries hired by Earth industrialist Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg. A severed hand in metal armor from the wreckage is brought to New York City. From this, the government uses biotechnology to recreate the original occupant of the sarcophagus: Leeloo. She remembers her previous life. After escaping and crashing into Korben Dallas's taxi, she is delivered to priest Vito Cornelius and his apprentice David, who recognizes her as the fifth element. As she recuperates, she tells Cornelius that the stones were not on board the Mondoshawan ship. Later, during the attack on the flying hotel, Zorg shoots Leeloo. Traumatized after learning of humanity's history of cruelty, she gives up on life. Dallas declares his love for her and kisses her. Leeloo then combines the power of the stones, emitting divine light onto the great evil and defeating it.

Reader's Guide

Leeloo is the fifth element, recreated by the government from a severed hand in metal armor recovered from the wreckage of a Mondoshawan spacecraft. She is portrayed by Milla Jovovich. She remembers her previous life. Learning that Dallas shares her mission, she lets him accompany her to the flying hotel on planet Fhloston.