Elle Fanning’s Journey: From Dreaming of Disney Princesses to Becoming Aurora in ‘Maleficent’
Elle Fanning’s Journey: From Dreaming of Disney Princesses to Becoming Aurora in ‘Maleficent’
Published: May 29, 2014
Elle Fanning, the 16-year-old actress who played Princess Aurora in the movie ‘Maleficent,’ shared her experiences filming with Angelina Jolie.
Photo: Fotobank.ua
From Disney Dreams to Silver Screen Reality
When asked as a child what she wanted to be, Elle would always answer, ‘A Disney Princess.’ Today, her dream has come true. On May 29th, the movie ‘Maleficent’ hits our screens, telling the story of Sleeping Beauty (Elle Fanning) from the perspective of the evil sorceress Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie).
Meet Princess Aurora
Most people know her as Sleeping Beauty from the Disney cartoon. But in the cartoon, she’s just a sweet girl who sleeps most of the time. In our movie, you’ll see her in various situations. I love that she’s free-spirited, and because she was isolated from ordinary life, she remained innocent and open to the world. This is a cult character loved by many, and I wanted to make her believable. Before filming, I rewatched the cartoon to try to adopt her manners and plasticity. I wanted the animated character to come to life and become a real person.
A Fresh Take on a Classic Tale
The script impressed me deeply when I first read it. It’s a classic Sleeping Beauty story but also so much more. You’ll learn why certain things happen, like why Maleficent became so evil and acts the way she does. Evil doesn’t come from nowhere; there must be a reason, and our movie explores that.
Photo: Fotobank.ua
Elle’s Perspective on Maleficent
When I watched the cartoon, I was never afraid of Maleficent. She seemed so elegant to me, and her unique, angular beauty intrigued me. Yes, she’s sinister and powerful, but she’s captivating; there’s something alluring about her. Of course, no one could have played this role better than Angelina Jolie. She’s so beautiful, both externally and in her character’s strength!
Working with Angelina Jolie
It was simply amazing. I remember our first meeting in London. We were getting trial hairstyles and makeup done at Pinewood Studios. I turned a corner and suddenly saw Angelina. I had never met her before, but she hugged me and said we were just going to have fun together. And it was really fun!
When I first saw her in Maleficent’s makeup, it was very impressive! She had colored contact lenses, special implants that sharpened her cheekbones, horns… I didn’t know how she would look, so I needed a few seconds to compose myself. Then I got so used to the image that when I saw her without makeup, it was like it wasn’t her anymore.
Filming the Mud Scene with Sam Riley
We spent an entire day wallowing in the mud. It was like a clay face mask, so afterward, the skin became very soft. On the set, they arranged a pool where I splashed around and sprayed everyone with mud. Sam also had to get quite dirty. But it was a lot of fun.
What Makes This Movie So Appealing?
Everyone will find something of their own in it. Besides, it will be a stunning spectacle – director Robert Stromberg created magnificent sets and a fantastic atmosphere, and I can’t wait to see how it will look on the screen.
Photo: Fotobank.ua
The Biggest Challenge During Filming
My character sleeps a lot, so I had to lie still and make sure even my eyelashes didn’t twitch. It was not easy.
A Dream Come True
Many girls think I was lucky to get such a role… My dream came true! From the moment I tried on the first dress and had my hair done, I realized how cool it was to get the role of a princess!
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