Hepburn Free

Eurodisney Paris – The Inspiration Behind Your Favourite Characters

From Princess Jasmine to the Little Mermaid, you’ll find a host of your favourite characters dotted around Eurodisney Paris and we don’t just mean the ones you’ll find in the gift shops. Many famous faces from around the world have inspired some of our much-loved Disney characters, so we take a look at the stars behind the stars.

Tom Oreb was inspired by iconic screen star Audrey Hepburn when creating Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. You’ll find Princess Aurora depicted in a number of scenes throughout Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Eurodisney Paris, so you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood star’s slender frame and elegant features.

Disney’s fourth official princess is the Little Mermaid, who resembles yet another famous face, as she blows kisses to her adoring fans around Paris Disneyland. The fresh-faced complexion and bubbly personality of Charmed actress Alyssa Milano inspired animator Glen Keane to create Ariel for the film in 1989. Milano was 16 years old at the time and as the youngest and most adventurous of King Triton’s seven daughters, Ariel was perfectly modeled on the teenager.

Disney’s Pocahontas loosely tells the story of Matoaka, a Virginia Indian chief’s daughter who assisted colonial settlers and draws inspiration from a real historical character for the first time. Pocahontas, meaning ‘Little Mischief’, was the first American Disney princess and inspired the free-spirited experience in Frontierland.

Teen heartthrob Tom Cruise was the influence for Glen Keane’s creation of 18-year-old Aladdin, as Hollywood inspired him once again. Aladdin has a similar physique to a number of popular teen heartthrobs and is one of Disney’s most modern princes. Why not stop by one of the ‘meet and greet’ spots throughout the park when enjoying your fantastic Disneyland Paris holidays and meet Princess Jasmine’s lover.

Katharine Hepburn’s Hot Air Balloon Monologue (Olly Olly Oxen Free, 1978)