When Academy Award®-winning actress Angelina Jolie got wind that a movie about Maleficent, her favorite Disney character, was going to be made, her interest was piqued. “I loved Maleficent when I was a little girl,” says Jolie. “I was afraid of her and I loved her. So, when I’d heard rumors that there might be a Maleficent movie, I asked around to find out what was going on. Then I got a call asking if I was interested and I said absolutely.”
Q: What attracted you to the role?
A: I loved Maleficent when I was a little girl; she was my favorite Disney character. I was afraid of her and I loved her. So, when I’d heard rumors that there might be a Maleficent movie, I asked around to find out what was going on. Then I got a call asking if I was interested and I said absolutely. I said I loved the idea of it but I didn’t know how one could turn that idea into a film because how could you make a film about somebody who curses a baby and what kind of film is that going to be? I said yes, but I didn’t really think they’d be able to figure it out. And then they did.
Q: When you first read the script, what did you think?
A: I was really moved by the script from first reading. It was like uncovering a great mystery. We all know the story of “Sleeping Beauty” and we all know Maleficent and what happened at the christening because we’ve all grown up with that. But what we’ve never known is, what happened before?
Q: What are some of the things that we can expect?
A: People will see that she’s the same wicked Maleficent. What I loved about the original Maleficent when I was little was that she had a wicked sense of fun. She enjoyed being evil and she reveled in it. She still gets to do that and she will satisfy, hopefully, the people that, like myself, are fans of the original. But you get to learn more about her and how she became evil.
I think that audiences will approach the christening scene differently. When you know what you know about her, by the time you get to the christening, if we’ve done it right, you may be on her side, which, if we can pull it off, would be extraordinary. Maleficent has a strong sense of justice; she has a strong heart and a strong sense of what she thinks is right and wrong and then she loses her way.
Q: What were some of the ideas you brought to this character?
A: I wanted to make sure we didn’t lose her sense of wicked fun because I think it’s a very beautiful story. It’s kind of a different but classic fairy tale and it has a lot of heart. We want to revel in that and that was very important for me as well as that she was somebody that was relatable.
When I first read the script, I was very moved by it, so I sat my girls down and told them the real story of Maleficent. Then the next day, my little boy got into a fight with one of my daughters because he was saying, “Maleficent’s evil. She’s scary and she’s evil.” And my daughter was saying, “You don’t understand. You don’t know everything.” I thought that was very interesting. Don’t we all wish we could say, “But you don’t know everything. You don’t know me completely; you don’t see the full picture.” So when I heard my little girls defending her, I thought that this would be a character that I would hope that young girls and boys would see and would relate to. I hope the girls, especially, will see the importance of having a sense of justice and a sense of what’s fair and what’s worth fighting for. They’ll see that they can be warriors and at the same time soft and feminine and deeply feeling, with all the complexities women have.
Disney Consumer Products (DCP) has unveiled a wickedly captivating collection of products based on the highly-anticipated Walt Disney Studios live action film “Maleficent,” in theatres May 30. DCP collaborated with some of today’s hottest brands including MAC Cosmetics, Stella McCartney, Crow’s Nest, HSN, JAKKS Pacific and more to assemble a product collection inspired by the storytelling and themes in the film starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning. The collection consists of designer shoes, couture fashions, apparel, accessories, toys and a deluxe Disney Store costume collection.
