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Cinderella: Filmmaking facts
A live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, Cinderella brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.
Cinderella filmmaking facts:
• Cinderella’s ball gown was made from over 270 yards of fabric and more than 10,000 Swarovski crystals, had numerous petticoats and included over three miles of stitching. 9 copies of the gown were used during production.
• Kenneth Branagh has received Academy Award® nominations in five separate categories (Actor, Supporting Actor, Director, Screenplay and Short), one of only four filmmakers to have done so. The other three are Warren Beatty, John Huston and George Clooney.
• Both Lily James (Ella) and Sophie McShera (Drisella) star on the popular TV series “Downton Abbey.”
• The castle’s ballroom is 50 yards long, 35 yards wide and features: imported marble floors; a massive staircase; curtains made from over 2,000 yards of fabric; 17 enormous chandeliers custom-made in Italy; over 4,000 yards of turquoise velvet; more than 16,000 silk flowers; and 5,000 oil candles, each of which had to be individually lit by hand.
• Derek Jacobi (The King) is one of only two actors to receive two Knighthoods from HRH Queen Elizabeth II (the other is Sir Lawrence Olivier); Kenneth Branagh has been knighted for services to drama and the community in Northern Ireland by HRH Queen Elizabeth II as well.
• Costume designer Sandy Powell created the Fairy Godmother’s gown from 131 yards of fabric, 400 LED lights, thousands of Swarovski crystals. When worn by Helena Bonham Carter, the dress was close to four feet wide.
• Cate Blanchett (Stepmother) has been nominated for an Academy Award® six times. Four of those nominations were for playing real people (Elizabeth I in “Elizabeth,” Katherine Hepburn in “The Aviator,” Bob Dylan in “I’m Not Here” and Sheba Hart in “Notes of a Scandal”).
• “Cinderella” is Derek Jacobi’s fourth feature film collaboration with Kenneth Branagh (the others were “Hamlet,” “Henry V” and “Dead Again”).
• In the film, Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) are always dressed identically (but in different colors), just as their characters were in the animated version.
• In addition to his award-winning design work visible on screen, production designer Dante Ferretti has designed stages at some of the world’s largest opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, Opéra Bastille in Paris and the Theatro Colón in Buenos Aires. He has created stage designs for numerous operas as well, including Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Puccini’s “Tosca” and “La Bohème.”
• Tony® and Emmy® Award-winning choreographer Rob Ashford (“Thoroughly Modern Millie”) choreographed Cinderella and the Prince’s ballroom dance.
