Kristen Bell says Disney's Snow White sends wrong messages to young children

Hollywood actress Kristen Bell is the latest star to speak out over problematic themes in some of the more "classic" Disney animations.

Bell, 38, called out 1937 fairytale Snow White over consent and said she regularly questions the film's suitability for her daughters, Lincoln, five, and Delta, three.

"Don't you think that it's weird that the Prince kisses Snow White without her permission?" she asked Parents.com. "Because you cannot kiss someone if they're sleeping!"

The Good Place actress, who is married to fellow actor Dax Shepard, said she regularly uses the story to challenge its take on stealing, strangers and consent.

"Every time we close [the book], I look at my girls and ask "Don't you think it's weird that Snow White didn't ask the old witch why she needed to eat the apple? Or where she got the apple?

"I say, 'I would never take food from a stranger, would you?' And my kids are like, 'No!' And I'm like, "OK, I'm doing something right.'"

Bell's comments follow actress Keira Knightley's declaration that certain Disney movies are "banned" from her house, over fears that they will send the wrong message to her own three-year-old daughter, Edie.

Appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Knightley, 33, said her daughter is not allowed to watch Cinderella or The Little Mermaid because they do not portray independent women.

She did, however, say her family enjoyed watching films including Moana, Frozen, and Finding Dory, which stars DeGeneres as the voice of the titular character.