Elizabeth Banks

Team Elizabeth and I were discussing how Angelina Jolie will be a perfectly gorgeous baddie in Disney's upcoming movie Maleficent. But I wondered where her hair antlers came from. Here's what they found:

The film is based on the villain from the Disney classic Sleeping Beauty. The name Maleficent was actually invented by Disney, but the character has been around long before their version of Sleeping Beauty was released—this crazy lady has been around since the tale of Briar Rose, aka Sleeping Beauty, was first published in 1697.

Check out how the ladies are taking London this year!

In addition to the silver screen, her evil highness has been interpreted and reinterpreted in stories, opera, and ballet. Here are some of the coolest and creepiest Maleficents through the ages:

1) 1921: A drawing of the costume for “Carabosse the wicked Fairy” in the Diaghilev ballet The Sleeping Princess - Leon Bakst
2) 1959: Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (note hair antlers!)
3) 1986: Victoria Bertram in the National Ballet of Canada “The Sleeping Beauty”
4) 2000: Bené Arnold in Jonas Kage’s “The Sleeping Beauty”
5) 2006: Danielle Rowe in The Australian Ballet’s “Sleeping Beauty”  

6) 2007: Carmen Corella in the American Ballet Company’s “The Sleeping Beauty”
7) 2010: Daniela Cardim in the Het Nationale Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty”
8) 2008: André Portásio in the English National Ballet “The Sleeping Beauty”
9) 2010: Marion Tait in the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty”
10) 2011: Kristin Bauer Van Straten in the TV show Once Upon a Time

Which is your favorite Malificent?

*UPDATE* Thanks Michael for the great Maleficents! I had to share!

Left: From yoad.tumblr.com
Top right: By William Dodd and was published in 1720. It is the likely origin of the hair as horns phenomena.
Bottom Right: From Dirty Disney Dames