Disney is updating its classic animated movies by making them into live-action films, bringing familiar princesses to the screen with new actors and refreshed stories. These remakes and spin-offs cover films released from the mid-1990s to future releases. Here’s a list of the actresses who have played or will play official Disney Princesses in live-action, detailing their role, the movie title, and when it was or will be released, so you can easily find where to watch them.
Lily James
In Disney’s 2015 live-action ‘Cinderella,’ Lily James stars as Ella. The film, directed by Kenneth Branagh and also featuring Cate Blanchett and Richard Madden, is based on the classic 1950 animated movie. Filmed in England, it used impressive, real costumes designed by Sandy Powell. ‘Cinderella’ was first released in theaters worldwide and is now available to stream on Disney’s platforms.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson stars as Belle in the 2017 film ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Directed by Bill Condon, the musical also features Dan Stevens as the Beast, alongside Luke Evans, Josh Gad, and Emma Thompson. Walt Disney Pictures and Mandeville Films produced this retelling of the beloved 1991 animated movie, including both new songs and classic tunes by Alan Menken. The film was released in theaters worldwide and later became available for home viewing and streaming.
Naomi Scott
Naomi Scott plays Princess Jasmine in the 2019 film ‘Aladdin,’ directed by Guy Ritchie. The movie stars Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Will Smith as the Genie, and was released in theaters globally by Disney. ‘Aladdin’ included a new solo song for Jasmine and gave more detail to the political world of Agrabah. After playing in cinemas, it became available to watch on digital platforms, on DVD/Blu-ray, and on Disney’s streaming service.
Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in the 2023 live-action version of ‘The Little Mermaid’. Rob Marshall directed the film, which also features Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. The movie includes both beloved songs from the original and new music with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, alongside the classic score by Alan Menken. It was first released in cinemas worldwide and is now available to rent, buy, or stream at home.
Liu Yifei
Liu Yifei stars as Mulan in the 2020 film ‘Mulan’. Directed by Niki Caro and produced by Disney, this live-action version is a realistic war story inspired by the 1998 animated movie, and features new characters. The film stars Donnie Yen, Gong Li, and Jason Scott Lee, with Yoson An playing Chen Honghui. It was released on Disney+’s streaming service and in select theaters.
Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning portrays Princess Aurora in both ‘Maleficent’ (2014) and ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ (2019). These movies tell the classic ‘Sleeping Beauty’ tale from the point of view of Maleficent, played by Angelina Jolie. Both films were produced by Walt Disney Pictures and explore the world surrounding Aurora’s kingdom. They were initially shown in theaters and are now available through standard channels like streaming and home video.
Rachel Zegler
Rachel Zegler will play Snow White in the upcoming 2025 film ‘Snow White,’ directed by Marc Webb. Gal Gadot will star as the Evil Queen, and Andrew Burnap will play a new leading character. Walt Disney Pictures and Marc Platt Productions are producing this updated version of the classic 1937 story, which will include new songs from today’s songwriters. The movie will be released in theaters before becoming available digitally and on streaming platforms.
Brandy
Brandy first became known for playing Cinderella in the 1997 TV musical ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,’ a popular ABC movie produced by Disney and also starring Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg. She revisited the role years later in Disney’s ‘Descendants’ series, appearing as the grown-up Cinderella in ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ (2024), and will reprise it again in the upcoming ‘Descendants: Wicked Wonderland’ (2026).
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2025-10-26 00:44