When Angelina Jolie transformed into Maleficent for Disney’s 2014 film, her elaborate horns, dramatic eyes and claws proved surprisingly convincing. Jolie later explained that young children who were considered for scenes with the character were frightened and would not come near her while she was in costume.
That created a practical casting problem. The filmmakers needed a young child who could naturally interact with Maleficent, but Jolie said the other three- and four-year-old performers were too intimidated. She recalled that they needed someone who liked her and was not afraid of the character’s unusual appearance.
The solution was Jolie’s own daughter, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt. Because Vivienne recognized her mother beneath the costume and remained comfortable around her, she was cast as the young Princess Aurora, while Elle Fanning portrayed Aurora at an older age.
The story became one of the film’s memorable behind-the-scenes details. Jolie said she and Brad Pitt were not trying to push their children toward acting; Vivienne’s appearance was essentially a practical solution because she could naturally approach and interact with her mother when other young performers could not.
