50+ Disney Characters that Are Based on Real People

Belle from Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney’s most iconic princesses. As many know she was originally voiced by actress Paige O’Hara, but her animation was in fact based on Sherri Stoner. One thing most people do not know is that Disney actually employs live-action models to help their animators create more realistic interactions.

Sherri, who later went on to become a writer and producer has a pretty impressive résumé. Two of our favorite Disney Princesses are based on her. She previously worked with Disney in 1989 when she helped inspire The Little Mermaid’s Ariel after swimming in a water tank.