| Giselle | |
|---|---|
| Enchanted character | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Amy_Adams_(actress).jpg) Amy Adams in costume as Giselle on the set of Enchanted | |
| First appearance | Enchanted (2007) |
| Created by | Bill Kelly (writer) Kevin Lima (director) |
| Portrayed by | Amy Adams |
| In-universe information | |
| Family | Morgan Philip (stepdaughter) Sophia Philip (daughter) |
| Spouse | Robert Philip |
| Significant other | Prince Edward (fiancé) |
Giselle[1][2] is a fictional character from Disney's romantic comedy fantasy film Enchanted (2007) and its sequel Disenchanted (2022). She is both portrayed and voiced by actress Amy Adams. The character first appears in Enchanted as a cheerful maiden from the animated kingdom of Andalasia, whose plans to marry its prince are threatened when an evil queen banishes her to New York City. While trapped there, she meets and charms a cynical divorce lawyer, which complicates her feelings for the Andalasian prince to whom she is already engaged.
Created by screenwriter Bill Kelly and director Kevin Lima, Giselle is both a parody of and homage to classic Disney princess characters, specifically borrowing inspiration from Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, and Ariel. Adams was selected out of approximately 300 actresses who auditioned for the role. Although Lima had always wanted to cast an unknown performer as Giselle, Disney executives were initially hesitant to hire Adams due to her relative obscurity at the time. Giselle's animated sequences were supervised by veteran Disney animator James Baxter, who referenced live-action footage of Adams to ensure the character was a cohesive combination of Adams and the classic Disney princess aesthetic.
Adams' performance was widely lauded by film critics, who praised her comedic timing, singing, and commitment to the character. Adams was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, and the role is credited with establishing her as a leading lady in Hollywood. Some publications credit Giselle with reviving Disney's princess films following a period of decline. Due to disagreements over compensating Adams for using her likeness, Disney canceled its initial plans to induct Giselle into the Disney Princess franchise.
- ^ Beifuss, John (November 22, 2007). "'Enchanted' reality". The Commercial Appeal. The term "Princess Giselle" would be inaccurate, because the character never becomes a princess despite originally being engaged to a prince. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Caballero, David S.; Amber, Ashley (September 3, 2023). "15 Disney Characters Who Aren't Officially Princesses (But Should Be)". Collider. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023.
Giselle is also technically not a princess, as she abandons the magical land of Andalasia to live in the real world with a very human, very non-royal lawyer.