The Real-Life Super Villain Who Inspired Cruella de Vil

Cartoons are fun and creative forms of artistic expression. But much like the art you would find in a museum, even the silliest of cartoons come from hard work and, sometimes, from real-life inspiration. This is how actress Tallulah Bankhead, the inspiration behind Cruella de Vil, the 101 Dalmatians supervillain, came to life.

Tallulah Bankhead / Glenn Close / Emma Stone / Tallulah Bankhead

Source: Getty Images

When Dodie Smith’s 1959 novel was released, The Hundred and One Dalmatians, Walt Disney loved the story so much that he snatched the film rights instantly. Naturally, the Hollywood entrepreneur and his studio team found themselves looking to develop a character genuinely rooted in evil. After conducting some research into the real “bad women” of the world, producers found actress Tallulah Bankhead to be all the inspiration they needed.

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