Maleficent
Maleficent is the villain in Disney's 1959 animated film *Sleeping Beauty*, a powerful fairy who curses a princess to die.
The character became iconic enough to anchor her own live-action films starring Angelina Jolie, which reimagined her as a complex antihero.
The name derives from the adjective meaning harmful or evil. (Lowercase maleficent means causing harm.)
Curse-bound dormant royal
- fairy taleMagical children's narrative
- villainessEvil female character
- AuroraName from Latin dawn
- curseInvoked harm through words
Angelina Jolie · spinning wheel · dragon · horns · staff · raven · christening · thorns
Otherworldly Celtic beings
- wingsLimbs for flight
- hornsBony animal projections
- cheekbonesFacial bones below eyes
- moorsUncultivated peaty highlands
godmother · Angelina · transformation · protector · guardian · misunderstood · antihero · redemption
Female practitioner of magic
- enchantressWoman who uses sorcery
- spellArrange letters correctly
- curseInvoked harm through words
- powersAbilities or authorities held
staff · thorns · ravens · shapeshifting · conjuring · incantation · supernatural · mystical
Sleeping Beauty
Curse-bound dormant royal
- fairy taleMagical children's narrative
- villainessEvil female character
- AuroraName from Latin dawn
Angelina Jolie · curse · spinning wheel · dragon · horns · staff · raven · christening · thorns · wings
fae
Otherworldly Celtic beings
- wingsLimbs for flight
- hornsBony animal projections
- cheekbonesFacial bones below eyes
moors · godmother · Angelina · transformation · protector · guardian · misunderstood · antihero · redemption · maternal
sorceress
Female practitioner of magic
- enchantressWoman who uses sorcery
- spellArrange letters correctly
- curseInvoked harm through words
powers · staff · thorns · ravens · shapeshifting · conjuring · incantation · supernatural · mystical · otherworldly
antagonist
One who opposes another
sorceress · vindictive · ruthless · manipulative · heartless · cunning · betrayal · revenge · spite · cruelty
hexed
Placed under curse
jinxed · accursed · ill-fated · spindle · pricked · sleeping · slumber · christening · prophecy · sixteenth
- 2014 FilmsInterstellar, Gone Girl, Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, John Wick
- Animated VillainsUrsula, Jafar, Hades, Evil Queen, Gaston
- Wizardswizard, mage, sorcerer, warlock, enchanter
- Disney performerscharacter actor, Anna, Elsa, Ariel, Belle
- DisneyWalt Disney, Mickey Mouse, Disney, Minnie Mouse, Goofy
- fairy tale villainswicked stepmother, evil stepmother, witch, ogre, giant
Maleficentbenevolent
Desiring others' welfare
beneficent · kindhearted · benign · good fairy · fairy godmother
Maleficentgood fairy
Helpful supernatural being
Flora · Fauna · Merryweather · Aurora · Sleeping Beauty