One of the very best Disney villains, Cruella de Vil, has been portrayed at different ages in the live-action adaptations of 101 Dalmatians. Glen Close played the puppy-snatching diva in the 1996 version, and Emma Stone revived the character in the 2021 film Cruella. Both films show de Vil at different times in her life, with Stone portraying a young adult and Close a more mature version.
Both women breathe a particular life into the character, with Stone showcasing the heartfelt moments and growing pains of a woman finding her own. Close’s performance was less calculated and refined as she played the part of the mature fashion designer who’s already found her footing. Cruella shows the humanity in the anti-hero origin tale which requires a deep dive into her history, thus giving more range in her age as she grows with the story. It would be fair to assume a potential Cruella 2 would reveal even more. The films express two versions of the historic diva and their age plays a part in how the character is presented.
Cruella de Vil Was Around 45 Years Old In 1996’s 101 Dalmatians
In the 1996 live-action remake, Cruella de Vil is around 50 years old according to a conversation between Emma Stone and Jenny Beavan, the film’s costume designer. In the press conference, they discussed the goal of setting the foundation for a character 15 years older than Stone was in 2021. Glen Close was forty-eight when she carved her place in Cruella’s timeline, making her the perfect age to show the nuance needed in 101 Dalmatians. Her comical performance made her relatable to the younger audience the film was aimed at, and allowed Close to show her wide range as an actor.
Emma Stone’s Portrayal As Cruella Was Around 25 Years Old
Emma Stone shines as a twenty-something fashion designer in 1980s London. She deftly plays the villainess with precision and mastery of the character Glen Close first brought to the big screen. The film unveils de Vil’s tragic origin story starting with her as a 5-year-old, played by Billie Gadsdon, progressing to the 12-year-old orphan, played by Tipper Seifert-Cleveland. Cruella’s timeline shows how she became the extravagant diva with a taste for revenge, with less focus on fur poaching and more on her mistreatment as a child and young adult.
Cruella de Vil is one of the most well-known villains to grace the big screen, and much of that recognition is due to the success of Glen Close’s iconic portrayal in the 101 Dalmatians. Her quirky and outrageous vision was the inspiration for the solemn and intricate character Emma Stone gracefully brought to life. Though the actors were almost 15 years apart in age when they filmed their respective films, both were able to showcase the nuance of the ages they were playing to give perfectly timed performances for multiple audiences.
