When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger in the woods.
Costume
Sandy Powell's 10,000 crystals on one dress. Show-off.
Acting
Blanchett eats scenery; James radiates actual goodness.
Production
Real locations + practical palace = no green-screen sadness.
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Lily James
Cinderella
Cate Blanchett
Stepmother, Lady Tremaine
Richard Madden
Prince
Stellan Skarsgård
Grand Duke
Holliday Grainger
Anastasia Tremaine
Derek Jacobi
King
Helena Bonham Carter
Fairy Godmother
Nonso Anozie
Captain
Ben Chaplin
Cinderella's Father
Hayley Atwell
Cinderella's Mother
Richard McCabe
Baron
Rob Brydon
Master Phineus
Jana Pérez
Princess Chelina of Zaragosa
Alex Macqueen
Royal Crier
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Lily James's waist wasn't digitally altered; she wore a corset so tight she could only eat soup. Method suffering.
Branagh specifically cast actors of color as royalty to quietly reject the 'historical accuracy' excuse for all-white fairy tales.
US
