Before Sleeping Beauty was animated, actress and dancer Helene Stanley stepped in front of the camera as the live-action reference for Aurora. Disney animators studied her movements, expressions, and even the way her costume moved to help bring the character to life. And Aurora wasn’t the only Disney character Stanley helped shape. She had previously modeled for Cinderella in the 1950 film and later served as a live-action reference for Anita in One Hundred and One Dalmatians. So that familiar Disney princess movement we grew up watching? There was a real woman behind it, and her name was Helene Stanley.