When people think of Sleeping Beauty, they often picture a passive princess cursed into slumber, waiting for true love’s kiss. But the story of Princess Aurora—also known as Briar Rose—is far more complex, layered with ancient folklore, hidden meanings, and untold truths that often go overlooked. From her mysterious origins to Disney’s bold animation choices, Sleeping Beauty has captivated generations. Yet behind the elegance of the film and the simplicity of the tale lies a treasure trove of secrets that deepen the legend and challenge the assumption that Aurora was merely a damsel in distress. These ten secrets will change how you see this dreamy fairy tale forever.
#10: The Tale Is Older—and Darker—Than You Think
Most fans associate Sleeping Beauty with the 1959 Disney film, but the origins of her story trace back centuries and are steeped in dark folklore. One of the earliest recorded versions appeared in Giambattista Basile’s “Sun, Moon, and Talia” in the 17th century—a tale so grim it barely resembles the soft-edged story most people know today. In that version, the princess is not awakened by a kiss, but by the birth of her twins after a disturbing encounter while she sleeps. Later, Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm softened the tale, removing the darkest elements while retaining the central motif: a girl destined to sleep until awakened by love. These layered histories reveal how Sleeping Beauty evolved from a cautionary fable about fate and violence into a tale about enduring love. Understanding the full trajectory of Aurora’s backstory casts the character—and her mythic role—in a far more nuanced light.
#9: Aurora Has the Least Dialogue of Any Disney Princess
While she’s the title character, Aurora speaks for only about 18 lines in the entire film—a total of under 20 minutes of screen time. This surprises many fans, but it was a deliberate choice. Disney’s team designed Aurora as a symbol of grace and purity, a kind of archetypal dream figure rather than a dialogue-heavy protagonist. In contrast, the three fairies—Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather—carry most of the film’s emotional weight and comic energy. Rather than diminishing Aurora’s role, this structure elevated her into a kind of living myth. She becomes less of a typical “talking character” and more of a timeless presence, one who embodies ideals and dreamlike beauty. Her voice, when heard, is musical and ethereal—especially during her famous duet “Once Upon a Dream”—but the character’s strength lies in her symbolic role as a sleeping soul caught in a web of destiny.
#8: The Animation Was Inspired by Medieval Art
Disney’s Sleeping Beauty stands apart from its predecessors largely because of its stunning, stylized visuals. Much of that is thanks to production designer Eyvind Earle, who drew direct inspiration from medieval tapestries, Gothic art, and illuminated manuscripts. The vertical trees, rich geometric landscapes, and bold outlines of the backgrounds give the film a storybook quality unmatched by any other Disney feature at the time. Earle’s vision gave the film a timeless, elevated feeling—almost like a moving cathedral fresco. While Walt Disney admired the beauty, he also clashed with Earle over the stylization, worried it would be too “cold.” But in the end, the style endured, creating one of the most visually unique entries in the Disney canon. Aurora’s world isn’t just beautiful—it’s a living fairytale tableau where every tree, castle, and shadow echoes centuries of European art.
#7: The Name “Briar Rose” Has Deep Symbolism
When Aurora is hidden away by the three good fairies to protect her from Maleficent’s curse, she’s given the alias Briar Rose. This isn’t just a pretty name—it’s rich with symbolic meaning. The word “briar” refers to thorny plants, which protect beauty with pain, just like the thorns that later encircle her castle. “Rose” evokes beauty, fragility, and femininity. Together, the name represents a duality: the softness of innocence and the danger that surrounds it. The imagery of the rose protected by thorns goes back to ancient storytelling, where it often symbolized purity under siege. Aurora, as Briar Rose, is essentially the embodiment of that classic metaphor. She is beauty in hiding, waiting for fate to lift the veil. This name connects her not just to her secret life in the woods, but to an entire lineage of symbolic storytelling across cultures.
#6: The Three Fairies Represent More Than Magic
Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather are not just comic relief—they’re allegorical figures. Each fairy represents a key aspect of what Aurora needs to survive her curse and become a princess in her own right. Flora bestows beauty, Fauna offers song, and Merryweather—perhaps the most critical—alters the curse itself. Their powers aren’t just magical—they’re metaphysical gifts. In many interpretations, the three fairies act as protectors of fate, the feminine divine, or even the classical three Fates from mythology. Their battle against Maleficent isn’t just about good vs. evil—it’s about free will vs. destiny. By raising Aurora in secret and teaching her humility and love, they prepare her not just to wake from sleep but to step into adulthood. Their presence is what gives the story heart, humor, and balance. They’re more than guardians—they are the narrative’s moral compass.
#5: Maleficent’s Curse Was as Much Political as Magical
Maleficent isn’t just an evil fairy throwing a tantrum over an uninvited party—her curse has layers. While her motivation may seem petty on the surface, her actions mirror ancient folklore where fairies were considered sacred beings who demanded ritual respect. In the original stories, failing to invite a powerful spirit or goddess to a significant event, like a birth or christening, was an invitation for wrath. Maleficent’s fury at being excluded from Aurora’s celebration reflects a broader idea about societal power dynamics. She’s a marginalized figure—a powerful woman cast out of polite society. Her curse is both revenge and a reclamation of agency. By placing Aurora into a coma-like sleep, she stops time, freezes a royal bloodline, and halts progress. Her power isn’t just dark—it’s political. Maleficent challenges the ruling order, exposing how fragile kingdoms can be when supernatural forces are scorned. Disney’s film never explicitly states this, but it echoes ancient fears of dishonoring the old gods. Seen this way, Maleficent isn’t just a villain—she’s the embodiment of chaos that erupts when the mystical is disrespected.
#4: Aurora’s Sleep Symbolizes More Than Just a Curse
Aurora’s deep sleep has become one of the most iconic fairy tale images of all time, but few people realize the deeper symbolism behind it. Her sleep represents more than a magical ailment—it’s a metaphor for transition. In psychological and mythological terms, sleep is often linked with transformation, self-discovery, or rebirth. Aurora’s slumber begins on her sixteenth birthday—a moment of transition from girlhood to womanhood. Her sleep could be seen as a liminal state, a pause before maturity fully arrives. Some feminist scholars even view it as a forced dormancy—an imposed silence reflective of the way many women’s voices and autonomy were historically suppressed. But Aurora doesn’t remain in stasis forever. She awakens with a kiss—often interpreted as love, but also as the symbolic awakening of agency and destiny. In this reading, her sleep isn’t passivity—it’s a rite of passage. Aurora’s story isn’t about being rescued from life—it’s about waking up to it.
#3: The Film’s Score Was Based on Tchaikovsky’s Ballet
Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is the only animated feature whose soundtrack is adapted directly from a classical ballet—Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty, composed in 1889. This wasn’t just a musical decision; it was a declaration of artistic ambition. Walt Disney wanted Sleeping Beauty to feel like a prestige film, a visual and auditory masterpiece. Composer George Bruns took Tchaikovsky’s sweeping symphonic movements and carefully reworked them to fit the pacing of animation. Songs like “Once Upon a Dream” are adapted directly from the ballet’s waltzes. The result is a score that elevates the film far beyond typical animated features. Tchaikovsky’s influence imbues the movie with a timeless elegance that still resonates today. It’s one reason Sleeping Beauty feels more “epic” and formal than other Disney classics. The soundtrack isn’t just background music—it’s the soul of the story, pulled from one of the greatest ballets of all time.
#2: Aurora Was Modeled After Audrey Hepburn
Aurora’s refined posture, delicate features, and graceful movements weren’t just drawn from imagination. Disney’s animators specifically modeled her after fashion icon and actress Audrey Hepburn, who was the epitome of elegance in the 1950s. Aurora’s long neck, slender build, and aristocratic bearing mirror Hepburn’s signature look from films like Roman Holiday and Sabrina. This modeling extended to how Aurora moved; she was animated with a dancer’s precision, capturing that graceful, almost ethereal quality Hepburn was famous for. Additionally, Aurora’s hairstyle, with its curled bangs and soft waves, echoes the glamorous beauty standards of mid-century Hollywood. Disney wanted Aurora to feel more “royal” than previous princesses, and Hepburn’s influence gave her an air of timeless sophistication. It was a subtle but powerful choice that helped shape how we view animated royalty to this day.
#1: Aurora Is the Only Disney Princess Born Royal
Among Disney’s classic princesses—Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine—Aurora holds the unique distinction of being born a princess. She’s not a commoner who marries into royalty or a mermaid who transforms to join human society. She is royal by blood, destined from birth to inherit a throne. This matters because it shifts the framing of her story. While other Disney heroines strive to find their place, Aurora’s struggle is about reclaiming an identity she was forced to abandon. Her time as Briar Rose in the forest is a detour, not a rise. When she returns to the castle, it’s not social mobility—it’s restoration. This context casts her awakening in a new light. She’s not just rejoining life; she’s stepping back into the role she was born to play. Her story becomes not about transformation, but about delayed destiny—a tale of rightful inheritance, threatened by curse and silence, but ultimately fulfilled.
Sleeping Beauty is often remembered for its stillness—a sleeping princess, a silent kingdom, a story seemingly about waiting. But beneath that stillness lies a tale brimming with secrets, symbolism, and artistic genius. From its medieval art inspiration to its layered themes of transformation, identity, and destiny, Sleeping Beauty is more than a fairy tale—it’s a cinematic tapestry woven with elegance and meaning. Princess Aurora’s limited dialogue belies the richness of the world around her, and the story’s ancient roots reveal a tale much older—and more profound—than most viewers realize. These ten secrets show that what lies beneath the surface is not just beauty, but brilliance.
