We are living in an age of digital trickery, Photoshop and CGI. We are also living in an age where grown-ass women still wear corsets. So, what do you believe? Did Disney digitally alter Lily James’ Cinderella-waist in promotional images, or is Lily’s tiny little waist just achieved with crazy foundation garments? I think there are several stills and posters that look like they digitally altered her waist, but in the trailer (and I’m guessing throughout the live-action film), I think her small waist was achieved through corsets. A Disney source denied (to Buzzfeed) that Lily James had been altered in any way, shape or form though:
A source at Disney also denied that the trailer and promotional images had been digitally altered in post-production. The source told BuzzFeed News: “Lily’s waist hasn’t been altered (in the film or in any stills/marketing materials) – she’s wearing a corset.”
Yeah, why even deny it? It’s not even that unusual – posters and promotional images are usually airbrushed and Photoshopped and all of that. Why not just admit that and move on? “Our bad, someone was a bit overzealous in post-production, we didn’t mean to force an utterly unreasonable body image expectation on young girls. Sorry!” How difficult is that?
I’m including some photos of the Berlin Film Festival premiere of Cinderella from a few days ago. That’s Lily’s natural waist in her pale pink Dior gown (custom-made!). She’s already a very small woman, but she has very natural proportions. Why isn’t that good enough? I’m also including some photos of Cate Blanchett, because I can’t help myself. A week from today!!! That’s when we’ll be seeing La Blanchett on the Oscars red carpet. Cate’s gown is Givenchy. She plays the Wicked Stepmother and I’m assuming she will be deliciously bitchy.
Photos courtesy of Disney, WENN.
The whole story projects wrong ideas to little girls. The Prince picked her because she was pretty. She was smart, and kind, and brave, but wouldn’t “get” the guy if she wasn’t pretty. The waist isn’s that big of a deal.
Having said that. Lily James is so pretty, but I’m not blown away with her acting on Downton, but that may be due to the character.
You are right about the story projecting wrong ideas.
But this is the girl playing Cinderella? She looks so bland and not that pretty at all… Her nose is really wide and thick and her other features are nothing special. Prince is meh too.
Seriously? OP is right about how it’s wrong to project that nothing but prettiness matters, but… dang that girl isn’t pretty enough! I’m hoping that I’m just missing your sarcasm.
Haha, you’re right, that’s some funny reasoning…
I guess I meant that even though I have some issues with Disney vs. women, it’s still nostalgia and I ‘expect’ to see really pretty fairytale people. If they’re going to tell a stereotypical story, at least do it right. Making Cinderella less pretty doesn’t mean the whole plot of the story changes – girl still wants to marry prince, prince still loves her before he even talked to her, her personality still doesn’t matter.
I haven’t seen the movie (and I probably never will) but I read an interview with Kenneth Branagh where he said that they changed that aspect of the story. In this version the prince meets Cinderella before the ball and they get to know each other (so it’s not all about her pretty face, tiny waist or spectacular dress). Not sure if it’s true, but sounds good.
Yep, they sure did.
Cate is gorgeous.
It is very small but I doubt they digitally altered every frame of the film.
Come on, they just removed a couple of ribs three four.
The movie looks cheesy as hell despite the presence of Cate and HB(I)C.
I think I’ll stick with Ever After if I want Cinderella stories, thank you. Leonardo da Vinci makes a way cooler fairy godmother (human godfather?)
Yes yes yes to your entire comment because
1. “HB(I)C” is as perfect as the person to whom you are referring
And 2. Ever After is evuhrythang
That is still one my favorite movies to this day. Drew Barrymore’s Cinderella DID get to know the prince well before the ball and he was in love her because of her compassion, wisdom, integrity, and strength. Drew was perfect because although she is quite pretty in her unique way, she is not the stereotypical frail blonde waif. I’m giving way too much credit to a cheap flick, but I think they accomplished things without even meaning to.
Ever After is the best Cinderella movie eveeerrrr 😀
“I will slit you from navel to nose.” So good!
Looks like they photoshopped Rob Stark too. I barely recognized him.
Overall that picture looks like they meant them to appear somewhere between live-action and animation.
that is Rob Stark?! Seriously?
Love Cate for ever and immer! THat’s all I got 🙂
She has a little waist, but I agree with you that they took the photoshop too far!
Ridiculously Photoshopped. Looks like she has no internal organs.
She is wearing a corset I think. That would explain the small waist. Women use to wear them all the time; and some even do so now to create curves and that tiny waist. There could be some photoshop involved.. but the CORSET is what is really making her waist smaller.
I just not excited for this. Just like with Into the Woods. I feel like Disney is not doing a big push because they are familiar stories. This looks like any other film on Cinderella. Nothing new or different.
It’s not only the corset but also the ridiculously HUGE skirt of that dress. It helps to create the optical illusion of a tiny waist. But they probably shopped the waist for the poster anyway.
Definitely altered in the poster. They also “fixed” her nose.
Ridiculous. From having a man “save” you, too the little waist. Not a message I’m particularly excited for little girls to watch.
I love Cinderella (and all of it’s variations) but this looks AWFUL. I wish they’d do something new.
(And yes, she’s photoshopped all to hell)
There is no way they didn’t. I am quite appalled, frankly.
On a positive note, Cate Blanchett is getting good reviews for her role.
Can’t wait to see this movie. I think cate will be an excellent villain, she’s got this, she was born for this. I don’t think she’s been the bad guy before so she will be a fabulous villainess.
Don’t ask me why (too little sleep) but when I first looked at the top picture I thought she had her head on the wrong way round *polishes eyeballs*!
Same here. Reminds me of Death Becomes Her…
Saw the trailer. I’ll stick with the cartoon.
It’s just tight corseting but damn uncomfortable. Dita Von Teese can get her 24inch waist down to 16.5inches with heavy corseting so I’m sure Lily could have reached 18inchs in the ball gown scene, it was actually a not uncommon size during the 50’s, even the relatively plumpish Liz Taylor could get her waist down to that on occasion.
But you have to “train” for that – it took Dita years to get such a small corseted waist! Not sure if Lily was willing (and able regarding the time-frame this movie was shot) to go through this procedure.
For all we know this actress has trained her waist. I googled images of her and she does have a very tiny waist. I think a good corseting can make an already tiny waist incredibly small. It looks freakish and hard to believe, but it’s becoming increasingly more common now adays…again, so there’s a good chance Lily James has a trained waist.
A corset at the right angle can definitely making waist a much smaller, but that is totally photoshopped.
Cinderella was always a favorite as a kid, and I love Cate, but I don’t know if I will see this one.