Kristen Bell, Auliʻi Cravalho & More: 10 Best Red Carpet Outfits From Disney Princess Actors

The idea of a Disney princess stirs up a certain image. Whether they're animated or live-action, Disney princesses are typically associated with glamorous, elaborate ballgowns, ultra-feminine silhouettes, and show-stopping accessories. Sometimes, the actors who bring these princesses to life fit the brief on the red carpet, channeling that regal energy. But other times, their real-life style takes a completely unexpected turn, away from the safe boundaries of Disney. 

In most cases, actors who portray Disney princesses are expected to meet the royal brief on the red carpet at least while doing press for the movie. We saw this with Lily James, who transformed her public-facing style around 2015 to better embody her character of Cinderella. "Lily is a tomboy in the way that she dresses normally, and she wasn't fully into princess-ing it up as much as we have," her stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray told Fashionista that year. "We saw after everyone's reaction from the first dress in Berlin that people wanted to see Cinderella, so we decided to do a switcheroo with the dresses and really went for that enchanted princess theme." However, not long after the press surrounding the live-action remake of "Cinderella" died down, James cultivated a wardrobe that felt more authentic to her, swapping full skirts and whimsical details for bold cutouts and earthy palettes. 

That said, some Disney actors maintain the fairy-tale-coded aesthetic for years, forever throwing it back on the red carpet to their princess characters. Both approaches can make for a high-fashion moment, whether the stars keep it magical or move into edgier territory. From Kristen Bell's stylish nods to "Frozen" to Anika Noni Rose's sculptural moment, these red-carpet looks are the best of the bunch.

More than a decade after "Frozen" was first released in 2013, Kristen Bell is seemingly still paying subtle tributes to her character of Anna. For her appearance at the Actor Awards in March 2026, she went with an exquisite wintry Georges Hobeika gown that featured a silvery palette and a metallic design that could have passed for snowflakes. While the pleated "fins" that fell from the hips of the dress were giving mermaid, the opulent statement bling made Bell look like a real princess (perhaps other than the plunging neckline, which was gorgeous but definitely not Disney-friendly).

After rising to fame for her portrayal of Moana, Auliʻi Cravalho has certainly embraced the enchanted aesthetic in her red-carpet dressing. She totally channeled the royal energy at the 2026 Oscars, where she graced the carpet in a lavish Antonio Marras Spring 2026 gown with a poufy tulle skirt. From the sweetheart neckline to the ballgown silhouette, this frock was perfect for Disney's first Hawaiian princess. Brilliant Earth provided Cravalho's layered necklace, commenting on Instagram that the star looked like an "Actual Disney princess."

Ming-Na Wen voiced Mulan in Disney's 1998 animated version, and she returned to the red carpet for the premiere of the live action remake more than 20 years later. In the film, Mulan slays the invading Hun army with her avalanche, and on the red carpet, Wen absolutely slayed in a strapless Mark Zunino ballgown. Featuring a high-shine metallic finish, the unique gown was adorned with blue and orange floral appliqués, creating the ultimate "fire meets ice" aesthetic fit for a warrior.

"Tangled" star Mandy Moore has a vast array of gorgeous red-carpet moments under her spangled belt, but one of our favorites is indeed the Brandon Maxwell look she wore to the 2019 Emmys. Blending pink and red for a masterclass in color-blocking, the slouchy look was fun and stylish at the same time. For the after party, Moore ditched the off-the-shoulder satin top for a cute crop that took the look from "award show ready" to party mode, making it one of our favorite moments in Mandy Moore's complete transformation!

Anika Noni Rose has gone down in history for bringing to life Princess Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog," but her red-carpet style is much fiercer than Tiana's beautiful attire. For the 2024 premiere of "Mufasa: The Lion King," in London, Rose stunned in a structural black gown. The Ashi Studio Fall 2024 dress really brought the drama with an avant-garde neckline, a sheer train, and a cinched waist. Rose is one celeb who loves to wear expensive shoes on the red carpet, but this look is easily one of her most memorable even with no visible footwear.

We aren't surprised that Idina Menzel maintained a "Frozen" theme at the 2014 Met Gala. The talented Broadway star seemingly paid tribute to her famous character Elsa, who turns the kingdom of Arendelle into a winter wonderland, with a frosty white dress. The figure-hugging Donna Karan number had silver-white embroidery throughout the bodice before morphing into feathery sheer ruffles along the train. To amp up the drama, Menzel paired the glamorous look with a bold red lip and drop earrings, wisely forgoing a necklace to keep the ensemble balanced.

After wearing Belle's magical yellow ballgown in 2017's "Beauty and the Beast," Emma Watson was under serious pressure to wow on the red carpet. For the London premiere of the film, she took her fashion in a different direction, going for something refined, chic, and sophisticated over a princess-style opulent frock, and it paid off. Her off-the-shoulder Emilia Wickstead dress still had elements of high-end glamour with a Watteau train, but the column-style fit teamed with her subtle makeup, elegant updo, and simple jewelry made this look feel less Belle and more Emma Watson.

Performing alongside Angelina Jolie in 2014's "Maleficent," Elle Fanning might not have been the true star of the movie in her portrayal of Princess Aurora. But she's been starring on red carpets ever since, including her appearance at the 2024 Met Gala, when she made waves in a unique Balmain gown that resembled an ice sculpture. For the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" theme, Fanning outdid the high expectations with the whimsical sheer gown. "Elle Fanning is giving Disney Princess dressed by bluebirds," one X user noted.

Halle Bailey's best red-carpet looks have channeled mermaid vibes in one way or another, as they should, given her portrayal of Ariel in 2023's live-action "The Little Mermaid." The actor kept it sea-themed at the Met Gala that year with a Gucci dress that featured a mermaid-style skirt, flouncing out from the knee. A far cry from the worst-dressed celebs at the 2023 Met Gala, she finished the sheer and sparkly halter dress with a glamorously dramatic cape that was ruffled, perhaps to resemble the seagrass and coral of underwater reefs. 

For her portrayal of Cinderella in 2015, Lily James wore a dreamy blue ballgown that probably fulfilled a childhood fantasy for her. But her red-carpet style has evolved in the years since, transitioning away from the traditional towards the stylish, sexy, and playful. She outdid herself at the 2022 Academy Awards, strutting down the red carpet in a pale-pink, skin-tight Versace number with a sheer train. Between the detailed floral appliqués, the thigh slit, and the hardware on the straps, this look was a masterpiece.