09:36 15 August 2013
Angelina Jolie made a surprised appearance at the D23 Disney Convention where she discussed her portrayal of Sleeping Beauty’s nemesis. Joining Walt Disney Studios president Sean Bailey, Angelina was welcomed by fans with a standing ovation.
The 38-year-old actress, who underwent a double mastectomy after finding out that she had a faulty gene that made her more vulnerable to breast cancer, admitted that she is not as popular with children when she is fully dressed as the evil sorceress.
Angelina said: "These little kids would visit the set, and I would think, 'Oh, I am a Disney character,' so I would go over to them, and say, 'Hi there.' They would just scream. One little kid even said, 'Mummy, please make the mean witch stop talking to me.”
About the villainess, she added: "Since I was a little girl, Maleficent was always my favourite. I was terrified of her, but I was so drawn to her. She had this elegance and grace and yet she was so cruel. Just wonderfully and deliciously cruel."