#27 Belle’s personality was partly based on a Little Women character
Although Belle being well-read is mentioned in the original Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, the character’s love for books was expanded upon in the Disney movie. Beauty and the Beast screenwriter on Linda Woolverton said she drew inspiration from Katharine Hepburn’s portrayal of Jo March in the 1933 film adaptation of Little Women to demonstrate Belle’s intelligence and open-mindedness.
