Margaret Kerry

When Walt Disney produced animated features, the voice actors cast in the movies not only recorded their voices but were also filmed performing on the studio’s soundstages as artistic references for the animators. There were, however, some characters who required no voice, but still needed a model. One who played a key role as the model for the character Tinker Bell in Peter Pan (1953) was Margaret Kerry.

When “Peter Pan” was released, a rumor spread that Marilyn Monroe was the inspiration for Tinker Bell’s design in the movie, but that is 100% false. Margaret Kerry was no stranger to “doubling/modeling” having served as a camera double for Elizabeth Taylor in the Oscar-winning National Velvet (1944). She auditioned as Tinker Bell’s model and worked on the movie for six months. 

While she provided the gestures, the studio provided the props. They gave her a mirror to stand on, which helped create the scene in the film where Tinker Bell gazes at her own reflection and isn’t sure if she’s gained weight or not. They also gave her a huge pair of scissors and keyhole which inspired the scene where Tinker Bell is trapped in a jewelry box and desperately tries to keep Wendy from kissing Peter Pan. Tinker Bell’s Supervising Animator, Marc Davis, brilliantly captured all of her talent in his design. 

In addition to modeling Tink, Margaret Kerry also modeled and voiced the red-haired mermaid in the film’s Mermaid Lagoon scenes. Her voice is heard when Peter Pan shows up to the lagoon and they gush and said “Did you miss me?” Besides her Disney contributions, she made various film and television appearances, including playing an unnamed Fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935) and two first-season episodes of The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). Margaret Kerry passed away at the age of 97 on June 11th, 2026. She was one the last surviving cast members of “Peter Pan,” in addition to Kathryn Beaumont (who voiced Wendy Darling) and Paul Collins (who voiced brother John Darling)

Sadly, Margaret Kerry was never awarded the Disney Legend Award, which is the award recognizing contributions to the Walt Disney Company. Her unsung talents, however, certainly helped “Peter Pan” become a beloved classic. She was a light to this world and her modeling talents certainly “lit up” the character of Tinker Bell.