Cinderella

Cinderella's Story...

Cinderella's story is one of the most well known fairy stories, and one of the most well loved. Her rise to grandeur had a rocky beginning though...

Her mother died when she was very young and her father eventually re-married. The step mother was wicked to Cinderella, and she, along with her two daughters from a previous marriage, made Cinderella a slave when her father died. Her life changed dramatically one night though... a ball was held at the palace in order for the handsome young prince to choose a bride. Every maid in the land was invited, though Cinders was prevented from going. Because of her good nature and kindness, the fairy godmother sent Cinderella to the ball, giving her a fabulous dress and a coach made from a pumpkin. The magic ran out at midnight, though this gave Cinders and the Prince enough time to meet and fall in love... hurrying away at the stroke of midnight, her glass slipper was left behind. The Prince used the dainty shoe to track her down, declaring that he would marry whomsoever it fitted. He found her, they married, and they lived happily ever after... for a while...

After marrying the Prince... Cinderella was well loved by the people in her kingdom, and she became known as one of the five women who changed history. She and the Prince had a daughter named Ashley, who grew up and married Snow White's son - a wedding celebrated throughout the Nine Kingdoms. However, Ashley died mysteriously in her sleep one night. Cinderella was distraught and withdrew from public life. Before Wendell's coronation, no one had seen her in almost 40 years.



Ann-Margaret - Career

Ann-Margaret was born in Sweden, but much of her career has been based in the US... and what a career she's had! She's been in 47 films, won five Golden Globes and been nominated for six Emmys...

As well as this, she has been nominated for an Oscar twice, once for her portrayal of Bobby Templeton in Mike Nichols' legendary "Carnal Knowledge," and again for her role as Nora Walker in the classic rock film "Tommy." 

In addition to the doorstop trophies, she has received the Female Star of the Year award given by the United Motion Pictures Association and been honored as the Outstanding Box Office Star of the Year twice by the Theater Owners of America.

Ann-Margaret was discovered by George Burns when she was 20, and began her career in the film "A Pocketful of Miracles", playing Bette Davis' daughter. Shortly after, she landed her first starring role in the film "Bye-Bye Birdie." Her other film credits include "Cincinnati Kid," "State Fair," "Viva Las Vegas," "Middle Age Crazy" and "Magic." She received Emmy nominations for her performances in "Who Will Love My Children," "Queen," "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" and "A Streetcar Named Desire."

In recent years, she has starred in "Grumpy Old Men" and in its sequel "Grumpier Old Men". She has also appeared in several highly rated television movies, including "Seduced By Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story," "Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story," "Happy Face Murders" and Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday." 

Snow White

Snow White's Story

Snow White's mother died whilst giving birth to her, so she was raised by her father. Eventually, he remarried a beautiful woman - she was obsessed with her looks, and frequently stood naked in front of her mirrors, asking them who was the fairest of them all. Though one day, when Snow was 7, the mirror replied "My lady is fair 'tis plain to see, but Snow White is fairer far than thee..." The stepmother was insanely jealous, and turned her out of the castle. She sent a huntsman after her to kill her, though the huntsman took pity and let Snow go.

Snow White ran through the forest and happened upon a small cottage inhabited by 7 Dwarves - they took her in and promised to look after her if she did the cooking and the cleaning. Snow was content for many years, though the Stepmother caught up with her. Disguising herself, she visited Snow three times - first with a corset to crush her ribs, then with a poison comb to drug her. The last time she came, she brought a basket of poisoned apples... Snow ate one and choked. The dwarves returned, they placed her body in a glass coffin on a hill in Kissing Town.

A Prince came along and fell in love with Snow White... he kissed her, and the apple dislodged from her throat. Snow married the Prince, and the wicked stepmother was invited to the wedding, and made to 'dance' wearing spiked iron shoes that were heated over coals. She dragged herself into the swamp and was never seen again.

Snow and the Prince had a son who went on to marry Ashley, Cinderella's daughter.

What is 'Happily Ever After?'

Ever wonder why Wendell gives Virginia the rose? It's not explained in the series very well, but the book goes into a little more detail...

Basically, if you are good and kind enough during your lifetime, you will live happily ever after, which translates into another lifetime... you get to live for another 80 years. As the story goes, Snow White lived for her extra 80 years, and on the day it expired - the day she would die - she left the castle and said goodbye to all her family. That's when she gave Wendell, her Grandson, the rose. So... it means a lot to him, which is why he thought Virginia was worthy of it.

Camryn Manheim - Career

Camryn Manheim lives in Los Angeles and New York... she has won an Emmy and a Golden Globe, written a book, and performed a one-gal-show off Broadway based on her life. She has been acting since 1983... her first ever role was an uncredited appearance in "Sudden Impact", and from there she went on to appear in the 1990 drama "Bonfire of the Vanities". In 1994 she played Virginia Cranehill in the cult hit "The Road to Welville". 

She has starred in over 15 films including "Eraser," "Jeffrey" and "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion." 1998 was a busy year for Camryn, as she added "David Searching," "The Tic-Code," "Mercury Rising," "Fool's Gold," "Wide Awake" and "Happiness" to the list

She also has a large presence on the small screen, playing Ellenor Frutt on "The Practice", and appearing in "Law and Order", "Chicago Hope," "Touched by an Angel" and "Ally McBeal".

Manheim was also extremely busy in 1999. In addition to "The 10th Kingdom," she filmed "Joe the King," "East of A," "What Planet Are You From?" and the television movie "Imagine: The Loretta Claiborne Story."

The Queen

The Queen's Story

As she tells us at the end of the first episode, she is successor to Snow White's wicked step mother who was made to 'dance' in red hot iron shoes at Snow's wedding. She dragged herself to the Deadly Swamp, made it her home, and became known as the Swamp Witch. During the last years of her life, she taught the Queen how to use her mirrors and master magic, the main aim being that she would finish what the step mother had started, and destroy the House of White. The Queen worked her way into the White family, marrying Snow's son after his wife died mysteriously (her name was Ashley: Cinderella's daughter) until which time she was a nanny to Prince Wendell. She killed her husband, and began to poison Wendell, though her plan was discovered and she was sent to the Snow White Memorial Prison. Her parole was frequently denied, and she was imprisoned for 7 years before her escape.

Tidbit..

You have to admit that Diane Weist has made the Queen deliciously evil... in an interview though, she said that the crew seemed to share the audience's fear of her, and were visibly frightened of her when she was in costume on set.

The Huntsman

The Huntsman's Story

The Huntsman relates his story to Virginia... Once a simple woodsman, he encountered the Queen one day in the woods. She showed him a magical crossbow that once fired, doesn't stop until it hits the heart of a living being. To win it, all he had to do was fire it into the forest... he did, though it killed his son who was playing a little further into the woods. This impressed the Queen, and she appointed him as her personal huntsman. He shows no remorse, and sees his son's death as destiny, not a tragedy. He is feared throughout the Kingdoms, ruthless and unforgiving in his control of the disenchanted forest, as evidenced by the logic in his signs:

    "If you are reading this, you are trespassing

   All trespassers will be considered poachers

   All poachers will be shot, by order of the Huntsman"

Tidbit..

Whilst filming a fight sequence with Wolf, he must have got a little carried away... poor Scott Cohen came away with a bruised neck!

Relish the Troll King

The fearsome Troll King hates the other Kingdoms. His lands are polluted by beanstalks and giants, while the neighbouring 4th Kingdom is well tended and fertile. Thus, the Queen's offer to give him half of the 4th Kingdom is too tempting by half. Yet Relish is greedy, not content with his promised booty, he seizes Wendell's absence and plunders his Kingdom: he cannot wait for the Queen to give him it, and wants to take it for himself... His three children, Burly, Bluebell and Blabberwort, are born from different mothers. In an interview, Jeremiah Berkitt (aka Bluebell) seemed to hit Relish's character on the head when he supposed that "Dad had eaten them".