96-Year-Old Tinker Bell Actress Still Tapping into Her Love for Dance and Stage
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At 96, Margaret Kerry, the original Tinker Bell from Disney's 1953 Peter Pan, is living her best life. The Public Access star has found joy in tap dancing, traveling, and meeting new people through her passion for the stage. Recently, she performed at Mayberry Days, an annual celebration of The Andy Griffith Show in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Kerry's love for tap dancing has taken her to various celebrity and collector shows across the country, where she gets to connect with fans and share her experiences. 'I travel all over the country attending celebrity and collector shows where I get to meet people and they meet me,' she said. 'I giggle and laugh and have a grand time. It is fabulous.' In addition to her tap dancing adventures, Kerry also gives talks to schoolchildren about the importance of using their imagination. When asked about her experience playing Tinker Bell in 1953, Kerry recalled that Disney had to rely on traditional techniques without the aid of digital tools. 'They cast a person in the role and then filmed them with 35-millimeter film,' she explained. Kerry's collaboration with Disney animator Marc Davis led to the creation of Tinker Bell's iconic dance moves, which were inspired by ballet fundamentals such as pointed toes and lifted posture. 'There's always a ballet move,' Kerry emphasized. Disney's animated Peter Pan, based on J.M. Barrie's 1904 play, was directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske in 1953. Today, Kerry remains a beloved figure, and her love for dance and the stage continues to inspire fans of all ages.
