Cruella de Vil is a fictional antagonist created by Dodie Smith for the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Her name is a wordplay on devil and the adjective "cruel," reflecting her appetite for designer furs made from Dalmatian coats. In the book she is portrayed as a wealthy, eccentric woman with hair split into contrasting black and white halves, an exaggerated fondness for pepper, and a preference for hot environments.
Origins and character
Cruella's basic motivations in Smith's story are simple and chilling: she seeks to obtain puppies to turn their spotted pelts into long coats. The character became widely known through later adaptations that amplified her theatrical appearance and mannerisms while retaining the central cruelty that defines her.
Major screen portrayals
The character was brought to animation by Disney in the 1961 feature film, where she was voiced by Betty Lou Gerson. The film also includes a memorable lyric about her, sung by the character Roger:
"Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil, If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will."
In the live-action adaptations she was portrayed on screen by Glenn Close in the 1996 remake and its follow-up, released in 2000, titled 102 Dalmatians. These versions broadened Cruella's backstory and gave the role a campier, more theatrical presence while keeping her ruthless pursuit of furs as the central plot driver.
Television and later animated appearances
The character appeared frequently in television and direct-to-video projects. In the animated series 101 Dalmatians: The Series she was voiced by April Winchell, where writers often recast her schemes to fit a serial format; for example, some episodes focus on attempts to seize property such as the Dearly Farm rather than killing animals for fur. Cruella also turns up in crossover and compilation projects, including House of Mouse, which treats her as a recurring antagonist and plays a running joke about her measuring other cartoon dogs for coats.
In later animated productions, such as the sequel 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, the character was voiced by Susanne Blakeslee, continuing the tradition of strong vocal performances that emphasize Cruella's flamboyant hatred of canine protagonists.