Mother Gothel is a
fictional character who appears in
Walt Disney Pictures' 50th animated feature film
Tangled (2010). The character is voiced by American actress and singer
Donna Murphy in her
voice-acting debut, prior to which she was predominantly known as a
stage actress.
Upon learning from her agent that Disney was auditioning potentials for
the antagonistic role of Mother Gothel, Murphy decided to audition for
the part spontaneously. Loosely based on the witch character in the
German fairy tale "
Rapunzel",
Mother Gothel is a vain old witch who hoards the healing powers of a
magical flower in order to remain young and beautiful forever. When the
flower is suddenly harvested by the kingdom in order to heal its ailing
queen, its rejuvenating powers are inherited by the queen's daughter,
Princess Rapunzel,
stripping Gothel of her access to it. With her life suddenly
endangered, Gothel kidnaps the baby, imprisoning the young Princess
Rapunzel in an isolated tower for eighteen years while masquerading as
her mother.
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