The Witch in the Frozen Land Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a powerful and feared witch. She was known as Malvina, the Witch of Ice. Malvina's domain was a frozen land, covered in snow and ice year-round. The temperature was frigid, and the chill cut through even the thickest cloaks. Many believed that it was Malvina herself who brought the eternal winter to the land. The people lived in fear of Malvina and rarely ventured beyond their homes.
In a tweet earlier this month, former “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant Kerri Colby cited King’s work as an example of “why we should hire up and coming queer artists with a pulse on the present and a vision for the future more often.”
Though King conceded that he and McCarthy laughed about how much we love drag queens and drag makeup and stuff, he claimed that his vision for Ursula wasn t based on Divine or any drag acts at all. In a tweet earlier this month, former RuPaul s Drag Race contestant Kerri Colby cited King s work as an example of why we should hire up and coming queer artists with a pulse on the present and a vision for the future more often.
The people lived in fear of Malvina and rarely ventured beyond their homes. They whispered tales of her wickedness and the dark magic she possessed. It was said that she could freeze a man's heart with a simple glance, turning him into a lifeless statue of ice.
‘Little Mermaid’ makeup artist calls Ursula criticism ‘ridiculous’ and ‘offensive’
The makeup artist for Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” has responded to criticism surrounding the movie’s depiction of Ursula.
The nefarious sea witch — played by Melissa McCarthy in the new film — was originally inspired by Baltimore drag queen Divine. And some have argued that the studio should have hired a member of the LGBTQ+ community to style the beloved character for the 2023 adaptation, which opened in theaters this weekend.
But Peter Smith King, the British hair and makeup artist who created Ursula’s look for the blockbuster, called that criticism “ridiculous” in a recent interview with Insider.
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Pat Carroll, who voiced Ursula in “The Little Mermaid,” died Saturday at 95. The role defined Disney’s queer canon — and helped launch a renaissance.
“I find that very offensive,” he said. “Why can’t I do as good a job as a queer makeup artist?”
“That’s trying to claim it and that’s fine, if that’s what they wanna do, but don’t put people down because they’re not what they want it to be,” he added.
King also denied taking inspiration from the 1989 animated version of “The Little Mermaid” while styling McCarthy — despite her gravity-defying white plume of hair, dramatic eye-shadow and scarlet lipstick strongly resembling the animation from the original film.
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“No, no. It was me. I didn’t really draw on anything. I played around quite a lot with different colors, different shapes, and stuff,” King told Insider.
Advertisement“It just was sort of Melissa and I talking and creating. So I didn’t really draw on anything at all.”
Though King conceded that he and McCarthy “laughed about how much we love drag queens and drag makeup and stuff,” he claimed that his vision for Ursula wasn’t “based on Divine” or “any drag acts at all.”
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“I personally don’t get it,” he continued. “Yes, I’m very old now . but a makeup artist or makeup designer could design makeup, they don’t have to have an attachment to the nature of what they’re doing.”
In a tweet earlier this month, former “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant Kerri Colby cited King’s work as an example of “why we should hire up and coming queer artists with a pulse on the present and a vision for the future more often.”
“Hate to be shady but they should have hired a drag queen,” another person tweeted. “This make up looks like me 13 years ago, when I was drunk before pride one year.”
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At the Los Angeles premiere of “The Little Mermaid,” McCarthy exalted drag performers and said that she always knew Ursula was based on Divine even though she “couldn’t prove it” when the cartoon came out decades ago.
“She just had to be,” McCarthy told Deadline.
“The makeup, the look, the attitude — and now we know that yes, she was of course based on Divine. So that coming full circle to me . I just hope to do every incredible drag queen proud and Divine proud.”
Christi Carras is an entertainment reporter at the Los Angeles Times. She was previously a Times intern after graduating from UCLA and has also worked at Variety, the Hollywood Reporter and CNN.
“Hate to be shady but they should have hired a drag queen,” another person tweeted. “This make up looks like me 13 years ago, when I was drunk before pride one year.”
But there was more to Malvina than met the eye. Behind her icy exterior lay a tale of tragedy and a longing for warmth and love. Long ago, she had been a young girl who lost her family to a terrible accident. The pain and grief had consumed her, and she had turned to dark magic to find solace. As Malvina's power grew, so did her isolation. She became trapped in her own frozen prison, unable to break free from the icy chains she had forged around her heart. The people's fear and hatred only fueled her desire for revenge and made her more determined to keep them at bay. One day, a young adventurer named Lucas set out on a quest to find the legendary Witch of Ice. He had heard stories of her power and believed that he could break the cold spell that held her captive. With his sword and a heart full of bravery, Lucas braved the icy wilderness and sought out Malvina's lair. When Lucas finally found Malvina, she was surprised by his fearlessness. He saw past her icy exterior and recognized the sadness and loneliness in her eyes. Lucas spoke to her with kindness and compassion, offering her the warmth and love she had longed for. Slowly, Malvina's heart began to thaw, and the frozen land around them started to melt away. As the ice melted, the people of the land emerged from their homes, no longer afraid of Malvina's power. They saw that she was not a wicked witch but a woman burdened by her own sorrow and pain. In the end, the land was no longer frozen, and Malvina was no longer the Witch of Ice. She became known as Malvina, the Guardian of Warmth, as she used her magical abilities to bring prosperity and happiness to the land once more. The story of Malvina teaches us that even the coldest hearts can be warmed by love and compassion. It reminds us that behind every wicked witch, there is often a tale of sorrow and longing, waiting to be heard..
Reviews for "The Witch in the Frozen Land: Breaking the Ice Barrier"
1. Emily - 1 star - I really did not enjoy "The Witch in the Frozen Land" at all. The story was incredibly predictable and the characters felt flat and uninteresting. The author failed to create any depth or depth to the plot, leaving me feeling bored and disconnected. The writing style was also very bland and lacked any sort of excitement or engagement. Overall, I found it to be a major disappointment and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable and captivating read.
2. Ryan - 2 stars - "The Witch in the Frozen Land" had potential, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The world-building was minimal, leaving me with more questions than answers, and the magic system seemed inconsistent and poorly explained. The protagonist lacked any real development, making it difficult for me to connect with or root for her. Additionally, the pacing was slow, and the plot lacked any real sense of urgency or tension. Overall, I found it to be a mediocre fantasy read that didn't deliver on its promises.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "The Witch in the Frozen Land" based on the intriguing synopsis, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The writing style felt disjointed and lacked flow, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The characters were underdeveloped and their motivations felt contrived. The plot meandered and lacked focus, leaving me wondering what the point of it all was. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and let down by this book.