#9 Cruella De Vil
In 1956, author Dodie Smith introduced the world to one of literature’s most unforgettable villains—Cruella de Vil—in her beloved children’s novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Disney quickly saw the potential of this deliciously wicked character and transformed her into an animated icon with the 1961 film adaptation. With her striking black-and-white hair, eccentric fashion, and insatiable greed, Cruella became the ultimate symbol of vanity and cruelty.
The character has since lived on through countless adaptations. Glenn Close memorably embodied Cruella in Disney’s first live-action version during the late 1990s and early 2000s, delivering a performance both terrifying and hilarious. Most recently, Emma Stone reimagined the character in Cruella (2021), offering fans a fresh origin story that explored how this stylish villain came to be.