Elora Danan


Elora Danan is a fictional character from the 1988 fantasy film Willow, played by infant twins Kate and Ruth Greenfield. Although credited for the role, they grew too large for the props that held them on Willow's back and Rebecca Bearman, niece of second assistant director Gerry Toomey, was used throughout most of the film. Kristen Lang played her for scenes shot in Marin County. Babies Isla Brentwood, Laura Hopkirk, and Gina Nelson played her for the parts filmed in New Zealand. In the more dangerous scenes, however, "a thirteen-pound animatronics baby with a remote-controlled moveable head and mouth" was used instead. She is a Daikini, the average-sized race of people in the film.

Character plot

Fearful of a prophecy that a girl would be born who would bring about her downfall, the evil Queen Bavmorda imprisoned all pregnant women in the realm. Elora was born in prison and identified as the prophesied one by a birthmark on her arm. Bavmorda wanted to kill her at birth, but her mother convinced a midwife to smuggle her out. Both her mother and the midwife died to keep her safe.
After her midwife's death, Elora was found by a young Nelwyn farmer named Willow Ufgood, who initially wanted nothing to do with her but later embraced his role as her protector and attempts to take her to Tir Asleen. Bavmorda's efforts to destroy Elora, preventing the prophecy, led to Bavmorda's fall. Afterwards, Willow leaves Elora in the caring arms of Madmartigan and Bavmorda's daughter Sorsha, the new queen.