 A princess @-@ to @-@ be who ends up almost having her dream of meeting her prince a reality . Adams was announced to have been cast in the role of Giselle on November 14 , 2005 . Although the studio was looking for a film star in the role , director Kevin Lima insisted on casting a lesser @-@ known actress . Out of the 300 or so actresses who auditioned for the role , Adams stood out to Lima because not only did she look like " a Disney princess " but her " commitment to the character , her ability to escape into the character 's being without ever judging the character was overwhelming . " Hailing from Andalasia , Giselle displays similar traits to the Disney Princesses ; Lima describes her as " about 80 % Snow White , with some traits borrowed from Cinderella and Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty ... although her spunkiness comes from Princess Ariel from The Little Mermaid . " She is " eternally optimistic and romantic " but is also " very independent and true to her convictions " . Over the course of the film , she becomes more mature but maintains her innocence and optimism . 
