Disney owns The Golden Girls, which makes Sophia Petrillo a Disney character. The Disney Princess club is much harder to get into, but she has a better case than you'd think.
Sophia Petrillo has the confidence of a queen, a wicker purse that never leaves her side and comebacks sharp enough to end a royal feud. She also, technically, belongs to Disney.
The Golden Girls was produced in association with Disney's Touchstone Television and aired on NBC from 1985 to 1992. Disney still owns it, and all seven seasons stream on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
So, is Sophia a Disney Princess? Officially, no. But she deserves a hearing.
ABC News marked the 40th anniversary with a one-hour special. Here's the trailer:
Who are the official Disney Princesses?
Disney Princess is a brand, and Disney keeps the guest list short. The official lineup has 13 members: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana and Raya.
Raya was the most recent addition, announced in 2022.
Every one of them is an animated heroine, and that's where Sophia's royal dreams hit a wall. She's a live-action sitcom character played by Estelle Getty, and Disney has never added a live-action character to the lineup.
Even some of Disney's biggest animated royals are left out. Elsa and Anna from Frozen aren't official members.
Why does Disney own The Golden Girls?
The show came from creator Susan Harris and was produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions in association with Touchstone Television, the TV label Disney launched in the 1980s.
That's why Disney threw the show a big 40th birthday party in 2025. The celebration kicked off on July 30, which Disney called Golden Girls Day, and it came with cheesecake, naturally. Yogurtland sold a limited-edition cheesecake frozen yogurt called "Thank You For Being Cheesecake."
ABC News also made a one-hour special, The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship, with creator Susan Harris, producer Tony Thomas and the show's original writers. Disney says the series has passed 1 billion hours streamed around the world.
The case for Sophia as a Disney Princess
Every Disney Princess has a great origin story. Sophia has about a hundred of them, and most start with "Picture it: Sicily," followed by a year and a tale that may or may not have happened.
She has a loyal court. Dorothy, Rose and Blanche share a Miami house with her for seven seasons and somehow survive her one-liners.
She has a signature accessory. Ariel has her dinglehopper. Sophia has the wicker purse.
And she has the hardware. Getty won the 1988 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Sophia.
There's even a Disney Legend in the house. Her co-star Betty White was named a Disney Legend in 2009.
Why Sophia doesn't make the cut
Disney has never published official rules for joining the lineup. Fans usually point to a few unwritten ones: the character should be the lead in an animated Disney movie, and she should be royal by birth or marriage or do something heroic.
Sophia handles the heroic part on a good day. The animated movie is the problem.
She's in good company, too. Disney owns plenty of beloved women who will never get a tiara from the brand. Princess Leia is literally a princess, Disney has owned Star Wars since 2012, and she still isn't on the list.
Where to watch The Golden Girls
All seven seasons stream on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, along with the ABC News anniversary special.
Sophia's story didn't end with the finale, either. Getty, White and Rue McClanahan returned for The Golden Palace on CBS in 1992, and Getty later played Sophia as a regular on NBC's Empty Nest.
Getty died in 2008 at age 84. Sophia, Disney Princess or not, is still on TV somewhere every day.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
The Walt Disney Company (July 2025), Golden Girls 40th anniversary plans, Golden Girls Day and streaming milestone
ABC7 (2025), Yogurtland cheesecake frozen yogurt and the ABC News special
Disney+ (2025), where to stream and the ABC News special title
WDW Magazine (Jan. 2026), the official 13-member Disney Princess lineup
Gold Derby Raya joining the lineup in 2022
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