Be Her Guest, Be Her Guest

Sarah Hill says taking on the role of Belle was an accident.

But now, portraying the dark-haired princess for little girls brings her joy.

“I love working with kids, and I love acting, so it’s two of my favorite things,” said Hill, a 14-year-old freshman at .

Now Hill has started her own business called A Party Princess and said she hopes to start playing Belle for birthday parties.

Hill first played Belle during a 4th of July parade in because the Fairy Godmother costume she had planned on wearing was too warm. After the parade, the director of the asked her to play Belle last year for “,” a benefit concert for the Erin Murphy Peter’s Foundation, and for two tea parties at . It was then that Hill realized she was hooked. She had her own Belle dress made and purchased her own hair pieces.

“I definitely love to act,” said Hill, whose goal is to become an actress. “I love to be on stage. I love to sing."

At the tea parties, Hill greets the girls at door with hugs. Once everyone is seated, she makes her rounds to each table to talk to the girls, take pictures with them and sign autographs. She also holds a story time, takes pictures with them sitting on her lap and sings to them.

Many girls excitedly run up to Hill for hugs when they first see her.

“I see them getting enjoyment out of it, so I know I’m doing a good job,” Hill said. 

Others are a little shy, and Hill said she talks to them to help them become more comfortable with her so they can enjoy the party.

“I remember the feeling of being a little girl and seeing my favorite princesses, and getting shy all of a sudden and not being comfortable around them,” Hill said.

Hill’s mother, Stacey, said that in the past, the Elm Street Cultural Arts Center has held tea events with characters from shows being performed at the venue but that teas with Belle “just kind of evolved.”

 “Sarah did such a good job the first time that they did another one,” Stacey Hill said.

Sarah Hill plans to hold another tea this summer and said she hopes to also play Belle for birthday parties. Those are similar to the teas but also include princess makeovers and a tiara for the birthday girl. When she turns 18, she wants to dress as Belle and visit patients at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.

Information on Hill's services can be found by emailing apartyprincess@live.com.