In fact, the muse behind the Tinkerbell character was model and actress Margaret Kerry, a petite, curvy brunette. Under the direction of animator Marc Davis, Kerry pantomimed Tinkerbell's broad range of motion (and emotion) on a sound stage, from throwing temper tantrums to admiring herself in front of a mirror. These scenes were then sketched and used to conceptualize the pixie's scenes.
Visualizing the character of Tinkerbell was a challenge for the movie's creative team: Before Disney acquired the film rights for J.M. Barrie's play, Tinkerbell was traditionally portrayed onstage as a spotlight and ringing bells, as opposed to a live, speaking character. Creative directors for "Peter Pan" wanted to create a sexy, yet endearing, character with enough attitude to convey emotion without speaking.
After the film's release in 1953, rumors falsely credited the blonde screen siren Marilyn Monroe as the face and figure behind Tinkerbell. As tempting as the comparison may be, Monroe had not yet achieved the stardom that would befall her in later years. Kerry retains her title as the inspiration behind Walt Disney's tiny mascot.