* Cinderella: The kind and beautiful young woman who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.
* The Stepmother: A cruel and jealous woman who treats Cinderella poorly.
* The Stepsisters: Two vain and arrogant girls who are jealous of Cinderella's beauty.
* The Fairy Godmother: A magical being who helps Cinderella attend the ball.
* The Prince: A handsome and kindhearted prince who falls in love with Cinderella.
* The Birds: In some versions, birds help Cinderella by picking off the remnants of her work, allowing her to get ready for the ball.
* The King: The prince's father.
There are often smaller, less prominent characters, but these are the core figures in the Grimm's version of the Cinderella story.