Tiger Lily is a fictional character in J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, his 1911 novel Peter and Wendy, and their various adaptations.
Tiger Lily | |
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Peter Pan character | |
First appearance | Peter and Wendy (1904) |
Created by | J. M. Barrie |
Portrayed by | Miriam Nesbitt (UK first stage 1904 production) Margaret Gordon (US first 1905 production) Anna May Wong (1924 film) Carsen Gray (2003 film) Rooney Mara (Pan) Sara Tomko (Once Upon a Time) Alyssa Wapanatâhk (Peter Pan & Wendy) |
Voiced by | Cree Summer (Peter Pan & the Pirates) |
In-universe information | |
Species | Human |
Gender | Female |
Family | Great Big Little Panther (father) |
Tiger Lily is the daughter of Great Big Little Panther, the chief of the Piccanniny tribe, the fictional tribe of Native Americans living in Neverland. Barrie describes her as "a princess in her own right. The most beautiful of dusky Dianas and the belle of the Piccaninnies, coquettish, cold and amorous by turns."[1] She is apparently old enough to be married, but refuses any suitors because of her feelings towards Peter. She is jealous of Wendy and Tinker Bell. Tiger Lily is kidnapped by Captain Hook and his pirates but is rescued by Peter Pan.
The character has attracted controversy due to accusations of racism and Native American stereotyping.[8][9][10][11]
Controversy also arose from the name given to her tribe, "Piccanniny", a term now widely interpreted as a racial slur.