Cameron Diaz may have played Princess Fiona in Shrek more than two decades ago, but a newly released behind-the-scenes featurette is giving fans a fresh reason to revisit one of her most memorable roles. As the animated classic celebrates its 25th anniversary, Universal Pictures has released a remastered 4K edition featuring 30 minutes of new bonus content, including footage of Diaz recording Fiona’s lines. The newly shared clips offer a look at just how involved the actress was in bringing the character to life, and the film’s original directors have some interesting things to say about her contribution.
In an exclusive featurette shared by PEOPLE, directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson remembered Diaz as someone who was completely committed to the character. Jenson described her as fun, goofy and grounded, while recalling how enthusiastically she approached the recording sessions. What makes the footage particularly interesting is that Fiona’s personality wasn’t shaped entirely by the animation team. Some of the character’s expressions and movements were influenced by the way Diaz performed her lines in the recording booth.
Cameron Diaz’s Performance Helped Shape Princess Fiona
One of the most interesting details from the anniversary featurette is how much Diaz’s natural expressions influenced Fiona’s final animated appearance. Andrew Adamson explained that the team took inspiration from the actress’s smile, movements and eyes while developing the character. The newly released footage shows Diaz jumping around, reacting enthusiastically and physically expressing herself while recording dialogue, rather than simply standing behind a microphone and reading lines.
According to Jenson, Diaz was always willing to explore the character and have fun during recording sessions. That enthusiasm helped give Fiona a personality that felt different from the traditional animated princess audiences were used to seeing. She could be funny, confident, awkward and tough without losing the emotional side of the character.
Adamson also revealed that Fiona was actually the most challenging character to design in the original film. Since she was the main human character in a world filled with highly stylised animated creatures, the artists initially struggled to find the right balance between realistic and cartoon-like features. They experimented with different appearances before finding the design that audiences eventually came to recognise. Diaz’s performance became an important part of that process.
Shrek’s 25th Anniversary Edition Brings Back the Original Cast
The new bonus footage is part of a special 25th anniversary edition of Shrek, which became available on November 3, 2026, in remastered 4K Ultra HD and a limited-edition Steelbook release. Alongside the improved picture and sound, the collection includes approximately 30 minutes of new retrospective material exploring how the original animated film was created.
The anniversary release is a reminder of just how much the franchise has grown since its first film premiered in 2001. What began as an unusual fairy-tale comedy featuring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz eventually developed into a major animated franchise, with four main films and two Puss in Boots spin-offs. The films have collectively earned more than $1.6 billion worldwide.
For Diaz, the anniversary also brings attention back to a character that remains one of the most recognisable parts of her acting career. Fiona wasn’t simply another voice role; she became an important part of the film’s identity, particularly because the character challenged the traditional princess image that animated movies had relied on for years.
Cameron Diaz Is Returning as Fiona in Shrek 5
The anniversary celebrations arrive at an interesting time because Diaz is preparing to return to the franchise once again. She will reprise her role as Princess Fiona in Shrek 5, alongside Mike Myers as Shrek and Eddie Murphy as Donkey. DreamWorks has also introduced a new generation of characters, including Shrek and Fiona’s children, with Zendaya, Skyler Gisondo and Marcello Hernández joining the voice cast.
The first trailer, released earlier in 2026, offered a glimpse of the family’s next adventure and introduced audiences to the teenage version of Shrek and Fiona’s sons, Fergus and Farkle. The sequel is directed by Conrad Vernon and Walt Dohrn, with the story expected to take the familiar characters into another chapter of their lives.
According to director Conrad Vernon, voice recording for the sequel had already wrapped by August 2026. He also expressed confidence in how the movie was coming together during an interview with SYFY WIRE. Shrek 5 is currently scheduled to arrive in theatres on June 30, 2027.
Cameron Diaz Is Also Preparing for Her Next Netflix Film
While fans wait for Fiona’s return, Diaz has another major release coming up much sooner. Her upcoming Netflix action comedy Bad Day is scheduled to premiere on December 11, 2026. The film stars her as Joy, a single mother who promises her daughter that she will attend a soccer game. Unfortunately, what should have been an ordinary day turns into a series of increasingly ridiculous problems.
Netflix released the film’s trailer on November 5, showing Joy dealing with a towed car, a declined bank card and a chaotic situation involving a bus. Danielle Brooks plays a detective pursuing her, while Ed O’Neill, Mark Duplass, Rhenzy Feliz and several other actors appear in supporting roles.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Diaz explained that she connected with the story because it captures the feeling of parents constantly trying to do the impossible just to be there for their children. She even described the movie as a heartfelt “mom-com.” She also said that she wants to enjoy working with people she respects without taking on projects that pull her too far away from her family.
With Bad Day arriving next month and Shrek 5 following in 2027, Diaz has two very different projects lined up. One brings her back to the kind of live-action comedy audiences enjoyed during her earlier career, while the other reunites her with a character she helped shape 25 years ago. The anniversary footage makes that return particularly interesting because it reminds audiences that Princess Fiona’s personality was never just about the animation. A significant part of what made her memorable came from Diaz herself.
