Disney’s long-awaited live-action Beauty and the Beast made its glitzy Hollywood debut Thursday night at the historic El Capitan Theatre. The opulent premiere covered three city blocks on Hollywood Blvd. Hundreds of fans waited anxiously to get a peek of stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens walking down a Swarovski-crystal-decked red carpet—and greeted the film’s leads with deafening screams. Vanity Fair caught up with the cast before the screening to learn all of the film’s most fascinating behind-the-scenes secrets.

The Movie Has a Message for Donald Trump

According to Tony-nominated actor Josh Gad, who plays villainous Gaston’s sidekick LeFou, the themes of Beauty and the Beast are as timeless now as they were when the original animated version was released in 1991. “Never judge a book by its cover. It’s never been more important and timely,” said Gad. “The Beast is a character that people are afraid of because he appears different. When you see Gaston lead people into a frenzy based out of fear—that’s something that resonates more than ever. I hope politicians can learn the message from Beauty and the Beast, and not to judge and discriminate people for being different by having different ethnic backgrounds or sexual orientation.”

Emma Watson echoed Gad’s comments: “I hope girls and anyone who watches the film understands that when you feel odd or different, it’s O.K.,” she said. “Belle didn’t fit in, and she didn’t let people judge her—and that made her strong and important.”

What the Beast and Carrie Bradshaw Have in Common

The Beast is a fully computer-generated character that was created through performance and facial-capture technology. While on set, Stevens walked on stilts and wore a 40-pound prosthetic muscle suit covered with visual-effects indicators that tracked his every movement. “It was like wearing 10-inch high heels!” exclaimed the former Downton Abbey star. “There weren’t actually any heels, but I was walking on my toes and off the ground. It was incredibly uncomfortable, and there was an amazing team of brilliantly minded engineers working around my feet throughout the shoot to develop a stilt that wouldn’t cripple me. Now I know what my wife feels when she wears high heels. I have so much empathy for her and all women!”

Becoming Gaston (Hint: It Takes a Lot of Eggs)

Moviegoers should be prepared to watch Luke Evans steal the show with his powerful singing and over-the-top performance as Gaston, one of Disney’s most shallow and selfish villains. To get into character, the Welsh actor said, “I got myself a very big mirror and told myself how beautiful I am every day! And I got myself a lot of eggs and swallowed them every day, like he does. When you play a villain, you just have to go with it. You can’t feel self-conscious, and you can’t feel like an idiot. I had to believe I was him. I owe it to the original animation to deliver this charming, ridiculous narcissist, and that’s what I did. It’s been an absolute joy and a gift to play him. I’ve loved every second of it.”

Behind the Seams of Belle’s Iconic Ball Gown

Belle’s yellow ball gown, a perfect match for the animated original—designed in a flurry of creativity for the first film during a late pizza spree—was made from multiple layers of feather-light satin organza. To add a modern look to the gown, 2,160 Swarovski crystals were added to the top layer of the dress. Multiple copies of the dress were created, taking over 12,000 hours to make. “My favorite moment from the film was wearing the yellow dress,” said Watson. “I’ll never forgot it.”

Why the Time Is Right for Disney’s First Gay Character

For the first time in Disney’s movie history, it’s releasing a film that features an openly gay character. Gaston’s goofy sidekick, LeFou, has his own subplot that explores his sexuality. The movie also touches on his unreciprocated love for his arrogant mentor. “There’s a beautiful moment at the end of this film that I’m very proud of. I will let it speak for itself. It’s a beautiful, subtle moment that does its job,” said Gad. “I’m happy and thrilled that [director] Bill [Condon] allowed it to happen, and as subtle as it is, I do think it’s going to be effective.”

Proud as he is that Disney is becoming more inclusive of the L.G.B.T. community, Gad hopes for a time when same-sex couples in film are no longer such a hot topic. “For 26 years, people have been asking about this character’s sexuality, and what I would love to see is a moment where we no longer have to ask this question,” said Gad. “I would love it if it weren’t a news story. But I’m very happy to be a part of this particular film and this particular moment.”