Cornelia is 14 years old, and the oldest W.I.T.C.H. girl. The eldest daughter of a high-class family, her father is Harold Hale, and runs a very successful bank. Her mother is Elizabeth Landon Hale, who looks almost exactly like Cornelia, and is very strict. As well as a younger sister named Lillian who is somewhat of a pain in the neck.

Cornelia is calm and normally friendly taking a leadership role in the group after Will. Cornelia comes off rather cold with boys, ignoring most and having a low opinion of them in general. She is a romantic at heart, however, believing love to be stronger than magic and willing to do anything for the one she loves. Cornelia loves ice skating and hanging with her friends. She hates the fact that her parents spend more time with Lillian than with her.