The voices behind Disney’s princesses
Meet the voices behind these iconic characters
IDINA MENZEL AS ELSA
The award-winning Broadway star, 47, took the world by storm as ice queen Elsa and her iconic song “Let it Go” was an instant hit. She recalls it playing at a kids’ birthday party and her son saying, “My mum sings songs from Frozen.” The other kids replied, “So do our mums!”
KRISTEN BELL AS ANNA
Pint-sized powerhouse Kristen, 38, has said her five-yearold daughter Lincoln wasn’t so impressed by her role as plucky Anna. Instead she insisted her mum dress as Elsa for Halloween – two years in a row!
IRENE BEDARD AS POCAHONTAS
The design of Disney’s first Native American princess was partly modelled after Irene, 51, who is of Inuit and Cree descent. She describes Pocahontas as “the strongest” of the group, as “she’s not waiting for her prince”.
MING-NA WEN AS MULAN
The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D actress, 55, is still proud to be the voice of Mulan. “For Disney to take a risk in the ’90s, having an ethnic character as the star ... and for it to become so successful and have such an impact is insane!”
AULI’I CRAVALHO ASS MOANA
The Th 18-year-old Hawaiian native n was raised by her fellow Disney royals. “I watched their movies over and over!” On her own character, she says she “loves how Moana grows as a person and helps her culture along the way”.
ANIKA NONI ROSE AS TIANA
Her role as the first African-American princess “had such an amazing impact on the e black community”, says s Anika, 46. “I had a man n come up to me crying because he could buy a Tiana doll for his granddaughter.”
JODI BENSON AS ARIEL
Broadway veteran Jodi, 57, had no idea this movie would become a Disney classic, but voicing the spirited teenage mermaid did teach her a few lessons. “Life is not always easy. Tenacity is something I learned from Ariel – to press forward, to work through the hard stuff and not give up.”
KELLY MACDONALD AS MERIDA
Fiery Merida was an ace with archery, but “I’m the only Disney princess who doesn’t sing”, laments Glasgowborn Kelly, 42. However, she admits her first foray into voice action was “a real learning curve. In the end, it was really liberating and I was just enjoying myself.”
PAIGE O’HARA AS BELLE
Another Broadway star, 62-year-old Paige says kids don’t believe it when they’re told she’s Belle. “I’ll get them to close their eyes and say, ‘Gaston, you’re positively primeval!’ Their eyes will go as big as saucers.”
LINDA LARKIN AS JASMINE
“I connected with Jasmine the very first time I read the script,” says Linda, 48. “Little kids have a great ear and recognise my voice but aren’t able to place it!”
MANDY MOORE AS RAPUNZEL
The This Is Us star, 34, loves being included in the Disney princess sisterhood. “To be part of this lineage ... it’s an incredible privilege,” she says. “It honestly was one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.”