The princesses of Disney Universe warmed our childhood with their gentle voices, as their appearance remains deeply embedded in our memory. But who are the people behind these characters, who gave them voice?
Here’s the ten real faces that have inspired Walt Disney creating fairytale female characters.
1. Adriana Caselotti as Snow White
Walt Disney was talking to Adriana Caselotti’s father, voice instructor, about the voice should have been of the dark haired ebony princess when he heard the 19-yearl old girl talking and immediately hired. Adriana Caselotti have a childlike voice.
By contract with Disney, Caselotti could not use her talents in other directions, so her entire career was spent with the resumption of Snow White role, but she became the first woman named a Disney Legend.
2. Mary Costa as Sleeping Beauty
Mary Costa attended the auditions for Princess Aurora, and – in a few hours – Walt Disney, who had been seeking the right actress for three years, personally contacted Costa and gave her the vocal scores.
The music career of Mary Costa continued with performances at the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera. At the request of Jackie Kennedy, Costa played the funeral of President Kennedy, and now, at 83, she has public appearances to the delight of Disney fans.
3. Lea Salonga (singing) and Linda Larkin (talking) as Jasmine from Aladdin (1992)
Lea Saloga won a Tony Award for her role in Miss Saigon and appeared in several Broadway shows before singing in Aladdin. Salonga played Fantine in her latest film Les Miserables and still gives voice to Jasmine in the Disney TV productions.
Linda Larkin, on the other hand, was the voice of Jasmine. It was necessary to lower her voice a few notes to get the desired formula for Disney. Larkin was the voice of Jasmine in Disney in over 20 projects and played herself in movies Doogie Howser, MD and Runaway Bride.
4. Paige O’Hara as Belle from Beauty and the Beast
After reading about auditions for Beauty and the Beast in newspapers, Paige went to auditions and received the role when she was 30. An already established Broadway actress with appearances in Showboat, Oklahoma and South Pacific, O’Hara gave voice to Bell in the movie later nominated for an Oscar, but also in the direct DVD releases, after which returned to a career stage.
Her income was completed by her passion for painting.
5. Anika Noni Rose as Tiana from Princess and the Frog
Anika Noni Rose, who received a Tony Award for her performance in Caroline, or Change, landed the first princess of color role. Rose competed for the role with famous Beyonce, her colleague in the musical Dreamgirls.
Rose is a Disney legend, but plays and other productions as well. She received the Image Award for her performance in the drama signed by Tyler Perry, For Colored Girls.
6. Mandy Moore as Rapunzel
Mandy Moore, known for her career as a pop singer, started her career in front of the camera with roles in A Walk to Remember, The Princess Diaries and Saved.
If in the initial tests for the Tangled animation Natalie Portman was hired, the role eventually went to Mandy Moore, who sang Grammy winning song. I See the Light.
7. Kelly Macdonald as Merida from Brave
Kelly, actress born in Scotland, had the perfect voice for the first Pixar princess fearless, Merida from Brave, film with a story placed on Scottish lands. The actress even replaced more famous Reese Witherspoon in the role. MacDonald appeared in live action roles in Trainspotting, No Country for Old Men and Finding Neverland.
8. Jodi Benson as The Little Mermaid and Barbie in Toy Story 2/3
Jodi Benson is the owner of the famous voice of Ariel in the Little Mermaid, but Barbi’s in the sequel to Toy Story. She had only one role in front of the cameras – the receptionist in Disney’s production Enchanted.
9. Ilene Woods as Cinderella
Ilene Woods was chosen by Walt Disney himself to voice Cinderella, the actress competing with other 300 people. Woods sang for both President Roosevelt and Truman and was named a Disney Legend in 2003.
10. Kathryn Beaumont as Alice in Wonderland
Being just 10 years old, Kathryn Beaumont, a little girl with blond curly hair and blue eyes, was chosen for the role of Alice, both because of the voice, and as a model for shaping the character.
Under contract with Disney, Beaumont was the voice of Wendy in Peter Pan animation (1953), and today continues to have voice roles. Now aged 75 years, Beaumont has been a teacher, being a known fact that she delights students interpreting them Alice and Wendy.
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