You know that moment in Frozen when Prince Hans of the Southern Isles stops being the charming, sideburn-rocking hero and basically tells Anna she’s a disposable pawn? It’s arguably the most shocking heel-turn in Disney history. But the guy behind the voice—Santino Fontana—is actually a Broadway sweetheart.
Honestly, it’s wild to think that the same man who makes your skin crawl in Arendelle is the same guy who won a Tony Award for playing a woman in the Tootsie musical. He’s got this incredible, honey-toned voice that somehow manages to sound both trustworthy and deeply sinister within the span of ninety minutes. If you’ve ever wondered why Hans felt so "right" until he felt so "wrong," it’s because Fontana played the long game.
Who is the Hans voice actor in Frozen?
So, let's get into it. Santino Fontana is the voice actor for Hans in Frozen. He didn't just stumble into the booth, though. Fontana is a heavy hitter in the New York theater scene. Before he was trying to seize the throne of Arendelle, he was literally playing Prince Charming on Broadway in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella.
Disney actually found him because a casting director, Jamie Roberts, saw him in Billy Elliot. Funny enough, he originally auditioned for Tangled, but it didn't work out. Fast forward a bit, and they called him in for this "Snow Queen" project that eventually became the global juggernaut we know today.
A voice for a villain (or a hero?)
One of the coolest things about Santino's performance is how he handled the "Love Is an Open Door" duet. He and Kristen Bell (Anna) recorded that together in Los Angeles, which is actually kind of rare for animated movies. Usually, actors are alone in a dark room with a pair of headphones.
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But for that song, they needed the chemistry. They needed that "finish each other’s sandwiches" energy. Fontana’s background in musical theater meant he could keep up with the technical demands of the song while layering in that subtle, almost too-perfect charm.
Why Santino Fontana didn't know he was the bad guy
This is the part that usually blows people's minds: Santino Fontana didn't know Hans was a villain for most of the production. Seriously. Disney is famously secretive. For nearly two years of recording sessions, Santino was under the impression he was just playing a slightly misunderstood prince. He only did about five recording sessions total over that period. It wasn't until later in the process that the directors, Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, dropped the bomb that Hans was actually a sociopath.
He basically recorded the whole movie thinking he was the hero. That’s probably why the performance works so well. He wasn't acting like a villain; he was acting like a guy who truly believed he was the protagonist of his own story.
Beyond the Southern Isles: Santino’s massive career
If you haven't seen Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, you're missing out on some of Fontana's best work. He played Greg Serrano for the first season and a half, and his dry, cynical wit was the perfect foil to the show’s chaotic energy.
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- Tony Award Winner: He won Best Actor in a Musical for Tootsie in 2019.
- The "You" Audiobook: If you’re a fan of the Netflix show You, you should listen to the audiobooks. Fontana narrates them, and he makes Joe Goldberg sound even more terrifying than Penn Badgley does.
- Frozen Fever: He actually came back to voice Hans again in the short film Frozen Fever, though the character was mostly relegated to shoveling manure in the Southern Isles as punishment.
What most people get wrong about the Hans voice actor
A lot of fans assume that because Hans isn't in Frozen 2 (well, mostly—he shows up as a snowy memory), Fontana must have moved on. But the truth is more about the story. Hans's arc was pretty much done once he was sent back home in disgrace.
There's also a common misconception that he’s "just" a voice actor. Fontana is a classically trained actor who studied at the University of Minnesota’s Guthrie Theater program. He’s done everything from Shakespeare’s Hamlet to singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He’s a "chameleon" in the truest sense.
Facts about the Hans recording process
- The Donny Osmond Connection: One of the animators for Hans was Hyrum Osmond, Donny’s nephew. He actually modeled some of Hans’s "Love Is an Open Door" poses after Donny Osmond’s signature moves.
- Minimal Studio Time: Santino only spent about five days total recording the voice of Hans over a two-year span.
- The Action Figure: Fontana once joked in an interview that he has a Hans action figure in his house, but it looks nothing like him—it looks way more "Waspy" and tall.
Actionable insights for fans and performers
If you're an aspiring voice actor or just a die-hard Frozen fan, there's a lot to learn from how Santino approached this role.
First, the power of subtext. The reason Hans is such a great villain is that he doesn't sound like one. If you're playing a character with a secret, don't play the secret—play the mask.
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Second, check out Fontana's other work to see his range. Listening to him transition from the goofy charm of Hans to the gritty, dark narration of You is a masterclass in vocal control.
Finally, keep an eye on Broadway news. Santino is frequently returning to the stage, and seeing him live is a completely different experience than hearing him through a speaker. If you want to dive deeper into the world of Arendelle, you might want to look into the Frozen Broadway musical cast recordings—though different actors played Hans there, the DNA of the character Santino built is still very much present.
Check out Santino Fontana's performance in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend or his Tony-winning turn in Tootsie to see the full scope of the man who gave Disney its most divisive prince.