You know that feeling when a voice just fits? Like, you can't imagine anyone else ever saying those lines? That’s the magic of the voices of Beauty and the Beast. It’s not just about singing. It’s about soul. Honestly, when Disney was casting the 1991 original, they weren't looking for the biggest pop stars on the planet. They wanted Broadway. They wanted people who could act through a microphone. And boy, did they get it.
The legacy of these voices stretches from the hand-drawn hallways of the 90s right into the CGI-heavy 2017 remake. But if we’re being real, the original cast set a bar that is almost impossible to clear.
The woman who defined Belle: Paige O’Hara
Paige O’Hara wasn't a household name when she walked into the audition. She was a theater kid. She had this "Judy Garland" quality to her voice that the directors, Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, absolutely fell for. Most people don't realize she beat out hundreds of other performers for the role. Why? Because she sounded like a woman, not a girl.
Belle was supposed to be older than the previous Disney princesses. More mature. A bit of an outcast. Paige brought this slight "catch" in her voice that made Belle feel human. Think about the opening number, "Belle." It’s a massive, sprawling piece of musical theater. O’Hara’s ability to weave through those lyrics while sounding genuinely frustrated with her "provincial life" is what makes the character work.
- Fact check: Did you know Paige O’Hara actually recorded her lines while the animators watched? They wanted to capture her facial expressions.
- She continued voicing Belle for decades, only stepping back when her voice naturally aged out of the character's range.
- Even today, she’s heavily involved in the Disney community, often appearing at fan conventions to talk about the character’s feminist roots.
Robby Benson and the Beast’s roar
If you listen to the Beast in the 1991 film, you’re hearing something truly unique. Robby Benson provided the voice, but he had some help from the animal kingdom. The sound designers layered in growls from lions, tigers, and even bears.
But the heart? That’s all Benson.
He had this incredible range. He could go from a terrifying, glass-shattering scream to a gentle, insecure whisper in seconds. Before he got the role, he was a teen heartthrob. People were shocked he could sound that gravelly. He basically spent the whole recording process shouting his lungs out. It’s a miracle he didn’t lose his voice entirely. The 2017 remake took a different path with Dan Stevens.
✨ Don't miss: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
Stevens used a much more "human" approach. He wore stilts on set to get the height, and his voice was processed to give it that deep, resonant "beastliness." It’s a more polished sound, sure. But does it have the raw, jagged edge of Benson’s performance? That’s up for debate.
The ensemble: Broadway legends in the recording booth
Let’s talk about the supporting voices of Beauty and the Beast. This is where the movie truly shines. You had Jerry Orbach as Lumiere. Most people know him from Law & Order, but before he was a TV cop, he was a stage legend. He based Lumiere’s accent on Maurice Chevalier. It’s thick, it’s ridiculous, and it’s perfect.
Then there’s Angela Lansbury.
She almost didn’t record the title song. She thought her voice was too old or that a ballad would be better suited for someone else. The directors begged her to try just one take. She walked in, did it in one go, and moved everyone in the room to tears. That’s the version you hear in the movie. One take. Total pro.
David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth was the perfect foil to Orbach. Stiers was a master of the "pompous but lovable" archetype. He actually ad-libbed one of the funniest lines in the movie: "Flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep." That wasn't in the script. He just felt it.
The 2017 shift: Emma Watson and the modern take
When Disney announced the live-action remake, the internet basically exploded. Emma Watson as Belle? It made sense. She’s an activist, she’s smart, she looks the part. But the singing was the big question mark.
🔗 Read more: Why This Is How We Roll FGL Is Still The Song That Defines Modern Country
Watson’s voice is much thinner than O’Hara’s. It’s more "pop" and less "operatic." Disney used quite a bit of pitch correction (Auto-Tune) to smooth things out, which some fans loved and others… well, others were less than thrilled. It changed the vibe. The 2017 voices of Beauty and the Beast felt more like a modern musical and less like a classic Broadway show.
Luke Evans as Gaston, however, was a masterclass.
Evans is a trained West End singer. He brought a theatricality to the role that almost rivaled Richard White’s original performance. He didn't just sing the notes; he chewed the scenery with them. Josh Gad as LeFou brought a similar energy. They were a duo that actually felt like they belonged in the same world as the 1991 characters.
Why the original voices still dominate the charts
Even in 2026, the original soundtrack usually outperforms the remake on streaming platforms during the holidays. There’s a warmth to those 90s recordings. Maybe it’s the analog tech. Maybe it’s the fact that Howard Ashman, the lyricist, was there in the room coaching every single syllable.
Ashman was dying of complications from AIDS during the production. He poured everything he had into these characters. He saw the Beast as a metaphor for his own situation—someone cursed by something they couldn't control, waiting for a miracle. When you hear the voices of Beauty and the Beast, you’re hearing his vision.
The nuance is everywhere. Look at Gaston. Richard White has this booming, operatic baritone that makes you hate him and love him at the same time. He’s so arrogant it’s almost musical. You can’t replicate that with just "good singing." You need a specific kind of character acting.
💡 You might also like: The Real Story Behind I Can Do Bad All by Myself: From Stage to Screen
Key differences in the vocal performances
- Belle (1991): Rich, mature, vibrato-heavy, theatrical.
- Belle (2017): Soft, breathy, modern, understated.
- Beast (1991): Animalistic, wildly dynamic, emotionally erratic.
- Beast (2017): Deepened through tech, consistent, more "gentlemanly."
- Lumiere (1991): High-energy vaudeville.
- Lumiere (2017): Ewan McGregor’s take was more refined, though his accent was a bit of a sticking point for critics.
How to appreciate the vocal craft today
If you want to really get into the weeds of how these voices were built, you have to look at the "scratch tracks." Before the final actors are cast, studios use temporary voices to time the animation. Sometimes, the scratch actors are so good they keep them. But for Beauty and the Beast, they knew they needed the heavy hitters.
You can actually find isolated vocal tracks online. Listening to Angela Lansbury sing "Beauty and the Beast" without the orchestra is a religious experience. You can hear her breathing. You can hear the slight tremolo in her voice when she hits the emotional peaks. It’s a lesson in restraint.
Modern voice acting has changed. There’s a lot more emphasis on celebrity casting now. Back in '91, the "star" was the character, not the person behind the mic. That’s probably why those performances feel so timeless. They weren't trying to sell you a famous face; they were trying to tell a story about a girl and a monster.
To truly understand the impact of these performances, try a back-to-back listening session. Put on the 1991 soundtrack, then the 2017 version, then maybe even the Broadway cast recording with Susan Egan. You’ll notice how Belle changes. She goes from a dreamer to an intellectual to a fighter, all through the shift in vocal tone.
The next time you watch the movie, pay attention to the silence. The way Robby Benson sighs. The way Paige O’Hara gasps when she sees the library. Those aren't just sound effects. They are the tiny, human details that turn a cartoon into a masterpiece.
To dig deeper into the world of vocal performance and animation history, start by comparing the original demo tapes (often found on "Diamond Edition" Blu-rays) with the final theatrical releases. You can also track the evolution of the Beast's roar by looking at the sound design credits—it’s a fascinating mix of foley work and raw vocal power that hasn't been replicated since. Don't just watch the film; listen to the way the actors use their "air" to convey age and exhaustion. It changes everything.