If you grew up stomping Goombas, you know the voice. That high-pitched, sweet-as-sugar "Peachy!" or the iconic "Thank you!" at the end of a grueling castle run. But lately, things have gotten a bit complicated in the Mushroom Kingdom. Fans have been asking who plays Princess Peach because, for the first time in nearly three decades, the answer isn't who you think it is.
The world of voice acting is usually invisible. Most people don't think about the person behind the pixels until something changes. And boy, have things changed. We’ve moved from the long-standing reign of Samantha Kelly to a new era featuring Hollywood A-listers and fresh talent like Samantha Béart. It’s a weird time to be a Mario fan. Honestly, it’s even weirder if you’re trying to keep track of the credits across games, movies, and spin-offs.
The Era of Samantha Kelly and the Legacy of the "Peachy" Sound
For most of us, Samantha Kelly is Princess Peach. Period. Since 2007’s Mario Party 8, she has been the definitive voice. She didn't just play the character; she molded the personality we see today. Before her, the voices were a bit all over the place. Remember Jen Taylor? She voiced Peach in the early 2000s (and also happens to be the voice of Cortana in Halo). But Kelly brought a specific kind of warmth and consistency that stuck for 17 years.
She wasn't just doing a voice. She was creating a brand. Every "Hee-hee!" and "Oh, did I win?" in Mario Kart came from her. It’s hard to overstate how much work goes into this. Think about it. You have to record hundreds of tiny grunts, screams, and one-liners that sound exactly the same whether the character is falling off a cliff or winning a trophy. Kelly handled Peach, Toad, and Toadette. That’s a massive chunk of the Mario universe resting on one person's vocal cords.
But then, 2023 happened.
The release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder sent shockwaves through the community. Charles Martinet, the legendary voice of Mario, stepped down. Naturally, everyone started looking at the rest of the cast. While Kelly is still very much involved in the franchise, the door has opened for others to step into the pink dress. It’s not a simple replacement; it’s a diversification of the role across different media formats.
Anya Taylor-Joy and the Hollywood Takeover
When Illumination and Nintendo announced The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the casting caused a literal meltdown on the internet. Chris Pratt as Mario? We all remember the memes. But the choice of who plays Princess Peach in the film was actually one of the more praised decisions. Anya Taylor-Joy took the reigns, and she didn't just mimic the high-pitched squeak of the games.
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She went for something different.
The movie version of Peach isn't a damsel. She’s a ruler. She’s a warrior. Taylor-Joy used a lower, more authoritative register. It was a conscious choice to make Peach feel like a leader of a nation rather than a prize to be won. Some die-hard fans hated it. They wanted the classic "Mariooooo!" scream. But honestly? The movie needed a character with a bit more grit. Taylor-Joy brought a "final girl" energy from her horror movie roots into the Mushroom Kingdom, and it worked.
This brings up a huge debate in the industry: Why hire a movie star when the original voice actors are right there? Money. It’s always money. Having Anya Taylor-Joy’s name on a poster sells tickets to people who don't care about video games. It’s a business move. But it also changes the DNA of the character for a whole new generation of kids who will now see Peach as a platforming badass rather than a kidnapped princess.
Samantha Béart and the Showtime Shift
If you’ve played Princess Peach: Showtime!, you might have noticed a slight shift in the vocal performance. While Samantha Kelly has long been the standard, Nintendo has been experimenting. Samantha Béart—who many gamers recognize as the incredible Karlach from Baldur’s Gate 3—has stepped into the fold.
This is where things get interesting for the "who plays Princess Peach" question.
Béart brings a theatricality that fits the Showtime! stage theme perfectly. It’s a more nuanced performance. Peach has to transform into a detective, a ninja, and a cowgirl. Each of these roles requires a slightly different vocal "flavor" while still sounding like Peach. It’s a tall order. Béart’s involvement shows that Nintendo is willing to let the character evolve and breathe outside of the rigid "damsel" archetype that defined her in the 90s.
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The Technical Side of Voice Acting for Nintendo
Nintendo is notoriously secretive. They don't usually release big press releases when they change a voice actor. Often, fans have to wait for the credits to roll—or literally record the game audio and compare waveforms—to figure out who is behind the mic.
The process of voicing Peach involves:
- Vocal Strain: Maintaining that high-pitched, airy tone for 4-hour recording sessions is brutal.
- Consistency: Peach sounds the same in Mario Party as she does in Super Smash Bros., which requires incredible muscle memory.
- Non-Verbal Communication: Most of Peach’s "acting" is done through gasps, sighs, and "wa-hoos."
A lot of people think it's just talking. It isn't. It’s athletic. You’re basically screaming into a microphone for hours until your throat feels like it’s been sandpapered. Samantha Kelly has talked in interviews about how she has to find the "sweet spot" in her throat to hit those Peach notes without blowing out her voice.
Why the Voice Matters More Than You Think
Characters like Peach are iconic. They are symbols. When you change the voice, you change the soul of the character. Imagine if Mickey Mouse suddenly sounded like Batman. It would be jarring. It would break the immersion.
The reason people care so much about who plays Princess Peach is that for many, she was their first introduction to gaming. Whether you played as her in Super Mario Bros. 2 (because she could float and it made the levels easier) or you main her in Smash, her voice is a tether to childhood.
There’s also the E-E-A-T factor here—Expertise and Experience. Voice acting is a specialized skill. The transition from Samantha Kelly to people like Anya Taylor-Joy or Samantha Béart represents a shift in how Nintendo views its intellectual property. They are no longer just "games"; they are "franchises" that span movies, theme parks, and high-budget spin-offs.
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The Future: Will There Be One Voice to Rule Them All?
Likely not.
Moving forward, we are probably going to see a split. We'll have the "Game Peach" (likely Kelly or a sound-alike) and the "Cinematic Peach" (Anya Taylor-Joy). This is a common trend in the industry. Look at Spider-Man. Yuri Lowenthal voices him in the PlayStation games, while Tom Holland plays him in the MCU. They are the same character, but they serve different purposes.
Peach is currently undergoing a "rebranding" phase. She’s becoming more independent. She’s getting her own solo titles again. This means the voice needs to be more versatile. It can’t just be a high-pitched squeak anymore; it needs to handle dialogue, emotion, and action sequences.
Identifying the Voice: A Quick Reference
If you're trying to figure out who you're hearing right now, use this logic.
- Is it the 2023 Movie? That is Anya Taylor-Joy. She brings a modern, slightly deeper, and more proactive tone to the character.
- Is it a classic Mario game (pre-2023)? 99% chance it’s Samantha Kelly. She is the gold standard for the "classic" Peach sound.
- Is it "Princess Peach: Showtime!"? You’re hearing a mix of influences, with Samantha Béart bringing a new theatrical energy to the various transformations.
- Is it an old 90s cartoon? That might be Jeannie Elias or Tracey Moore. Those were the "Wild West" days of Nintendo voices.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a fan of the performance and want to support the people behind the characters, the best thing you can do is follow them on social media and check out their other work. Voice actors often get the short end of the stick when it comes to recognition.
Check out Samantha Kelly’s work as Toad—it’s mind-blowing that the same person does both voices. Or look into Samantha Béart’s performance in Baldur’s Gate 3 to see her incredible range. Understanding the talent behind the screen makes the games feel much more "human."
Stop viewing Peach as just a bunch of pixels. She is a collaborative art project between animators and some of the best vocal talent in the industry. Whether she's played by a veteran like Kelly or a Hollywood star like Taylor-Joy, the character remains the undisputed queen of gaming. Keep an eye on the credits of the next Mario title; Nintendo isn't done surprising us yet.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Check the Credits: Always scroll to the "Voice Cast" section of your favorite games to see who is currently in the booth.
- Compare Performances: Listen to the difference between Peach in Mario Odyssey and Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Note the pitch, the cadence, and the "energy."
- Support Original Talent: Follow voice actors like Samantha Kelly on platforms where they share behind-the-scenes insights into their craft.
- Explore Spin-offs: Play Princess Peach: Showtime! to experience the most diverse vocal performance the character has ever had.