Actors Who Played Animated Disney Characters
Disney has been extremely successful in taking its most beloved animated heroes and villains and turning them into live-action characters.
The live-action remakes of classic cartoons breathe new life into favorite childhood stories. Lily James proved the perfect fit for Cinderella in 2015’s re-imagining of the 1950 animated musical. And movie audiences loved seeing Emma Watson transition from book-loving Harry Potter pal Hermione to book-loving Beast-tamer Belle in the 2017 box office smash Beauty and the Beast.
For a look at how live-action Disney characters compare to their cartoon counterparts, check out how some of the biggest names in Hollywood – like Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp – have morphed into your favorite Disney icons.
Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Kline plays Belle’s loving father, Maurice, in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, which is based on the 1991 animated musical.
Stage and screen actor Ian McKellan took on the human form of grandfather clock Cogsworth in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, based on the 1991 animated film of the same name.
Glenn Close plays the villainous Cruella de Vil in 1996’s 101 Dalmatians and the 2000 sequel, 102 Dalmatians, which are based on the 1961 version of the animated classic.
Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie plays the titular antagonist in Maleficent, the 2014 remake of the 1959 animated fantasy musical Sleeping Beauty.
Downton Abbey‘s Dan Stevens plays the titular Beast in Bill Condon’s 2017 remake Beauty and the Beast, which is based on the 1991 animated musical of the same name.
English actor Holliday Grainger plays wicked stepsister Anastasia Tremaine in 2015’s Cinderella, which is a remake of the 1950 animated film of the same name.
Josh Gad portrays Gaston’s bumbling sidekick LeFou in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, which is based on the 1991 animated classic.
Harry Potter actor Emma Watson plays the titular beauty, Belle, in the 2017 live-action musical Beauty and the Beast, based on the 1991 animated film.
Welsh actor Luke Evans took on the role of the narcissistic antagonist Gaston in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast. The remake is based on the 1991 Disney animated musical of the same name.
Neel Sethi As Mowgli
Young Neel Sethi took on the role of Mowgli in The Jungle Book in 2016, which is based on the 1967 animated musical of the same name.
English actor Joely Richardson plays Anita Campbell-Green Dearly (Anita Radcliffe in the animated movie) in the 1996 remake of 101 Dalmatians. The movie is based on the 1961 Disney animated classic.
Downton Abbey actor Lily James plays the titular Cinderella in the 2015 Disney re-imagining, based on the 1950 animated musical Cinderella.
Johnny Depp took on the Mad Hatter in the live-action films Alice in Wonderland in 2010 and Alice Through the Looking Glass in 2016, which are both based on the animated classic Alice in Wonderland(1951).
Tony Award winner Audra McDonald plays Italian opera singer/wardrobe Madame Garderobe in the 2017 version of Beauty and the Beast, based on the 1991 musical of the same name.
Veteran actor Jeff Daniels plays songwriter Roger Dearly (Roger Radcliffe in the animated movie) in the 1996 remake of 101 Dalmatians, which is based on the 1961 animated adventure film of the same name.
Scottish actor Ewan McGregor took on the human form of singing candelabra Lumière in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast. The live-action adaptation is based on the 1991 musical of the same name.
Elle Fanning plays Aurora in 2014’s Maleficent, which is based on the 1959 animated musical Sleeping Beauty.
British actor Matt Lucas plays both Tweedledee and Tweedledum in Tim Burton’s 2010 adaptation Alice in Wonderland, which is based on the 1951 animated classic.
Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett plays the stepmother, Lady Tremaine, in 2015’s Cinderella, which is based on the classic 1950 animated musical.
The British actor plays the human form of teapot Mrs. Potts in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, based on the animated 1991 musical.
Game of Thrones actor Richard Madden plays Prince Kit in the 2015 live-action film Cinderella. The character is based on Prince Charming from the 1950 animated classic of the same name.
Nathan Mack As Chip
Young British actor Nathan Mack plays the human form of teacup Chip Potts in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, based on the child/chipped teacup from the 1991 animated film of the same name.
Downton Abbey actor Sophie McShera plays antagonistic stepsister Drizella Tremaine in 2015’s live-action re-imagining of Cinderella, which is based on the 1950 animated classic.
English actor Helena Bonham Carter plays the Fairy Godmother in 2015’s Cinderella, which is based on the 1950 animated movie of the same name.
Australian actor Mia Wasikowska plays the titular Alice in the live-action films Alice in Wonderland in 2010 and Alice Through the Looking Glass in 2016, which are based on the 1951 animated musical fantasy Alice in Wonderland.
Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård took on the role of the Grand Duke in 2015’s re-imagining Cinderella, which is based on the 1950 animated timeless classic.
