Paige O' Hara shares her thoughts on the new adaptation.
But what does Paige O’Hara, AKA the voice of Belle in the animated version of Beauty and the Beast, think about Watson taking over the role? “If I were producing the film, I would have cast her,” O’Hara told BuzzFeed last night at a 25th anniversary screening of the animated classic. “I think she’s absolutely perfect for the role. She’s got the outward beauty, but she’s also got an inward beauty about her, and an old soul. Through mutual people we’ve sent messages, and I just basically was wishing her all the best and to have a wonderful time.”
And what is O’Hara most excited to see in the live-action adaptation? “In [the original] movie it was in the snow scene of ‘Something There’ that we made a specific choice that it hits Belle: She’s really falling in love with [the Beast],” she said. “I want to see Emma’s moment when she realizes she’s fallen in love. That will be so exciting.”
But O’Hara doesn’t think Belle’s love life is the most interesting thing about her. “She was so strong, so independent, and in this day and age she would be for women’s rights — she wasn’t looking for a prince, she fell in love with a man.”
Source:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/keelyflaherty/ ... is-perfect
For 25 years, actress and singer Paige O'Hara has been the definitive Belle of Beauty and the Beast, but she's more than happy to make room for Emma Watson to take up the role for the upcoming live-action film.
"I thought it was genius casting!" says O'Hara, who's celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original 1991 animated classic, newly released on Blu-Ray Sept. 20. "I don't think you could pick anyone more right for Belle that's out there that's the right age. She's beautiful, she's got the intelligence, she's extremely smart. I think she's going to be wonderful. I really do!"
O'Hara, who performed opposite actor Robby Benson as the Beast in the original, also gives high marks to the casting of Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens as Belle's shaggy soulmate. "I fell in love with him on Downton Abbey," she says.
As for the film itself, O'Hara says, "Oh, I can't wait – I'm really excited about it," noting that producer Don Hahn, a Disney veteran who produced the original animated film, "tells me wonderful things – and I know what a perfectionist Don is, so I'm sure if he likes it, it's gonna be great ... I hope I'm there opening night!"
Source:
http://www.people.com/article/beauty-be ... ing-genius
The Broadway vet stopped by USA TODAY with her original Beauty co-stars Robby Benson ("Beast") and Richard White ("Gaston"), where she gave her stamp of approval to the Harry Potter breakout.
"I think that if I were producing that movie, Emma Watson would've been my first choice for Belle," O'Hara says, adding, "I was just really happy they went with Emma. She's got the intelligence, she's got the humor. I think she's going to be really, really special."
None of the three voice actors have met their live-action counterparts, although White agrees that it's "going to be wonderful. ... The trailers are gorgeous, it's so beautiful."
O'Hara says that in many ways, "it feels like we're passing on the torch. But there's always going to be room in history for both of these versions."
Source:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/ente ... /90712102/
Next year will bring a new live-action chapter of Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter) in the role of Belle. O’Hara couldn’t be a bigger fan: “She is perfect casting, perfect casting,” O’Hara said. “I think she’s going to be absolutely brilliant. And I think the movie’s going to be brilliant.” O’Hara hopes to attend the film’s premiere where she can meet Watson for a little Belle-on-Belle time.
Source:
https://www.yahoo.com/movies/disneys-or ... 31495.html
INSIDER spoke with the original voice actress behind Belle, Paige O'Hara, about the upcoming movie and how it feels to have Emma Watson step into her shoes.
"Perfect casting," O'Hara tells INSIDER. "I've said this a few times now in the last couple days — if I was producing [the movie] I would have cast her as my number one choice, absolutely. I think she’s going to be amazing."
Belle is not your average Disney princess. According to O'Hara, she is one of the only princesses meant to be in her 20s, as opposed to late teens. Plus her brown hair and bookish quality made Belle a departure from her regal blonde predecessors. This ties into Watson's personality well, according to O'Hara.
"[Watson] is very very smart, and she's got a real warmth about her too and a quirky odd sense of humor," O'Hara explains. "I think she's gonna be great."
Source:
http://www.thisisinsider.com/beauty-and ... lle-2016-9
It may be a tale as old as time and a song as old as rhyme, but the stars of the original Disney animated classic “Beauty and the Beast” think that the casting for the live action remake is totally on point.
“I’ve said this when I first heard it, I would cast [Emma Watson] if I were producing it,” the voice of Belle, Paige O’Hara told us in a satellite interview. Adding, “I really would, I think she’s the perfect casting for Belle.”
Continuing on, O’Hara explains why Watson fits the bill perfectly. “She’s got the humour, she’s got the heart, she’s gorgeous,” she says, adding, “I think she’s perfect, I’m really looking forward to it!”
Has O’Hara reached out to Emma to share her enthusiasm for taking on the role? “No, no, no,” O’Hara tells us. “Don Hahn is working on it, and of course Don was our producer on our ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and I’ve sent a few messages through him, you know, just telling her how excited I am for her,” she explains. “She’s going to get some really serious Belle fans out of this.”
Source:
http://etcanada.com/news/168842/paige-o ... s-perfect/
And of course a live action remake means passing on the role of Belle to Emma Watson, who will be portraying the character opposite Dan Stevens' Beast. "We've had 25 years now, and people will continue to watch it because there will be new generations of children, but we are passing the torch now to the live action. [Watson] doesn't need any advice from me. She knows I'm a fan of hers, and I was told she liked my interpretation. I'm just really anxious to see what she does with it."
Luckily, O'Hara has stayed friends with producer Don Hahn, who is also producing 2017's iteration, and has the inside scoop. "From what he's told me it's going to be extraordinary. He's a true perfectionist, so it should be sensational."
Source:
https://www.bustle.com/articles/186410- ... e-big-flaw
Paige O' Hara wrote:It does feel like now we're passing on the torch to the live-action. From what I understand, it's going to be fantastic. I'm hoping that they stick close to they characters, the way that we created them because these characters are so well thought out and the story was so well thought out. But I understand, they are doing that, adding their own great talents to it. I'm sure Emma is going to be an amazing Belle.
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAgMUpvylcY
Can't wait for Moana's this week
