Actresses Who Voiced Disney Princesses Reveal Their Unexpected Choice For Best Disney Villain

Disney princesses get all the spotlight, but the real plot twist comes from the women behind the voices. When Jodi Benson, Paige O’Hara, Linda Larkin, and Anika Noni Rose get asked to pick a best Disney villain, their answers are weirdly personal, like they’re confessing their childhood selves.

It turns into a mini time capsule in the middle of a princess conversation. Jodi Benson goes straight for Cinderella, because she grew up scrubbing toilets and related to that basement life; Paige O’Hara remembers being obsessed with Julie Andrews and Mary Poppins, and even gets a dream weekend at Disney World; Linda Larkin goes nostalgic with Winnie-the-Pooh, because some favorites never leave your brain.

And once the princess talk starts, the villain pick becomes the most revealing part of the story.

Choosing a favorite among the other princesses and main characters proved to be a bit tricky.

“I'm going to say Cinderella because that is Disney to me. I grew up with Cinderella. I was her. I was going to do what she did and just get out of the basement in Illinois cleaning because I was a janitor. That was my first job. So I really related to Cinderella scrubbing toilets,” said Jodi Benson.“For me, I went into the business because of Julie Andrews and Mary Poppins, the first movie I ever saw. I said, 'I am in love with that woman and I want to be her.'And then I got to spend a whole weekend hanging out with her at Disney World one weekend when she was on her own. That was a dream come true,” said Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle from "Beauty and the Beast."And Linda Larkin, known for her role as Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin," chose a nostalgic option: “I might answer you differently on a different day, but Winnie-the-Pooh. That was my childhood favorite Disney character.”

That Cinderella confession from Jodi Benson sets the tone, because she is basically saying her “favorite” villain energy started as survival mode.

The Allure of Villains

Disney villains often represent our shadow selves—the parts we suppress. Understanding and embracing these darker traits can foster personal growth. This is echoed in studies, which highlight how characters like Maleficent or Scar evoke fascination due to their complexity and depth.

These characters challenge the status quo, pushing protagonists to evolve. Audiences can reflect on their own lives by examining what traits resonate with them in these villains, leading to deeper self-understanding.

Paige O'Hara, Linda Larkin, Jodi Benson, and Anika Noni Rose in 2024.

Courtesy of Disney

Then Paige O’Hara drops the Julie Andrews and Mary Poppins connection, and you can feel how her love for stories turns into a love for the drama villains bring.

Disney's "Create Your World" campaign encourages creativity and imagination in children. Through this campaign, Disney offers fun activities where children can draw, create characters, and even invent stories. The idea is to let kids use their imagination to build their worlds.

One cool part of this campaign is how it mixes Disney's classic storytelling with new technology. For example, kids can use unique apps to make their drawings come to life with augmented reality or join online challenges to share their creations with others.

The campaign also focuses on celebrating diversity, encouraging kids from all backgrounds to see themselves in the stories they create. This helps every child feel included and important, showing that their ideas and creativity matter.

That same chaotic boundary-pushing energy shows up in a Disneyland line that went from “Guardians” to “Guard Your Space”.

Paige O'Hara, Linda Larkin, Jodi Benson, and Anika Noni Rose in 2024 with Moana, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel.

Courtesy of Disney

Linda Larkin’s Winnie-the-Pooh answer throws everyone off, but it also makes the whole “childhood favorite” angle hit harder than any classic villain speech.

The Disney Create Your World campaign showcases Disney's creative products and celebrates the lasting impact of its characters and stories. As World Princess Week nears, it encourages fans to explore their imaginations and experience Disney’s magic in new, exciting ways. This campaign is all about connecting with the enchanting world of Disney in fresh ways.

And once you see the 2024 photo with Paige O’Hara, Linda Larkin, Jodi Benson, and Anika Noni Rose together, it’s clear the villain question is really about who they were before the roles.</p>

Actresses like Anika Noni Rose and Jodi Benson reveal that even Disney princesses are captivated by the charisma of villains. This intersection of light and dark in storytelling can teach valuable life lessons about resilience and transformation.

By embracing both hero and villain traits in ourselves, we can cultivate authenticity and empathy.

The relationship between heroes and villains in Disney stories unveils significant themes of human psychology and personal growth. The choice of favorite villain by actresses who have voiced Disney Princesses highlights this dynamic, suggesting that the allure of antagonists often lies in their complexity. These characters invite audiences to confront their own vulnerabilities and shadows, creating a deeper connection with the narratives they inhabit.

By engaging with both the enchanting qualities of the princesses and the darker traits of their foes, viewers can embark on a journey of self-discovery. This duality fosters emotional resilience and enhances our understanding of the multifaceted nature of identity, making the Disney experience not just entertaining but also transformative.

Their “best villain” picks tell on them, fast, and honestly, that’s the fun part.

For another head-scratching mystery, read about celebrity disappearances that left fans searching for answers.