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30+ Actors Who Nailed Their Roles In Disney Live-Action Remakes

Over the last few decades, Disney has increasingly dipped into its own well of nostalgic favorites. Specifically, they have produced blockbuster hits out of their famous animation masterpieces by remaking them into live-action. Although some film adaptations have a vastly different interpretation from their source material greatly, one of the points which the studio can't afford to go wrong is in the casting department.
Lily James proved her perfect fit for Cinderella in live-action of the 1950s animated musical "Cinderella" in 2015. And moviegoers love to see Emma Watson transform from the book-loving Harry Potter friend, Hermione into the beautiful Belle in the hit film adaptation "Beauty and the Beast" (2017). Many other actors have nailed their roles in Disney movies over the years but who is the best?
Take a look at the 31 famous actors who starred in Disney's live remake! Which performances do you like the most? Let us know in the comments below.

#1 Glenn Close As Cruella de Vil

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Buena Vista Picture Distribution

Glenn Close takes on 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.

#2 Angelina Jolie As Maleficent

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Oscar winner Angelina Jolie plays the titular antagonist in 2014's "Maleficent" and its sequel in 2019, which are remakes of the 1959 animated fantasy musical "Sleeping Beauty".

#3 Elle Fanning As Princess Aurora

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Elle Fanning portrays Aurora in "Maleficent" (2014 and 2019), which are based on the 1959 animated musical "Sleeping Beauty."

#4 Mia Wasikowska As Alice

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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 both based on the animated classic "Alice in Wonderland" (1951).

#5 Johnny Depp As Mad Hatter

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Johnny Depp takes on the Mad Hatter 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".

#6 Lily James As Cinderella

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Downton Abbey" actress Lily James plays the titular Cinderella in the 2015 Disney re-imagining, based on the 1950 animated musical "Cinderella".

#7 Cate Blanchett As Lady Tremaine

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett plays the stepmother, Lady Tremaine, in 2015's "Cinderella", which is based on the classic 1950 animated musical.

#8 Emma Watson As Belle

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Harry Potter star Emma Watson plays the titular beauty, Belle, in the 2017 live-action musical "Beauty and the Beast", based on the 1991 animated film.

#9 Dan Stevens As The Beast

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

 Actor 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.

#10 Luke Evans As Gaston

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Welsh actor Luke Evans takes 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.

#11 Josh Gad As LeFou

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Josh Gad portrays Gaston's bumbling sidekick LeFou in 2017's "Beauty and the Beast", which is based on the 1991 animated classic.

#12 Kevin Kline As Maurice

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Kline plays Belle's loving father, Maurice, in 2017's "Beauty and the Beast", which is an adaptation of the 1991 animated musical.

#13 Ian McKellan As Cogsworth

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Stage and screen actor Ian McKellan takes 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.

#14 Ewan McGregor As Lumière

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Scottish actor Ewan McGregor takes 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.

#15 Neel Sethi As Mowgli

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  Buena Vista Distribution Company / Walt Disney Pictures

Young Neel Sethi takes on the role of Mowgli in "The Jungle Book" (2016), which is based on the 1967 animated musical of the same name.

#16 Naomi Scott As Princess Jasmine

Source:  Buena Vista Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Naomi Scott, the British actor who plays the iconic royal Jasmine in the live-action revival of 1992’s Disney cartoon "Aladdin".

#17 Mena Massoud As Aladdin

Source:  Buena Vista Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Mena Massoud plays Aladdin - the main character in the live-action "Aladdin" (2019), which is based on the animation of the same name.

#18 Joely Richardson As Anita Radcliffe

Source:  Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

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.

#19 Audra McDonald As Madame Garderobe

Source:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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.

#20 Richard Madden As Prince Kit

Source:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Game of Thrones" star 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.

#21 Holliday Grainger As Anastasia Tremaine

Source:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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.

#22 Emma Thompson As Mrs. Potts

Source:  Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The British actor plays the human form of teapot Mrs. Potts in 2017's "Beauty and the Beast", based on the animated 1991 musical.

#23 Nathan Mack As Chip

Source: Walt Disney Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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.

#24 Jeff Daniels As Roger Radcliffe

Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

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.

#25 Liu Yifei As Hua Mulan

Source:  Buena Vista Pictures

In "Mulan" (2020), Disney's live-action adaptation of both their animated classic and the 6th-century fable, Chinese-American actress Yifei Liu plays Hua Mulan - the hero who saves the dynasty.

#26 Sophie McShera As Drizella Tremaine

Source:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"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.

#27 Matt Lucas As Tweedledee & Tweedledum

Source:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Pictures

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.

#28 Will Smith As The Genie

Source:  Buena Vista Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

In Disney's live-action musical "Aladdin" (2019), Will Smith takes on The Genie.

#29 Marwan Kenzari As Jafar

Source:  Buena Vista Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Dutch actor Marwan Kenzari nabbed the highest profile role to date, the villain Jafar in Disney's live-action musical "Aladdin" in 2019.

#30 Stellan Skarsgård As The Grand Duke

Source:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård takes on the role of the Grand Duke in 2015's re-imagining Cinderella, which is based on the 1950 animated timeless classic.

#31 Helena Bonham Carter As The Fairy Godmother

Roles In Disney Live-Action RemakesSource:  RKO Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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.
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