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Key Points

Paige O'Hara recently shared the invaluable advice she received from legendary lyricist Howard Ashman while recording Beauty and the Beast. During a difficult recording session for "Something There," Ashman told her to "put a little Streisand in it," which instantly solved her performance struggle. O'Hara now reflects on how her appreciation for Belle's character has deepened over time, particularly admiring her self-sacrifice for her father. She considers the film a timeless legacy that will continue inspiring audiences long after she's gone.

Key Points: Paige O'Hara Reveals Howard Ashman's Belle Singing Advice

  • Howard Ashman gave crucial singing advice during recording sessions
  • Paige O'Hara struggled with specific "Something There" phrasing
  • She now appreciates Belle's character depth as an older woman
  • O'Hara considers Beauty and the Beast her lasting legacy
3 min read

Paige O'Hara recalls key advice she recieved to voice Belle in 'Beauty and the Beast'

Beauty and the Beast voice actress Paige O'Hara shares Howard Ashman's "Put a little Streisand in it" advice that transformed her iconic Belle performance.

"Put a little Streisand in it. - Howard Ashman"

Washington DC, September 1

Paige O'Hara, the actress who voiced Belle in 1991's 'Beauty and the Beast', revealed the game-changing advice she received from legendary lyricist Howard Ashman while recording the movie, according to People.

She recalled a moment when she was struggling to sing a specific portion of the song "Something There" during a recording session.

"We were patching [Howard through to] the studio where I had a full symphony orchestra going on, and I couldn't get this one phrase right," said O'Hara, adding, "I said, 'Howard, what do you want? I've tried everything.' He said, 'Put a little Streisand in it.' "

"So I was like, 'Oh! Got it.' That was it. It's just like it was yesterday," she added.

Ashman was the lyricist behind a number of Disney's biggest successes, including Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, in addition to Beauty and the Beast.

O'Hara shared that her appreciation for the character of Belle and what the character stands for has grown over time.

"It's interesting," she said. "There are things that she (Belle) did that I appreciate more now that I'm an older woman. Like, sacrificing her life for her father without hesitation. Things like that. She was ahead of her time, she was an old soul, and I guess there's part of me that's that way, too," according to People.

O'Hara also said that she considers Beauty and the Beast to be one of her most significant legacies in life.

"It's a great film. It's not a good film. It's a timeless film," O'Hara shared. "It's going to live on and give that message to people long after I'm gone. Beauty and the Beast will definitely live on."

O'Hara shared what she prefers to do now, saying, "I love painting for Disney. I love semi-retirement. My husband and I have a great life together, Great family and friends, and I have more time to enjoy these family and friends," she said, according to People.

"But I do love getting to do these occasional projects with Disney and meeting with fans and hearing people's stories and how the characters influenced their lives in so many different ways. I'll never get tired of hearing the stories," she added, according to People.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
"Put a little Streisand in it" - what brilliant direction! Shows how small adjustments from experienced mentors can make all the difference. Howard Ashman was truly a genius behind so many Disney classics.
A
Ananya R
Belle's sacrifice for her father resonates so deeply with Indian family values. We grow up watching these stories without realizing how much they align with our own cultural principles of putting family first. Beautiful to hear Paige's reflections now.
M
Michael C
Interesting how she mentions appreciating Belle's qualities more as an older woman. Sometimes we don't fully understand the depth of characters until we've lived more life ourselves. The movie truly is timeless.
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Siddharth J
While I love the animation and music, I do wish Disney would create more original stories from Indian mythology instead of just adapting Western tales. We have such rich stories that could be amazing animated features!
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Kavya N
The Hindi dubbed version of Beauty and the Beast is actually fantastic! The songs are beautifully translated and the voice acting captures Belle's spirit perfectly. Still enjoy watching it during family movie nights 🎬

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