[Amanda_belle]

Out of all the Broadway actress's who portrayed Belle, who was your favorite?


My Personal favorite was the original Belle, Susan Egan, I thought she was just amazing as Belle and really brought Belle to life on the stage.

[The Very Angry Woman]

Nikki Renee Daniels.

She's also the only Belle I've ever seen, but she's lovely.

[Luc]

EDIT: double-post

[Luc]

I've only seen 4 of them... out of them I really adored Ashley Brown and Annelise van der Pol. Absolutely lovely voices.

Not gonna lie- I didn't particularly like Susan Egan. Never saw her live, but she sounded too much like Paige O'Hara for me.

[mastachen]

I didn't like Anneliese. When I watched her, I got the feeling that she got complacent and just phoned in the performance. The king of complacency in BATB was Steve Blanchard though. I first saw him back in like 01 and then I already thought he didn't care about the role. If possible, he seemed to care even less in 07.

With that being said, my favorite Belle would have to be Sarah Uriarte-Berry.

[Amanda_belle]

I didnt care for Anneliese much either.

[Alabesque]

My favorite, I suppose, is Anneliese van der Pol. I thought she was amazing. Granted, I've never seen another production of Beauty and the Beast (not even off-Broadway, unless you count the movie) so I don't really have anyone to compare her performance to.

[star2ballie]

BATB was my first broadway show, original broadway cast...Terrence Mann and Susan Egan. Brill!

Anyway, I also saw Anneleise, whom I actually really liked. She was "on" when I saw her, not phoned in at all. But it was close to the end of the show so maybe she was more emotional?

I also saw some other chick. She was the narrator in the movie of Joseph with Donny Osmond. Don't remember her name. She had a very shrilly voice.

So, my vote is Susan Egan.

[LadyOfTheLake]

[dmbroadwaybound]

I would have to say Susan Egan or Ashley Brown I never got to see Susan Egan as Belle but I just love her voice, But I got to see ashley brown and wow was she amazing! what I really liked about her was she didnt try to be Paige O'hara, she borught alot of herself into it while keeping it the same belle we all love and adore!

[highkick49]

Ashley Brown - hands down

such a brilliant voice - so talented.

[Vanessa20]

I'll say Susan Egan because she's the only professional Belle I ever saw.

I didn't know that Maria Friedman ever played Belle. It's hard to imagine her in the role. Did she do it in London or the US?

[Luc]

[Jman383]

Having never seen any of these amazing ladies live, I have to say just from watching Youtube videos and hearing the voices, it's without a doubt between Ashley Brown and Annalise. I love Susan, but on the OBC she actually doesn't bring the music to life for me. I dunno. Just my thoughts.

[BlackSwan108]

Ummm...this is hard because I like a lot of different things that alot of the Belle's did...

Susan was the first broadway Belle...so she owns that...

Anneliese is a fabulous determined Belle...her rendition of "A Change in Me" is quite believable that there's actually "A Change"...very strong and power housish

Ashley Brown is insane with anything Disney...so she wins Most likely to be a cliche Disney Belle...

Toni Braxton...now I know a lot of people would hate on this but...I really enjoy Toni Braxton as Belle... because...I think Belle is a strong character...she's very smart and totally a dreamer...but lacks something in her life...and for that she is seen as DIFFERENT...she's very much so the outcast up until she arrives at the castle. Soooooooo... that being said... what could be more different and outcast esque then to cast an african american pop star in the role of Belle! I FREAKIN LOVE IT...not to mention she was gorgeous and her renditions of the songs were incredibly unique... and I like an african Belle I think it's a change...and I would totally love to see an asian play belle like Lea Salonga... I think change is good...and after all thats what this show is all about... looking beyond the exterior!

All of that being said...I think it's a Tie betwee Toni Braxton and Anneliese...their both great and totally my faves!

[LumBabsFan]

Sarah Litzsinger. She was the longest running for a reason.

Brooke Tansley, I love that woman.

Susan Egan comes second ONLY because I didn't see her and never got the full experience.

[what_the_heck013]

[Ffinnegan223]

My faves have to be Annaleesa(sp) sooo amazing!!! and Debora Lew she was just outstanding! i was completely blown away!!! for such a small person she packs such a big punch! and Christina DeCicco(of wicked fame) i saw her in a professional production in Philadelphia and she was just stunning for real she needs to be on broadway like NOW!!!!!!!! i would love them to revive BATB w/ her as Belle, AMAZING!!!!!!!!

the only one i really didn't like was Brooke Tansley i felt, watching her, that she was trying way too hard to be a "disney princess" when i saw her she looked way too old and she spoke w/ a vibrato it was really annoying but she was the only one that i really had a problem w/