Paige O'Hara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paige O'Hara
O'Hara in 2019
Born	Donna Paige Helmintoller (1956-05-10) May 10, 1956 (age 69) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer painter
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Lew Resseguie ​ ​ (m. 1980, divorced)​ Michael Piontek ​ (m. 1990)​
Awards	Disney Legend (2011)

Paige O'Hara (born Donna Paige Helmintoller; May 10, 1956) is an American actress, singer, and painter. She is best known for being the voice of Belle in Disney's animated movie Beauty and the Beast.

Paige started her acting career on Broadway in 1975. After Beauty and the Beast became very popular, she continued to voice Belle in other Disney movies. These included Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997), Belle's Magical World (1998), and Belle's Tales of Friendship (1999). She also made special appearances as Belle in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and Once Upon a Studio (2023).

Early life and interests

Paige O'Hara started acting when she was just four years old. She took acting classes in her home state of Florida.

When she was 12, she became interested in singing. She then went to a high school that focused on performing arts. Paige has said that the famous American actress and singer Judy Garland was one of her biggest inspirations.

Paige O'Hara's career

On Broadway and stage

Paige O'Hara first appeared on a Broadway stage in 1975. She played the character Della in a show called The Gift of the Magi.

Later, in 1983, she played Ellie May Chipley in a new version of the musical Showboat. She even sang this role on a Grammy-nominated recording of the musical in 1989.

Paige also performed in other famous musicals across America. She played the main role in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She was also Ado Annie in a national tour of Oklahoma!. In 1995, she joined the Broadway show Les Misérables and played the role of Fantine.

Outside of the U.S., Paige played Nellie Forbush in South Pacific in Australia. In 2011, she even played Judy Garland in a musical about her life.

Becoming Belle and other film roles

Paige O'Hara was a big fan of Walt Disney Pictures. When she was 35, she read about the movie Beauty and the Beast in a newspaper. She decided to try out for a role.

She got the part of Belle, the main character in the movie. This was her first big movie role.

Paige also had a repeating role as Princess Aleta in the TV show The Legend of Prince Valiant. Her Beauty and the Beast co-star, Robby Benson, was also in this show.

In 2007, Paige appeared in Disney's movie Enchanted. She played a character named Angela in a fictional TV show within the movie. This was a nod to her famous role as Belle.

For her amazing work as Belle, Paige O'Hara received a special honor. She was given a Disney Legend Award on August 19, 2011. This award celebrates people who have made a big impact on Disney.

Even though her voice has changed over time, Paige still loves Belle. She has voiced Belle again in movies like Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and Once Upon a Studio (2023). She also paints pictures of Belle for Disney Fine Art and attends special events for Disney.

Paige O'Hara's personal life

Paige O'Hara married actor Lew Resseguie in May 1980. They met while performing in a show together. They later divorced.

In 1990, Paige married another actor, Michael Piontek. They are still married today. Paige O'Hara is also a Catholic.

Filmography

Film roles

Television roles

Video game roles

Theatre performances

Discography (Music Albums)

• Jerry Herman: Mack and Mabel in Concert (Live at the Theatre Royal), 1988
• Jerome Kern: Show Boat, conducted by John McGlinn, 1988
• Loving You: Paige O'Hara Sings Jerry Herman, 1995
• Rodgers and Hammerstein: South Pacific, conducted by John Owen Edwards, 1996
• Paige O'Hara: Dream With Me, 1998

See also

In Spanish: Paige O'Hara para niños