The Magic Behind Beauty and the Beast: Meet the 2017 Cast
Beauty and the Beast is a timeless fairy tale that has captured the hearts of generations. The classic story was given a new life when Disney announced the release of a live-action film in 2017, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. But who were the actors behind the beloved characters and how did they bring the magic of the story to life? Let’s find out.
Belle, Played by Emma Watson
Emma Watson rose to fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise. In Beauty and the Beast, she played the lead role of Belle, a bookish and independent young woman who falls in love with the Beast. Watson brought her own brand of intelligence and charm to the character, making Belle more relatable and empowered than ever before.
Watson made several demands before agreeing to portray Belle. She insisted that Belle’s wardrobe have a sense of practicality and wore a skirt with bloomers underneath to allow the actresses’ easy movement. The costume change helps to depict her transition from a village girl to a castle lady. Furthermore, she was also the driving force behind Belle’s new backstory as an inventor, focusing on celebrating the character’s intelligence.
The Beast, played by Dan Stevens
Dan Stevens is best known for his role as Matthew Crawley in the show Downton Abbey. In Beauty and the Beast, he portrayed the Beast. Stevens used motion capture techniques to bring the Beast to life, wearing a specially designed suit to capture his movements. He also created different voices for the Beast, one to match the animalistic side and the other a softer side to match the prince’s character.
Stevens faced additional challenges while portraying the Beast, making use of stilts for certain scenes to seem taller and larger. Despite that constraint, Stevens managed to convey the character’s underlying humanity and emotions, notably through his eyes, which were captured and animated separately.
Gaston, Played by Luke Evans
Luke Evans played the role of Gaston, the story’s antagonist and Belle’s unwanted suitor. Evans is a seasoned stage performer, and his theatrical experience helped him to bring Gaston to life, capturing the character’s charm, vanity and extreme ego.
Evans’ singing abilities were a fortunate addition to the character as the actor could deliver several highly entertaining musical numbers as Gaston and even recruited Josh Gad, playing LeFou, to join in a song and dance in one of the iconic scenes of the film.
The Enchanted Objects
The castle’s enchanted staff that comes to life in Beauty and the Beast were brought to life through motion capture and voice acting. Among them was Sir Ian McKellen, who lent his booming voice to the character Cogsworth, and Emma Thompson, who brings her sweetness to the teapot Mrs Potts.
The characters were essential in building the magic of the story as their return to human form when the spell is lifted celebrates friendship and demonstrates a sense of inclusion that goes beyond appearances.
Closing Thoughts
Beauty and the Beast is an immersive and magical experience that captivates many generations. Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and Luke Evans did an excellent job in bringing the characters of Belle, Beast, and Gaston to life, while the enchanting staff adds an additional sense of magic.
Each actor used their unique talents to create a nuanced portrayal, from Watson’s intelligence to Evan’s theatrical flair and Steven’s physicality. Together, the cast manages to convey the timeless story with a contemporary spirit, making it all the more charming and lovable.
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