Paige O'Hara
Paige O'Hara (born Donna Paige Helmintoller; May 10, 1956) is an American actress, singer, and painter. O'Hara began her career as a Broadway actress in 1975 when she portrayed Della in The Gift of the Magi. In 1991, she made her motion picture debut in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, in which she voiced the film's heroine, Belle.
Also recorded as Donna Paige Helmintoller
Paige O'Hara

Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Full name
- Donna Paige Helmintoller.
- Born
- 1956. · Fort Lauderdale.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Occupation
- actress, painter and singer.
- Education
- Nova High School.
- Honours
- Disney Legends.
- Languages
- English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Paige O'Hara (born Donna Paige Helmintoller; May 10, 1956) is an American actress, singer, and painter. O'Hara began her career as a Broadway actress in 1975 when she portrayed Della in The Gift of the Magi. In 1991, she made her motion picture debut in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, in which she voiced the film's heroine, Belle.
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Note VALÉORINE
Paige O'Hara (born 1956) is an American actress, musical theatre actor and painter, among other activities. The actress was born Donna Paige Helmintoller in Fort Lauderdale. Paige O'Hara studied at Nova High School.
Languages used include English. The actress received Disney Legends.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q269677 · wikipedia · Paige O'Hara
In this article
Early life
Early life
Following the critical and commercial success of Beauty and the Beast, O'Hara reprised her role as Belle in the film's three direct-to-video follow-ups, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997), Belle's Magical World (1998), Belle's Tales of Friendship (1999), and for cameo appearances in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and Once Upon a Studio (2023).
O'Hara began acting at the age of four, attending acting classes in her home state of Florida. It was not until she was 12 years old that she developed an interest in singing and enrolled in a performing arts high school. O'Hara cites American actress and singer Judy Garland as one of her idols.
Broadway and stage
Broadway and stage
O'Hara made her first appearance on the Broadway stage as Della in The Gift of the Magi in 1975. She would later play Ellie May Chipley in the revival of Showboat in 1983 starring Donald O'Connor. She repeated the role for the Houston Grand Opera's 1989 production and continued with them when the show was moved to the Cairo Opera House in Egypt. Continuing her legacy as Ellie, she also sang the part on the 1989 Grammy-nominated recording of the musical with Jerry Hadley, Frederica von Stade, and Teresa Stratas, conducted by John McGlinn on the Angel EMI label. Her other American stage credits include the title role in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Broadway and national tour) and Ado Annie in a national tour of Oklahoma! directed by William Hammerstein. In 1995, she joined the Broadway production of Les Misérables, where she played the role of Fantine. Internationally, O'Hara has played the role of Nellie Forbush in South Pacific (Australia). In April 2011, O'Hara played the role of Judy Garland in From Gumm to Garland: JUDY, The Musical at the Tempe Center for the Arts in Tempe, Arizona.
Personal life
Personal life
In May 1980, in Manhattan, O'Hara married actor Lewis Denton "Lew" Resseguie (May 3, 1932 - June 30, 2019). They met in 1979 while performing in Fiorello! at Paper Mill Playhouse. They later divorced. O'Hara married actor, Michael Piontek on 25 August 1990. She is Catholic. She is of mixed Irish, British, Dutch, and German descent.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1956
Paige O'Hara born at Fort Lauderdale.
Transition to film and Beauty and the Beast
A longtime fan of Walt Disney Pictures, O'Hara auditioned for Beauty and the Beast at the age of 35 after reading about the film in The New York Times. In Season 2 of The Legend of Prince Valiant (which starred her Beauty and the Beast co-star Robby Benson), O'Hara had a recurring role as Princess Aleta (who was later promoted to queen). Benson's character Prince Valiant fell in love with Aleta at first sight. O'Hara also starred as Venus in the BBC's recorded broadcast of the live presentation of Kurt Weill's "One Touch of Venus" and in tribute to her Belle character from Beauty and the Beast, she portrayed Angela, a character in a fictional soap opera, for Disney's 2007 live-action/traditional 2-D animated film Enchanted. For her work as Belle, O'Hara was honored with a Disney Legend Award on August 19, 2011. O'Hara was replaced by Julie Nathanson as the official voice of Belle in 2011, since her voice has aged over time. Regardless, she has reprised the character on two subsequent occasions: the 2018 film Ralph Breaks the Internet and the 2023 short Once Upon a Studio. She continues to paint Belle for Disney Fine Art and also does promotional appearances for Disney. In 2016, O'Hara appeared at numerous special screenings of Beauty and the Beast in honor of the film's 25th anniversary. She also appeared as a librarian in the TV special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration.
Discography
Jerry Herman: Mack and Mabel in Concert (Live at the Theatre Royal), conducted by David Firman, First Night Records, 1988 Jerome Kern: Show Boat, conducted by John McGlinn, EMI, 1988 Loving You: Paige O'Hara Sings Jerry Herman, conducted by Dennis Buck, Varèse Sarabande, 1995 Rodgers and Hammerstein: South Pacific, conducted by John Owen Edwards, Jay Records, 1996 Paige O'Hara: Dream With Me, Intersound, 1998

Raleigh Supercon 2018 Paige O'Hara Q A
Super Festivals

Raleigh Supercon 2018 Paige O'Hara Q A
Super Festivals
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Paige O'Hara”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q269677: Paige O'Hara
Unverified · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Hischak, Thomas S. Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. 158. 2011. 978-0-7864-8694-6.
- 2.Keck, William. How Classic Disney Characters Led Paige O'Hara to Discover Her Own Disney Destiny. D23. September 12, 2016.
- 3.Hiles, Catherine. 5 Facts About Disney Legend Paige O'Hara. WDW Magazine. May 10, 2022.
- 4.May celebrity birthdays: Adele, Cher, Billy Joel, Lenny Kravitz and more stars celebrating. The Arizona Republic. March 13, 2014.
- 5.Interview With Paige O'Hara, The Voice Of Belle In "Beauty and the Beast". Disney Dreaming. October 5, 2010.
- 6.Benedictus, Leo. How we made: Don Hahn and Paige O'Hara on Beauty and the Beast. The Guardian. April 30, 2012.
- 7.Huver, Scott. "Beauty and the Beast 3D" Gives Original Star Paige O'Hara a Whole New Perspective. WNBC News. May 30, 2012.
- 8.Photo Flash: Lea Salonga, Anika Noni Rose, Paige O'Hara et al. Honored at D23 Expo. BroadwayWorld.
- 9.Holmes, Adam. Wreck-It Ralph 2 Is Bringing The Original Disney Princesses Back. CinemaBlend. July 14, 2017.
- 10.Weatherford, Mike. Belle still tolls for actress O'Hara. Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 15, 2012.
- 11.Brigante, Ricky. Full 2013 D23 Expo schedule revealed with Walt Disney Studios celebs, Imagineering & Parks panels, Marvel meet-and-greets. Inside the Magic. July 30, 2013.
- 12.New Fantasyland Grand Opening Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort. Disney Parks Blog. July 30, 2013.
- 13.Mallenbaum, Carly. 8 things you never knew about 'Beauty and the Beast'. USA Today. May 10, 2016.
- 14.McGovern, Joe. Beauty and the Beast getting special 25th anniversary screening ahead of New York Film Festival. Entertainment Weekly. August 16, 2016.
- 15.Johnson, Zach. First Look: See Paige O'Hara, Richard White, and Alan Menken's Cameos in 'Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration'. D23. December 12, 2022.
- 16.Apone, Carl. Paige O'Hara By Any Other Name. The Pittsburgh Press. D7. August 7, 1980.
- 17.Lew Resseguie – Broadway Cast & Staff. Internet Broadway Database.
- 18.Fiorello! (Paper Mill Playhouse Production, 1979). Ovrtur.
- 19.Cling, Carol. More than 20 years after 'Beauty and the Beast,' Paige O'Hara still remembered as voice of Disney princess. Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 21, 2013.
- 20.Cling, Carol. Voice of Disney's Belle didn't expect to fall in love with Las Vegas. Las Vegas Review-Journal. March 19, 2016.
- 21.Paige O'Hara – Broadway Cast & Staff. Internet Broadway Database.
- 22.Paige O'Hara, voice of 'Belle,' recalls magic of 'Beauty and the Beast'. Catholic Philly. September 20, 2016.
- 23.[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1285042291506917&id=267329699944853 Paige O'Hara is feeling blessed. September 4, 2016 · Public My true heroine, Mother Teresa is now in sainthood. St Teresa who was an angel on earth, is now a saint in heaven. What a glorious celebration"]. Facebook.
- 24.We just saw a new animated short at #DestinationD23 called Once Upon a Studio featuring tons of characters from past Disney Animated films. It was so good, the creators got a one minute standing ovation when it ended. 1700870477604868594. September 10, 2023.
- 25.Barnes, Clive. Stage: 'Gift of the Magi' Is in Season. The New York Times. December 2, 1975.
- 26.Catinella, Joseph. 'Fiorello!' Shines at Paper Mill. The New York Times. November 19, 1979.
- 27.Klein, Alvin. THEATER IN REVIEW; FINE LEADING MAN IN 'MOLLY BROWN'. The New York Times. May 20, 1984.
- 28.Rockwell, John. STAGE: KERN'S 'OH, BOY!' CELEBRATES A CENTENNIAL. The New York Times. January 26, 1985.
- 29.Ruhlmann, William. Mack & Mabel: in Concert (1988 London Cast Recording). First Night Records. 1988.
- 30.Holden, Stephen. Reviews/Music; A Jerome Kern Musical, With Bons Mots Included. The New York Times. April 17, 1989.
- 31.Klein, Alvin. THEATER; 'Anything Goes,' in Elmsford. The New York Times. April 8, 1990.
- 32.Holland, Bernard. Reviews/Music; The Glory of Wit and a Tune: A Reminder. The New York Times. April 20, 1990.
- 33.Artist Database: Paige O'Hara. Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.
- 34.Everett, Todd. Tiger Lady. Variety. July 6, 1992.
- 35."Paige O'Hara Answers Members Questions". Playbill. January 22, 1996.
- 36.Musarra, Russ. Goulet still working Magic. Akron Beacon Journal. August 3, 1995.
- 37.Hefley, Lynne. 'Music Tells a Tale' a Genial Family Treat. Los Angeles Times. July 1, 1996.
- 38.Reif, Alex. 10 Things We Learned from Paige O'Hara During WDFM's Happily Ever After Hours. Laughing Place. May 16, 2020.
- 39.Past Seasons. Cherry County Playhouse.
- 40.Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat / lyrics by Tim Rice; music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; [presented by] the American Musical Theatre of San Jose; director, Marc Jacobs. ArchiveGrid.
- 41.Burke, Anne. Menopause the Musical. Los Angeles Times. March 23, 2014.
- 42.Jerry Herman – Mack & Mabel In Concert (1988, Gatefold, Vinyl). Discogs. 1988.
- 43.Paige O'Hara - Loving You - Paige O'Hara Sings Jerry Herman. Discogs. 1995.
- 44.South Pacific. Jay Records.
- 45.Paige O'Hara – Dream With Me (1998, CD). Discogs. 1998.
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