Kathryn Beaumont helped bring one of the Disney‘s most recognizable heroines, but her contribution to “Alice in Wonderland” extends far beyond the recording booth. As the animated classic celebrates its 75th anniversary, the actress looks back on playing Alice, physically acting out scenes for Disney animators, and forming a surprisingly comfortable relationship with Walt Disney himself. His recollections also offer a rare first-hand account of the studio’s creative process during a defining period in Disney animation history.
Kathryn Beaumont reveals why Walt Disney chose her to voice Alice
Beaumont spoke about his experience in a 2017 conversation with radio host Joe Sibilia. The episode was recently rebroadcast on “Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia” to commemorate the 75th anniversary of “Alice in Wonderland.” The 88-year-old actress said Disney needed someone who could make Alice sound authentically British without alienating American moviegoers.
“He was looking for a voice for Alice that would appeal to both sides…that wasn’t too British for American ears and vice versa,” Beaumont said. “They decided my voice best suited the role and I was thrilled to be able to play for him.”
Born in London, Beaumont was just a child when she was cast as Lewis Carroll’s curious young heroine. Disney’s search required more than finding an actress with the appropriate accent. Alice was to serve as an emotional anchor for the audience while being surrounded by the exaggerated voices and unpredictable personalities of Wonderland.
Although Beaumont was initially intimidated by the legendary filmmaker, she remembers Disney quickly putting her at ease. “He immediately put me at ease. I forgot my fear,” she remembers.
Disney’s behavior within the studio also challenged Beaumont’s expectations. Although he oversees a growing entertainment business, he has remained visible and accessible to the actors and artists working on his productions. “We saw him walking down the hall. He came to the cafeteria at lunchtime,” she explained. “It was just this wonderful, relaxed, friendly relationship.”
Their interactions sometimes extended beyond the studio. Beaumont was invited to Disney, where she experienced one of her most famous personal passions: trains. “I took Walt’s train,” she explained. “There were a few events at his house and we could go around the yard on the little railroad track. It was an exciting experience.”
Disney’s railroad, known as the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, reflected her lifelong fascination with trains and predated the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Beaumont’s ride therefore placed her in a personal part of Disney history years before locomotives became an integral part of its first theme park.
Beaumont did much more than just record Alice’s voice
Beaumont’s influence on the finished character is not limited to Alice’s dialogue. The actress also performed scenes on camera so that the animation team could study her expressions, posture and movements. This live-action reference sequence was never intended to appear in the finished film. Instead, it gave the artists a human base from which to build a believable animated performance.
“They also wanted me to do what they called live-action, it wasn’t for the audience, it was for the animators,” Beaumont explained. “They wanted to make sure they were able to make the human very realistic with all the movements.”
This process makes Beaumont’s contribution particularly significant. Audiences don’t just hear her voice when watching Alice chase the White Rabbit or sail through Wonderland. Elements of his physical performance are also integrated into the character’s reactions and movements.
The technique didn’t mean that the animators simply retook everything the actress did. His performance functioned as a visual guide that artists could study, refine, and exaggerate to fit the animated world.
The young performer also worked alongside several established stars, including Ed Wynn, who played the Mad Hatter, and Jerry Colonna, who played the Marching Hare.
Beaumont admitted that she expected the famous comedians to behave like their eccentric characters, even when the microphones were off. “They were so famous and I was in awe of both of them,” she said. “I expected, because they were comics, that they would be funny all the time.”
Instead, she found that both performers approached their work with considerable attention. “But they were both very serious in between,” Beaumont continued. “Yet they made me feel very comfortable and I felt lucky to be able to work with them.”
“Alice in Wonderland” leads directly to “Peter Pan”
Beaumont barely had time to move away from Alice before Disney placed her at the center of another animated classic. After completing promotional work for “Alice in Wonderland,” she returned to the studio and began recording as Wendy Darling in 1953’s “Peter Pan.”
“As soon as I returned from [promoting ‘Alice in Wonderland’]they started right away on ‘Peter Pan,'” she recalls. “I was recording immediately, almost as soon as I got off the plane after promoting ‘Alice in Wonderland.’
She once again provided the voice and benchmark performance for her character, giving Beaumont a direct creative connection to two of Disney’s most enduring heroines.
The Walt Disney Company officially recognized this contribution in 1998 when Beaumont was named a Disney Legend. According to Disney’s official D23 biography, she continued to voice Alice and Wendy for various Disney projects and theme park attractions before retiring from voice acting in 2005.
