Had Zelda Voice Acting...

Who would you choose to play some of your favorite characters?

Please note that this thread is NOT a place of discussion for whether or not Zelda should have voice acting. I'd appreciate it if we keep the conversation away from that topic, as I don't want to see this thread descend into that. This thread is simply about if Zelda used voice actors, who would you like to see voicing the characters?

You can choose characters from any game. If the character is someone such as Link, Zelda, etc. who has the same name from game to game, but is not the same character, please specify from which game the character you're choosing an actor for. For example, say Link from OoT, if that's the Link you're talking about. Also, if you like, you can provide us with a brief description of why you chose the character.

So, I'll start it out by posting who I'd like to see do voice acting for some of my favorite characters. I decided to go through the whole game of OoT and choose actors for the characters, so keep in mind that all characters mentioned are the OoT versions of the character. Now, let's begin:


Young Link/Adult Link: Haley Joel Osment - For those of you who don't know, this is the kid from The Sixth Sense. He's grown up a bit since then, though. His voice acting includes some work for Disney and as Sora in the Kingdom Hearts series. I think this guy is talented enough to pull of Young and Adult Link.

Young Zelda: Ellen Page - I think this girl would be just perfect for Young Zelda. She can sound noble and somewhat snobbish like a princess, but also comes off as cute and sincere enough to be believable as a young princess who just wants to save her land. Most people will probably recognize her as the eponymous character of the film Juno.

Adult Zelda/Sheik: Jennifer Carpenter - Most well known for her role on the hit show Dexter, Jennifer Carpenter comes off as innocent and sweet, but as someone who is hiding darker thoughts and feelings under this. Her voice is definitely feminine, but it's low enough that it's not much of a stretch to imagine her modulating her voice to sound like a man as Sheik.

Ganondorf: Lawrence Fishburne - Perhaps best known as Morpheus of The Matrix fame, Mr. Fishburne has a rich history in stage acting and drama films, having won a Tony and nominated for an Oscar. He has more than enough presence to fill the large boots of Ganondorf, and his amazing acting ability could easily turn him from the mentor figure of Morhpeus we all know and love to the Demon King of Evil. His voice is just perfect for it too. Just the right pitch: low, but not too low. Smooth and not gravelly. I think he'd do the job perfectly.

Navi: Evanna Lynch - Far as I know, the only thing she's been is the Harry Potter films as Luna Lovegood. Her voice is high pitched enough that she could easily pull off Navi. She also can manage to sound sweet and sincere, but annoying at the same time, which I think would be perfect for Navi.

Rauru: Sean Connery - I don't expect I'll have too many people questioning me on this one. Sean Connery would be just perfect as Rauru. I tried to stay away from really well known actors for this list, but he was just so perfect I had to include him.

Saria: AnnaSophia Robb - Most recently appearing in Race to Witch Mountain as Sara, she's got quite a few movies under her belt for only being fifteen. She comes off as kind and caring, which is pretty much the embodiment of Saria.

Darunia: John Rhys-Davies - Unless you're one to watch those really bad Sci-Fi Channel Original Movies, you probably know John-Rhys Davies as Gimli in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This guy has a really low, gravelly voice that I think would compliment the Gorons, especially the ruler of the Gorons, quite well.

Young Ruto: Erin Sanders - Watchers of Nickelodeon will know her as Quinn from Zoey 101. Daytime soap fans will know her as Eden Baldwin on The Young and the Restless. Not exactly the greatest resume, but she'd still do a Young Ruto well. It's not hard to imagine her as a snobby, spoiled, self-centered princess just listening to her.

Adult Ruto: Leighton Meester - And now we come to an actor of a nighttime soap. First gaining some popular attention in the show Surface, Leighton now stars on the CW's Gossip Girls. She would be just perfect for a snobbish princess, but a little more mature one. She's also sexy and sultry enough to pull off Ruto's adult self.

Impa: Tilda Swinton - Known best as the witch in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Tilda Swinton has shown her acting in chops in everything ranging from the bizarre drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to the darkly comedic Burn After Reading. She has a very stern, commanding, and somewhat masculine voice, which would suit Impa just perfectly.

Nabooru: Maggie Q - While not the greatest of actresses, Miss Q has the right combination of sexy, arrogant, and playful in her voice that would make her a great Nabooru. She probably wouldn't even have to act that much to pull it off.

Talon: Joe Don Baker - Best known for his parts in Bond films (Jack Wade in Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies and Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights), Joe Don Baker is about as American as they come. Which is just perfect for the fat, lazy farm worker that is Talon.

Malon: Jayma Mays - Though most well known for the recent Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Jayma has also proven herself as an able bodied sidekick in Red Eye, and proved that she can do drama in a three episode arc on the first season of Heroes. Her voice can lend itself to play both the young and adult versions of this farmhand. She sounds cute and kind, which is pretty much what Malon is.

Ingo: Adam Baldwin - Not to be confused as a brother of Alec, Adam Baldwin has had small roles in a number of high-profile films such as Independence Day and Full Metal Jacket. However, he is known to Joss Whedon cultists as Jayne of Firefly and Serenity fame. It is this role by which I chose him for Ingo, as he plays a cowboy-esque mercenary who, despite his actions and words, knows right from wrong. A good choice for Ingo I think. Someone who is ultimately good, but can't resist a temptation or two. His voice sounds very rough and tough cowboy, another reason he'd make a great Ingo.

Anju: Summer Glau - Another regular of Firefly Summer's most recent work has been on Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles. She is extraordinarily beautiful, but keeps a very down-to-earth persona about her. Almost a girl-next-door kind of pretty, which is pretty much what Anju is. She's also a very talented actress who has sold every role I've ever seen her in. I'm sure she could do the same with voice work.

Mutoh: Tom Wilkinson - Most will probably recognize him as Carmine Falcone from Batman Begins, but he's played a number of other roles of note including Arthur Edens in Michael Clayton and General Friedrich Fromm in Valkyrie. A fantastic character actor, Mr. Wilkinson could pull off an angry carpenter boss who's alienated his son quite well, I think. His voice often sounds angry even when he's talking normally.

Grog: Vincent D'Onofrio - Good old Goren from Law and Order: Criminal Intent, he has a knack for playing strange roles. The one just mentioned, of course, and also playing the cockroach alien (or at least the body he inhabited) in Men in Black. Part of what makes these characters so great is the way he uses his voice to act. With a bit of self-modulation to his voice, I'm absolutely positive he could pull off Grog.

Mido: Steve Buscemi - I've never heard Steve Buscemi do voice acting, so I'm not certain he could pull off a child, but if he could, he would be just perfect for Mido. Known for playing Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs, Carl Showalter in Fargo, and Donny in The Big Lebowski, his voice is very snide and cocky, which is perfect for Mido. Like I said, my only concern is that I don't know if he could make his voice sound more childish. If he could though, I can't think of anyone better.

Fado: Holliston Coleman - I've only ever seen this girl as a guest star on an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (and the role wasn't even that big), but I have not forgotten her since I first saw it. What she did with the few minutes of screen time in that episode was amazing. She sold her character more than some of the show's regular actors did. A truly impressive display. I wish I could have given her a bigger part in this list, but her voice just seems to fit Fado so well, that I had to give it to her.

Great Deku Tree: Ron Glass - Wow, I didn't realize how many Firefly actors I'd selected. For viewers of that show, he played Shephard Book. Most others will recognize him as the black father in Lakeview Terrace. He also lent his voice to Fable 2 as Garth. Actually, that's probably where most people on this site will know him from. Anyways, he has a fantastic voice. Low and deep in pitch, and very "old man wise" sounding, he'd make a perfect Great Deku Tree. Perhaps a bit of digital modulation would be needed to make it sound booming, but beyond that, he'd be perfect for it.

King Zora: Paul Sorvino - Most will recognize Mr. Sorvino as Paul Cicero from Goodfellas. For those of you out there with more obscure tastes though, he played Rotti Largo in Repo! The Genetic Opera. His voice is low, and he can talk very slow and kind of stupid when he wants to. He's also a fantastic character actor. His voice would lend itself very well to the slow moving and thinking King Zora.

Twinrova: Judi Dench - Ah yes, good old M. I am, of course, referring to her role as M on the James Bond films from Goldeneye all the way up to the most recent Quantum of Solace. Now, she may be a bit old, but I think she can still pull it off. Her voice is still soft and, as odd as it may sound, a bit sultry. Then she can also pull off the old woman voice if she wants to. Since Twinrova is both the full creature, which would utilize the former voice, and the two witches, having both of these qualities would be essential.

Skull Kid: Mark Hamill - Yep, that's right; Luke Skywalker. That, however, is not the acting criteria on which I am judging him. No, Star Wars has never really been a great showcase of anyone's acting. I am referring to Mark Hamill's work as the Joker on the 1992 animated series The Adventures of Batman and Robin. His voice work in this show was just fantastic, and showed that he was very capable of modulating his voice depending on the need. A couple of the laughs he utilized in that show reminded me heavily of Skull Kid. I think he would do a great job of it.

Dampe: Jack Nicholson - This is another one of my big name actors on this list. Go watch Jack Nicholson in As Good as it Gets or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (one of my all time favorite movies, I might add) and tell me he's not bat**** insane enough to play Dampe, the nocturnal grave keeper. His gravelly voice, mixed with his insane laughs make him a great candidate for this role.

Biggoron: James Earl Jones - I told myself I wouldn't do it, but it's just too perfect. I tried, I really did try. I looked all over the place for an actor that could play Biggoron better than Mr. Jones, but it just can't be done. In the end, I submitted to the truth, and placed him on this list.

Happy Mask Salesman: Chris Sarandon - To be honest, I'm not all that familiar with this guy's work. Why then, have I placed him on this list, you ask? Simple. The one movie of his I do know is The Nightmare Before Christmas, in which he voiced the character Jack Skellington. He slips so seamlessly between joyous and kind, creepy and scary, and angry and mean so many times in this film. Which is precisely what the Happy Mask Salesman does all throughout both OoT and MM. In the blink of an eye he can go from willing to help to absolutely raging at Link. Since Chris Sarandon did this so flawlessly as Jack, I hoped that he'd be able to do the same as the Happy Mask Salesman.

Poe Salesman: Timothy Spall - Best known as Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter films and as Beadle in Sweeney Todd, this man has shown that he can play a crazy man with a touch of class. His voice comes across as sniveling, someone who would sooner sell their soul than give up a chance to make money. Which the Poe Salesman practically has done. I think Mr. Spall would embody the Poe Salesman perfectly.

Kaepora Gaebora: Alan Rickman - Now we finally get to the end of my list. I have one final big name actor to add to this eclectic compendium. Known for his role as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and most recently as Professor Snape of the Harry Potter films. His voice is deep, condescending, and often times monotonous. Qualities which I think would fit Kaepora Gaebora to a tee.


And this concludes my rather eclectic compendium of film and television (both live action and animated), stage, and video game actors. Now, I want to hear YOUR thoughts ZU, on who you would like to see voicing your favorite Zelda characters.

You have some excellent choices there. Some of them I could definatly see fit the bill. James Earl Jones and Gimli as Gorons were pretty much my first thoughts. Morpheus as Ganondorf was a interesting choice though.

Link doesn't need a voice actor beyond the current one though, unless this would be a full feature movie.

I would pick Gerard Butler to play Ganondorf, Emma Watson for Zelda, and Kōki Uchiyama to play Link (he was the voice of Roxas in Kingdom Hearts, Neku in The World Ends With You, and many more).

Mido: Steve Buscemi

yeah you know i can see that working!
But there are good choices there (even though i dont know who half those people are), but Alan Rickman cannot CANNOT be Kaepora Gaebora. He's too villianous in tone. I think he should be Ganondorf! Emma Watson gets my vote for Zelda.
James Earl Jones should be the Deku Tree. this was an idea my friend and I had from way back when.

james earl jones should so be Ganon.
I don't know good voice actors. I would love to see David Hyder? he does the voice of Solid snake as Ganondorf or something like that. Awesome badass voice

Hearing Ganondorf with Darth Vader's voice would make the game instant perfection in my book.

I think Ron Perlman could do a great take on Ganondorf. Some of you may know Ron as the voice actor of the villain Deathstroke/Slade from Teen Titans.

Originally Posted by Z-MAN7

I think Ron Perlman could do a great take on Ganondorf. Some of you may know Ron as the voice actor of the villain Deathstroke/Slade from Teen Titans.

That would be a good voice for him.
For me it really comes down to how well they can pull off the classic slow evil Ganondorf laugh. If they can do that in a really good way they got the part.

I always imagined Christopher Lee as Ganondorf. This sounds strange, but I've also seen Morgan Freeman as the Great Deku Tree. I don't know why.

Originally Posted by KillerKat55

james earl jones should so be Ganon.

Originally Posted by Aleph

Hearing Ganondorf with Darth Vader's voice would make the game instant perfection in my book.

Yes.

And Mark Hamill for Link.

That would be perfect... and hilarious.

Haley Joel Osment would be great for young link but adult link should maybe be someone with a more mature, relaxed yet commanding voice, a la TP, like Billy Crudup (who did Ashi-taka's voice in Princess Mononoke).

For the one or two words (yes, no, what?) he might speak for the entire game

They should get David Hayter to play Link with Snake's voice.

Originally Posted by Darth Alec

You have some excellent choices there. Some of them I could definatly see fit the bill. James Earl Jones and Gimli as Gorons were pretty much my first thoughts. Morpheus as Ganondorf was a interesting choice though.

Link doesn't need a voice actor beyond the current one though, unless this would be a full feature movie.

Well, I must confess, I was thinking of Link's dialogue being expanded for this iteration of Ocarina of Time.

Originally Posted by Hawke

I would pick Gerard Butler to play Ganondorf, Emma Watson for Zelda, and Kōki Uchiyama to play Link (he was the voice of Roxas in Kingdom Hearts, Neku in The World Ends With You, and many more).

You know, I thought of Gerard Butler for Ganondorf, but in the end, the soft and low tone of Lawrence Fishburne won me over. Gerard would just go... too over the top I think. I mean, it worked in 300, but seriously, that guy needs to give it a rest.

Originally Posted by Zeldoom

yeah you know i can see that working!

Like I said, if he were to sound more childish. I think his voice sounds so snide and sleazy that, were he to make his voice more like a child's, it would be just perfect for Mido.

But there are good choices there (even though i dont know who half those people are), but Alan Rickman cannot CANNOT be Kaepora Gaebora. He's too villianous in tone. I think he should be Ganondorf![/quote]

Meh, I think Alan Rickman could do a good job. Actors often have other talents, despite what they're most common roles are (villains in this case). I think he's too soft spoken for Ganondorf though.

James Earl Jones should be the Deku Tree. this was an idea my friend and I had from way back when.

I, too, thought of this, but in the end, felt he would do a better job as Biggoron than the Deku Tree.

Originally Posted by Aleph

Hearing Ganondorf with Darth Vader's voice would make the game instant perfection in my book.

This would be a rather epic win. I pretty seriously considered this as my choice for Ganondorf for a while, but, I don't know, James Earl Jones sounds too... happy and bubbly most of the time, I guess, to make an effective villain. At least to me.

Originally Posted by Klew

Haley Joel Osment would be great for young link but adult link should maybe be someone with a more mature, relaxed yet commanding voice, a la TP, like Billy Crudup (who did Ashi-taka's voice in Princess Mononoke).

Hmmmm. Billy Crudup is a pretty good choice for Adult Link. I may have to amend my choice. Have you heard Haley Joel Osment recently though? His voice has dropped quite a bit in pitch since I last heard him.