Top 10 Most Surprising DreamWorks Voice Acting Performances
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Most Surprising DreamWorks Voice Acting Performances. For this list, we’ll be looking at some of the biggest names in Hollywood who you wouldn't expect to have lent their voice to a DreamWorks animated film. Let us know whose casting shocked YOU the most in the comments.
#10: Tobey Maguire as Adult Tim Templeton
Tobey Maguire vs. Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man
“The Boss Baby” (2017)
Alec Baldwin is easily recognizable as the voice of the titular Boss Baby. But a voice from this film that you may not immediately register is that of the film’s narrator. Tobey Maguire, one of the first actors to swing onto the big screen as Spider-Man, narrates “The Boss Baby” as adult Tim, the older brother of Boss Baby. Although Maguire is not known for his animation work, his soothing voice perfectly sets up the story of Tim, a 7-year-old boy whose imagination runs wild when he has to share his parents with his new baby brother. Maguire has such a good voice for narrating that we’re honestly astonished we haven’t heard him in more roles like this.
#9: America Ferrera as Astrid
Origins of the Justice Society of America
“How to Train Your Dragon” (2010)
From “Ugly Betty” to Viking vixen? It may stun you to learn that America Ferrera has spent nearly a decade voicing blonde-haired warrior Astrid Hofferson in the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise. The first film came out around the same time that “Ugly Betty” was ending, and Astrid is starkly different from that of the upbeat and warm Betty Suarez. Of course, Astrid does evolve throughout the film, and Ferrera is the perfect actress to bring such depth and life to the fierce and sassy character.
#8: Sylvester Stallone as Weaver
Top 10 Sylvester Stallone Performances
“Antz” (1998)
You may know him as Rocky or Rambo, but in 1998 Sylvester Stallone took a step out of his seeming comfort zone by voicing a character named Weaver in “Antz.” The film, which follows a worker ant as he tries to win over the ant princess and save his fellow worker population, was Stallone’s first crack at lending his voice to an animated movie. And while you wouldn't expect to see the action star play something as tiny as an ant, his character, a soldier ant looking for love, surprisingly looks a lot like him.
#7: Matt Damon as Spirit
Top 10 Matt Damon Performances
“Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” (2002)
Matt Damon has had a long and successful career, but he’s only starred in a handful of animated movies. In between the releases of “Ocean’s Eleven” and “The Bourne Identity,” Damon's voice could be heard as Spirit, a Kiger mustang stallion in the film “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.” Of course, this isn’t your average talking horse role. Damon is the voice of the inner dialogue of the animal, sharing the horse’s heartfelt story, which involves being captured by the U.S. Cavalry during the American Indian Wars. It’s not your typical Matt Damon film, but it works.
#6: Brad Pitt as Sinbad
Top 10 Brad Pitt Performances
“Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” (2003)
“Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” was a major flop for DreamWorks, reportedly causing the studio to lose $125 million. So you may be shocked to discover that the main character, a pirate looking for one more adventure before retiring, is voiced by none other than Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt. Animated movies certainly aren’t the first thing to come to mind when you think of Pitt. And the actor’s charm and humor as the suave thief wasn’t enough to stop this film from sinking. Unfortunately, he couldn’t even help save the day as superhero Metro Man in “Megamind” a few years later. That film also flopped at the Box Office and is considered one of DreamWorks’ lowest grossing CG flicks of the decade it came out in.
#5: Ryan Reynolds as Guy
Top 10 Ryan Reynolds Performances
“The Croods” (2013)
He may now be best known as the “Merc with a Mouth” in the “Deadpool” franchise, but before taking on the very R-rated role, Ryan Reynolds lent his voice to Guy in the family-friendly film “The Croods.” Guy, just like Reynolds, is a handsome, funny and likable character who befriends teenage cave girl Eep Crood and wins over her wacky but loveable neanderthal family. And 2013 seems to have been the year of animation for Reynolds, because he not only made his animated film debut in “The Croods,” but also lent his voice to an underdog snail in “Turbo” that same year.
#4: Jack Black as Lenny
Top 10 Jack Black Roles
“Shark Tale” (2004)
If you had to associate Jack Black with an animated film, you’d probably say “Kung Fu Panda.” But before bringing the martial arts enthusiast Po to life on the big screen in 2008, Black voiced a Great White Shark named Lenny in 2004’s “Shark Tale.” Now, great white sharks are typically portrayed as vicious animals, but not Lenny, who is so gentle that he even follows a vegetarian diet. What’s really surprising is that Black reportedly beat out some pretty big names to play Lenny, like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jim Carrey and George Clooney. After watching the film, most would probably agree that they can’t imagine anyone other than Black voicing the character though!
#3: Martin Scorsese as Sykes
Top 10 Martin Scorsese Character Performances
“Shark Tale” (2004)
If Jack Black’s voice acting in “Shark Tale” didn’t surprise you, then maybe this one will. Famed film director Martin Scorsese - yes, the same man behind films like “Taxi Driver” and “Goodfellas” - voiced a puffer fish named Sykes in “Shark Tale.” Scorsese has primarily remained behind the camera, with this DreamWorks film being the first and only animated movie he starred in. But directing his fair share of crime bosses surely helped him prepare for this role, as Sykes is an ex-henchman of Lenny’s mob boss father, Don Lino.
#2: Gary Oldman as Lord Shen
Top 10 Gary Oldman Performances
“Kung Fu Panda 2” (2011)
From Sirius Black in the “Harry Potter” franchise to Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, Gary Oldman has played some very interesting and even beloved characters. But the villain in “Kung Fu Panda 2”? That's certainly surprising. Oldman voices Lord Shen, a peacock bent on destroying all pandas and reclaiming the Gongmen City throne. “Kung Fu Panda 2” director Jennifer Yuh Nelson best describes Oldman in his role: “A deathly frightening, cerebral villain.” A peacock doesn’t necessarily scream “evil,” but Oldman somehow manages to bring a darkness to an animal that is normally seen as bright and flamboyant.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Jon Hamm as Brogan, “Shrek Forever After” (2010)
Top 10 Underappreciated DreamWorks Voice Acting Performances
An Actor This Good-Looking Couldn’t Possibly Play an Ogre
Jake Gyllenhaal as Jim Prescott, “Spirit Untamed” (2021)
Top 10 Most Surprising Voice Acting Performances
He Also Sings as the Widower in this 2nd Installment of the “Spirit” franchise
Bryan Cranston as Li Shan, “Kung Fu Panda 3” (2016)
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John Krasinski as Lancelot, “Shrek the Third” (2007)
Top 50 Greatest Voice Acting Performances of All Time
He Was Only Just Starting to Become a Household Name When the Movie Came Out
#1: Kate Winslet as Rita Malone
Top 10 Best Kate McKinnon Acting Performances
“Flushed Away” (2006)
Kate Winslet is an Academy Award, Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress. She even has a Grammy award under her belt. Oh, and at some point over the years, she’s also voiced a rodent! That’s right: Winslet, who is famous for her portrayal of Rose DeWitt Bukater in “Titanic,” has also played one of those small brown scavengers. In “Flushed Away,” Winslet lends her voice to feisty Rita Malone, who has no problem taking care of herself. And while Winslet has played her fair share of strong female characters over the years, it’s still funny – and truly surprising – to see a role like this on her impressive resume.
