The Original ‘Belle’ Gives Her Opinion on Emma Watson in ‘Beauty and the Beast’

Previews of Emma Watson as Belle have been kept close under wraps since it was announced she would be starring in a live-action Beauty and the Beast. 

Though we haven’t been offered any hints at Emma’s singing, or the  iconic golden dress, Buzzfeed released a small interview with Paige O’Hara (‘Belle’ from the original animated Disney film), which shared the actress’ excitement to see Emma take over the role of the  Disney princess:

“If I were producing the film, I would have cast her,” O’Hara told BuzzFeed last night at a 25th anniversary screening of the animated classic. “I think she’s absolutely perfect for the role.”

“She’s got the outward beauty, but she’s also got an inward beauty about her, and an old soul. Through mutual people we’ve sent messages, and I just basically was wishing her all the best and to have a wonderful time.”

On the parts O’Hara is most excited to see Emma act:

“In [the original] movie it was in the snow scene of ‘Something There’ that we made a specific choice that it hits Belle: She’s really falling in love with [the Beast],”

“I want to see Emma’s moment when she realizes she’s fallen in love. That will be so exciting.”

On Belle as a role model:

“She was so strong, so independent, and in this day and age she would be for women’s rights — she wasn’t looking for a prince, she fell in love with a man.”

Read the full article here!