Eleanor Audley - The voice behind Lady Tremaine, Madame Leota, and Maleficent

Ever thought Madame Leota’s voice in the Haunted Mansion at the Disney Parks sounded familiar?

I know I did! The crazy part is Madame Leota’s voice actually is the same as two other classic Dis way Villains. That’s right! Lady Tremaine from Cinderella and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty all have the same voice actor. So, how is this person who had a hand in creating some of the most iconic characters on screen and in the parks.

Well, her name is Eleanor Audley. She appeared in many other films and tv shows at the time, but truly her most prominent roles came from these animated films that used the almost operatic and regal style of her voice to their advantage.

Did you know that many voice actors who auditioned for Disney did so in front of a small group of people? Walt himself also wanted a part in it and had speakers set to project the audition’s voice to his office. He would make a decision solely based on the voice, no other factors involved. Well, he heard Eleanor Audley’s voice and knew she was the perfect fit for the stepmother in the classic fairytale.

Over the years Eleanor worked with Marc Davis, the famous Disney animator, to create the villains we know today. She was eventually asked to lend her voice to the spooky ride soon to be built in the Magic Kingdom—The Haunted Mansion. Yet again, her voice would be the only contribution as the imagineers has already asked Leota Toombs to portray the unique character inside the crystal ball.

It is amazing how much this actress contributed to Disney animated films and even the parks without her becoming a “household name!”