Beyoncé voiced Nala in Disney’s 2019 remake of The Lion King.
The film is a photorealistic computer-animated remake of Disney’s 1994 traditionally animated feature. Beyoncé provided the speaking and singing voice for the adult Nala, while Shahadi Wright Joseph voiced young Nala. Donald Glover voiced Simba, and the cast also included James Earl Jones as Mufasa, reprising his role from the original film.
Nala is Simba’s childhood friend and later becomes his partner and queen. In the remake, Beyoncé performs “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” with Glover and contributes the original song “Spirit” to the film’s soundtrack. The role connected her acting, voice work, and music careers, but Nala was not her first film role: she had previously appeared in films including Dreamgirls and The Pink Panther. Beyoncé’s 2019 involvement also led to The Lion King: The Gift, a companion album inspired by the film.