The main English-language voices in Disney’s Frozen films are Idina Menzel as Elsa, Kristen Bell as Anna, Josh Gad as Olaf, and Jonathan Groff as Kristoff. Groff also provides Sven’s vocal sounds, while a larger cast voices the royal family, Northuldra, and other characters.
This guide names the principal performers in Frozen and Frozen II, explains which actors sing their characters’ songs, and points out a few details that are easy to mix up. It also distinguishes the original English-language cast from actors who voice the characters in other languages.
Who does the voice of frozen characters in the main films?
The four central characters in the original Frozen are voiced by Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Jonathan Groff. They return in Frozen II, joined by performers who voice new characters and older versions of Anna and Elsa’s parents. The names below refer to the original English-language performances.
| Character | English-language voice actor | Film and role notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elsa | Idina Menzel | Queen of Arendelle; sings Elsa’s main songs |
| Anna | Kristen Bell | Elsa’s sister; sings Anna’s songs |
| Olaf | Josh Gad | Snowman brought to life by Elsa’s magic |
| Kristoff | Jonathan Groff | Ice seller and Anna’s partner |
| Sven | Jonathan Groff | Kristoff’s reindeer; makes vocal sounds rather than speaking dialogue |
| Hans | Santino Fontana | Prince who courts Anna in the first film |
| The Duke of Weselton | Alan Tudyk | Arendelle’s suspicious visiting duke |
| Grand Pabbie | Ciarán Hinds | Troll leader who helps explain Elsa’s powers |
| Oaken | Chris Williams | Merchant Anna and Kristoff meet on their journey |
The four voices at the center of Frozen
Elsa — Idina Menzel
Idina Menzel voices Elsa, the princess who becomes queen of Arendelle. Elsa’s ice powers shape the story, and Menzel’s performance moves from restrained fear to confidence as Elsa learns to face those powers.
Menzel also sings Elsa’s signature numbers, including “Let It Go” in the first film and “Show Yourself” in Frozen II. Her background in musical theater makes her voice especially recognizable in the songs, but Elsa’s spoken scenes are part of her performance too.
Anna — Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell voices Anna, Elsa’s younger sister. Anna is energetic, curious, and determined to repair her relationship with Elsa. Bell gives the character a quick, conversational delivery that contrasts with Elsa’s more guarded manner.
Bell sings Anna’s songs, including “For the First Time in Forever” and “The Next Right Thing.” Anna’s songs cover both comic moments and grief, so her role asks for more than an upbeat voice.
Olaf — Josh Gad
Josh Gad voices Olaf, the friendly snowman Elsa creates. Gad’s comic timing gives Olaf his playful personality, while the character’s sincere affection for Anna and Elsa keeps him from being only a source of jokes.
Gad also performs Olaf’s songs, including “In Summer” and “When I Am Older.” Olaf’s innocent view of the world is a deliberate character trait, not a sign that he is simply a child: he is a magical snowman with his own place in the sisters’ story.
Kristoff and Sven — Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Groff voices Kristoff, the mountain man who helps Anna reach Elsa. Kristoff is practical and often awkward in social situations, but he is thoughtful and loyal. Groff also sings as Kristoff, including “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People” and “Lost in the Woods.”
Groff supplies Sven’s vocal sounds as well. Sven does not speak words in the films, so it is more precise to say that Groff performs the reindeer’s vocalizations rather than voices a talking character. Sven communicates through sounds, expressions, and physical comedy.
Supporting voices in the first Frozen
The first film gives Arendelle and its neighboring communities a range of supporting characters. Their performers help establish the film’s humor, family history, and central conflict.
- Santino Fontana as Hans: The prince appears to be Anna’s romantic match before his intentions are revealed. Fontana also sings Hans’s part in “Love Is an Open Door” with Bell.
- Alan Tudyk as the Duke of Weselton: The duke fears Elsa’s powers and pressures the kingdom. Tudyk voices several other Disney animated characters, but here he plays the pompous visitor to Arendelle.
- Ciarán Hinds as Grand Pabbie: The troll leader helps the royal family understand Elsa’s magic and warns them about fear.
- Chris Williams as Oaken: Oaken runs the trading post and sauna. His brief scenes add comic relief during Anna and Kristoff’s journey.
- Maia Wilson as Bulda: Bulda is a troll who takes a special interest in Kristoff and tries to help him find a partner.
- Robert Pine as the Bishop: The bishop conducts Elsa’s coronation in the first film.
Some smaller or younger characters have separate performers. For example, Eva Bella voices young Elsa, while Livvy Stubenrauch voices young Anna in the original film. Their scenes are brief, but the casting helps show the sisters at different ages.
Who joins the cast in Frozen II?
Frozen II brings back the four leads and introduces characters connected to the Enchanted Forest and the history of Arendelle. The added voices include well-known screen and stage performers.
| Character | English-language voice actor | What the character adds |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Mattias | Sterling K. Brown | Arendelle soldier stranded in the Enchanted Forest |
| Queen Iduna | Evan Rachel Wood | Anna and Elsa’s mother, heard in the sisters’ memories |
| King Agnarr | Alfred Molina | Anna and Elsa’s father, heard in flashbacks |
| Yelena | Martha Plimpton | Leader among the Northuldra |
| Ryder | Jason Ritter | Northuldra member and reindeer enthusiast |
| Honeymaren | Rachel Matthews | Northuldra member who helps Anna and Elsa |
| King Runeard | Jeremy Sisto | Arendelle ruler from the past |
Brown voices Mattias, a soldier who has spent years in the forest after the events that began the conflict between Arendelle and the Northuldra. Wood and Molina voice the girls’ parents in scenes that reveal more about their family and the past.
Plimpton, Ritter, and Matthews voice members of the Northuldra, the people whose home and history are central to Elsa’s journey. Their roles help the sequel move beyond the palace and explore the consequences of Arendelle’s past actions.
Olaf, Kristoff, Sven, and the returning royal characters remain voiced by their original performers in the English version. That continuity helps the sequel feel connected to the first film, even as its cast and setting expand.
Which Frozen actors sing their own songs?
In the original English-language films, the principal actors perform their characters’ songs. Idina Menzel sings Elsa’s numbers, Kristen Bell sings Anna’s, Josh Gad performs Olaf’s songs, and Jonathan Groff sings for Kristoff. Santino Fontana performs Hans’s part in “Love Is an Open Door.”
This is different from the songwriting. The songs were written by composers and lyricists, including Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The voice actors deliver the performances, while the songwriters create the music and words.
Several musical moments are useful for identifying the performers:
- “Let It Go”: Idina Menzel as Elsa.
- “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”: Kristen Bell as Anna, with younger performers contributing to the early parts of the song.
- “In Summer”: Josh Gad as Olaf.
- “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People” and “Lost in the Woods”: Jonathan Groff as Kristoff.
- “Love Is an Open Door”: Kristen Bell as Anna and Santino Fontana as Hans.
- “Show Yourself”: Idina Menzel as Elsa, with Evan Rachel Wood as Iduna in the sequence.
- “The Next Right Thing”: Kristen Bell as Anna.
In a few scenes, the character’s singing voice can include another performer, particularly when a character is shown as a young child. That does not mean the adult actor has been replaced throughout the film. Check the specific song or scene if you are looking for a particular vocal credit.
Why do Frozen voice casts differ by country?
The performers listed above are the original English-language cast. Disney releases localized versions in many languages, and those versions use different actors for dialogue and songs. As a result, the name of Elsa’s or Anna’s voice actor depends on which language version you mean.
Some localized productions use one actor for both speaking and singing. Others divide the work between a dialogue performer and a separate singer. A translated song may also be adapted to fit the language’s phrasing and timing, so a singer’s version can sound different from the English recording.
For an accurate credit, look for the language of the specific release or recording. A cast list for the English film will not necessarily identify the performer in a dubbed version, and an actor’s name can vary between countries even when the character is the same.
Common questions about the Frozen voice cast
Does Idina Menzel voice Elsa in both Frozen films?
Yes. Idina Menzel voices Elsa in the original English-language versions of both Frozen and Frozen II, and she sings Elsa’s songs in both films.
Does Kristen Bell voice Anna?
Yes. Kristen Bell voices Anna in both English-language films and performs Anna’s songs. Younger versions of Anna have separate voice performers in some scenes.
Who voices Olaf?
Josh Gad voices Olaf in the English-language films. He also performs the character’s songs.
Does Jonathan Groff voice Sven?
Groff provides Sven’s vocal sounds as well as voicing Kristoff. Sven does not have spoken dialogue, so his role is not the same as voicing a character who talks.
Are the Frozen voice actors the songwriters?
Usually not. The principal actors perform the songs, while songwriters create the music and lyrics. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez wrote songs for the Frozen films.
Are the English actors the same in every language version?
No. The names above are for the English-language performances. Each dubbed version may use a different cast, and singing and speaking parts can sometimes be assigned to different performers.
What to check when you see a cast credit
Cast lists can refer to different kinds of work: dialogue, singing, a younger version of a character, or vocal effects such as Sven’s sounds. If a name seems to conflict with another list, check whether both sources describe the same film, language, and scene.
A particularly common mix-up is treating Sven as a speaking role. Groff is credited with Kristoff and supplies Sven’s sounds, but Sven does not deliver spoken lines. Another is assuming that every version of a song uses the English performer; dubbed releases often have their own singers.
For the simplest answer, match the character to the original English film credit. For a song credit, check the performer for that number. For a different language, search for the localized cast rather than assuming the English actor performed it.
The central English-language cast is Idina Menzel as Elsa, Kristen Bell as Anna, Josh Gad as Olaf, and Jonathan Groff as Kristoff and Sven’s vocal sounds. Frozen II adds performers including Sterling K. Brown, Evan Rachel Wood, Alfred Molina, and Martha Plimpton.
For the answer to who does the voice of frozen characters in a particular recording, first check the film and language version. Then match the character or song to that version’s cast credits, since dubbed performances can have different actors.