Top 10 Celebrities Whose REAL Voice Will Surprise You

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten celebrities with voices no one expected.

#10: Megan Mullally

What would classic sitcom “Will & Grace” be without its standout supporting character, Karen Walker? Her shrill nasally voice became a trademark of her character, making each line delivery hilariously iconic. Actress Megan Mullally actually used her real voice in the pilot episode of “Will & Grace,” but from the second episode on her voice became gradually higher as she settled into the quirks of her character. Karen Walker was such a breakout role for Mullally that many fans were surprised to learn that Mullally’s real voice wasn’t nearly as cartoonish as her character’s. More recently, Mullally’s real voice has become a bit more well known due to her scene-stealing performances as Ron Swanson’s ex-wife Tammy in “Parks and Rec.”

#9: Steve-O

The rough, gravelly voice of this “Jackass” star seems to fit his up-for-anything, extreme risk-taking personality so well, it’s surprising that it’s not his real voice. Even more shocking, Steve-O himself didn’t know the sound of his real voice until just a few years ago. A meeting with an ear, nose, and throat doctor revealed that Steve-O had learned to speak entirely the wrong way. Rather than using his vocal chords, he spoke using his throat muscles. The star has been working with a vocal coach to practice speaking in a healthier way, and hearing his “normal voice” is pretty jarring. Now the dilemma is whether to keep the voice he’s known for or embrace his new, healthier speaking voice.

#8: Melissa Rauch

When Bernadette Rostenkowski was introduced in the third season of “The Big Bang Theory,” actress Melissa Rauch was determined to make a memorable impression. Fans slowly grew to love the small-but-mighty microbiologist and her signature squeaky voice. After ten years playing the same character on one of the most popular shows on television, Rauch became closely linked to her character. For this reason, many “Big Bang Theory” fans are surprised when they discover that Rauch’s voice sounds distinctly different from her character’s. Interviews with the actress reveal that her squeaky voice was actually a brilliant character choice that made Bernadette instantly recognizable even before she appeared onscreen.

#7: Mia Goth

This actress has become a certified scream queen thanks to her recent roles in Ti West’s “X” film series. Her impeccable Southern accent in the roles of both Maxine Minx and Pearl sounds so believable that many are shocked to learn that Goth isn’t from the South, and she’s not even American at all. Goth was born in London and lived in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Canada throughout her childhood, but her natural speaking voice is distinctively English. Goth’s ability to totally transform her voice is truly a testament to her incredible talent.

#6: Iggy Azalea

This Australian musician moved to the United States at age sixteen with dreams of becoming a famous rapper. It took a few years, but she eventually landed a chart-topping single with 2014’s “Fancy.” Azalea’s voice in her music is clearly influenced by the rap and hip-hop artists who came before her. Given that the genre was created by and popularized by black artists, this has led some to accuse Azalea of putting on a “blaccent” in her music. Interviews of Azalea speaking in her Aussie-accented natural voice further highlight the artificial nature of her performing voice.

#5: Hugh Laurie

Of course this entry will be no surprise to British viewers, but Americans who know Hugh Laurie from his longtime role on “House” might be surprised to hear his real voice. Laurie was born in Oxford, England, and rose to fame across the pond as part of a comedic duo with Stephen Fry. Aside from a few film roles, Laurie was mostly unknown in the United States until “House” premiered in 2004. Laurie’s accent was so convincing even “House” executive producer Bryan Singer didn’t realize Laurie was British until after he’d already been cast. With Laurie in the starring role, the series was a massive success and ran for eight seasons.

#4: Elizabeth Holmes

The infamous founder of the defunct blood-testing company Theranos was known for her strikingly deep voice. Many wondered whether it was genuine, digging through old interviews and talking with people from Holmes’ past to ask whether she’d always spoken like that. This quickly revealed that her natural speaking voice was very different, and her deep baritone had been like a character for Holmes, putting on her market-disrupting startup-founder persona. Once it came out that her Theranos technology was completely fake, Holmes was arrested and charged with fraud. While on trial, Holmes dropped the voice, some say in an effort to come across as softer and more genuine.

#3: Larry the Cable Guy (Dan Whitney)

Nebraska-born Dan Whitney rose to fame under a completely new name and a totally new voice. Better known as Larry the Cable Guy, his distinctive Southern accent was so hilariously compelling that it got him cast in a massive Pixar franchise as the anthropomorphic tow truck, Tow Mater. The inspiration for his Southern persona came from his college roommates from Georgia and Texas at the University of Nebraska, where Whitney studied drama and speech. With a clear passion for comedy and a talent for manipulating his voice, it’s no surprise Whitney became successful with such a distinctive and memorable character.

#2: Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton was everywhere in the early 2000s, and so was her trademark voice. Her breathy, “baby-voice” tone seemed to fit the persona of a ditzy socialite that was marketed to the public during her time on “The Simple Life.” No one suspected her voice wasn’t genuine, but Hilton revealed in 2020 that she had been putting on a character the entire time. Hilton, who survived abusive boarding schools as a teenager, says she created her ditzy blonde persona as a protective mask in response to her trauma. Though Hilton still frequently uses her character voice in public appearances, she noticeably switches to her natural voice anytime she’s dealing with a serious topic.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Katherine Langford

No One Knew She Was Really Australian After Her Breakout Performance as Hannah Baker

Stephanie Beatriz

Rosa’s Tough, Deep Voice on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Sounds Nothing Like Her Real Voice

#1: Michael Jackson

There were many elements that made up the King of Pop’s unforgettable persona, one significant one being his high-pitched voice. That distinctive voice was a signature of his music that seemed to carry over into his speaking voice, at least according to many public interviews. However, some fans point to certain concert footage and other videos of Jackson where he speaks in a more natural sounding voice, alleging that this was his real voice. Liza Minnelli, a close friend of Jackson’s, says she heard his natural speaking voice on rare occasions. Like Paris Hilton, it appears that Jackson’s voice was part of his public persona, and he used his real voice only in private and on serious occasions.

Which celebrity voice surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!