Top 20 Most Underappreciated Voice Acting Performances

#20: James Ortiz as Rocky

“Project Hail Mary” (2026)

While CGI and animatronics were also utilized, Rocky was largely brought to life through practical puppetry. Considering that this gravelly, spider-like alien doesn’t have a face, his personality must exclusively come out through his movements and voice. Lead puppeteer James Ortiz deserves much of the credit on both fronts. While Ortiz read Rocky’s lines on set, he figured that the filmmakers would replace him with another actor in post-production. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller felt Ortiz captured Rocky’s spirit to a T, however. Rocky is as lovable as a curious child or hyperactive pet, but he’s Ryland Grace’s intellectual equal. Ortiz’s delivery achieves that balance in a performance that’s joyous, spontaneous, and empathetic. Nobody could’ve played him better, Meryl included.

#19: Mary Kay Bergman as Various Characters

“South Park” franchise (1997-)

For its first few seasons, almost every female voice in South Park came from one person’s mouth. From schoolgirls like Wendy Testaburger to moms like Liane Cartman, there seemed to be no limit to Mary Kay Bergman’s vocal range. Her most versatile work was perhaps in the “South Park” feature, in which he voiced approximately sixteen characters. The highlight was her performance as Sheila Broflovski, singing the Oscar-nominated song, “Blame Canada.” Bergman earned an Annie nomination for the film, but what should’ve been a career high turned to tragedy as she took her life shortly after. Bergman’s characters would live on, but it’d take multiple actors to fill the shoes she left behind. Although “South Park” remains an iconic show, Bergman’s contributions should be remembered.

#18: Jonno Davies as Robbie Williams

“Better Man” (2024)

In this unconventional biopic, the real Robbie Williams provided narration and most of the singing vocals. The actor behind the performance capture is Jonno Davies, who conveys such raw emotion that you almost forget that you’re watching a CGI chimpanzee. Davies encapsulates the singer’s self-destructive behavior in a performance that’ll leave you wanting to console Robbie one minute and scream at him the next. Even if you stripped away the dancing and effects, Davies’ delivery alone brings out William’s lust for life and insecurities that may end it prematurely. “Better Man” in general is underappreciated, but it’s the best movie ever made that ends with an ape singing “My Way”... except maybe “George of the Jungle.” Speaking of which, John Cleese’s Ape deserves an encore.

#17: Philip Seymour Hoffman as Max Jerry Horowitz

“Mary and Max” (2009)

If the Academy took voice acting seriously, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman would’ve gotten nominated for his performance in the stop-motion masterpiece “Mary and Max.” Hoffman is unrecognizable, yet somehow interchangeable, with the anxiety-riddled Max. Depressed, out of shape, and struggling to form relationships, Max finds an unlikely pen pal in young Mary. It may sound inappropriate given the age gap, but Hoffman plays the role with such sincerity that you never question the nature of this friendship. Hoffman also turns in one of the most accurate portrayals of autism, showing that just because someone’s behavior comes off as antisocial doesn’t mean they like being alone. As lonely as he gets, Max is proud of who he is in a world that doesn’t understand him.

#16: Brian Tyree Henry as D-16 / Megatron

“Transformers One” (2024)

Megatron can come off as a one-dimensional bad guy in some incarnations. “Transformers One” turns him into a Shakespearean villain with Brian Tyree Henry’s transformative turn at the core. What makes his descent into villainy so tragic is that before becoming Megatron, D-16 was the best friend of Orion Pax, who’s destined to become Optimus Prime. There’s a genuine bond between these two, but when both are betrayed, D-16 goes down a more vengeful path. D-16 spent his entire life believing in one thing. Upon learning it was all a lie, D-16 changes in more ways than one. D-16’s evolution into Megatron feels natural, largely thanks to Henry’s performance, demonstrating how festering hatred can turn your best buddy into your mortal enemy.

#15: Mako as Uncle Iroh

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)

We often think of Uncle Iroh as a wise mentor, which he most certainly is. Part of what makes Iroh so wise, though, is that he’s learned from past mistakes that cost him and the world dearly. People are still living with the consequences, but by guiding the next generation, Iroh believes he can change the course of history. All of these nuances shine through in Makoto Iwamatsu’s understated yet deeply layered performance, balancing Iroh’s sage advice, playful humor, tender nature, and the fire within. His most touching performance is undoubtedly the reading of “Leaves from the Vine,” reflecting both Iroh’s grief and Mako’s own experience with cancer behind the scenes. Following Mako’s passing amid Season 2, Greg Baldwin carried the torch as Iroh.

#14: Matt Chapman as Various Characters

“Homestar Runner” franchise (1996-)

Matt Chapman is to this cult web show what Mel Blanc was to the Looney Tunes. Chapman voices almost every strange character who resides in Free Country, USA, from the brainless Homestar, to the melancholy Strong Sad, to the franchise’s breakout wrestleman, Strong Bad. If you grew up in the aughts, there are surely lines from this series that live in your brain rent-free. Every once in a while, we’ll randomly hear Chapman in our heads, be it as Coach Z trying to say the word “job,” the Cheat squeaking, or Strong Bad impersonating a teen girl. Matt, along with his brother Mike, has gone on to work in more mainstream animation. Yet, they’ve preserved what made Homestar Runner one-of-a-kind: its voice and voices.

#13: Ella Purnell as Jinx

“Arcane” (2021-24)

While many characters were already established in “League of Legends,” the “Arcane” series fleshed them out in unexpected ways. No character was more complex than Jinx, voiced by Ella Purnell in a performance that ranges from unhinged to heartbreaking. This character experiences tragedy since childhood, although one in particular marked a dramatic shift that turned her into an agent of anarchy. Purnell embraces that chaos, but behind her raspy line delivery, she maintains the frightened little girl who was abandoned. Desperate for guidance, Jinx falls in with the wrong crowd as her mind is warped. We can sense in Purnell’s voice that there’s still humanity left in Jinx, but it’s clouded by so much damage that she seems content leaving this world as a monster.

#12: Will Arnett as BoJack Horseman

“BoJack Horseman” (2014-20)

If we told you that funnyman Will Arnett gave one of the century’s most gut-wrenching performances, you might raise an eyebrow. If we added that he played a talking horse, both eyebrows would leap off your face. Anyone who’s watched “BoJack Horseman” knows that Arnett’s performance is a well of generational trauma. While part of BoJack wants to do better, it’s outweighed by the instincts that cause him to repeat the cycle. That’s not to say Arnett isn’t also hilarious in the role, effortlessly nailing every fast-paced one-liner. For every laugh, though, there’s an emotional wallop in a juggling act of entitlement and self-loathing. “BoJack Horseman” never won an Emmy, which Arnett found “kinda perfect.” We think it’s kinda preposterous.

#11: Jason Alexander as Duckman

“Duckman” (1994-97)

Duckman is like George Costanza if he had a tad more depth. Both are egotistical yet insecure losers with an unfiltered mouth - or bill, in Duckman’s case - that continually gets them into trouble. Yet, Jason Alexander occasionally gets to unveil the character’s sincere side as he attempts to be a good family man—emphasis on the attempt part, but the effort counts for something. Duckman is also smarter than he seems, unearthing the unspoken truths about society in extended rants that’ll leave you in awe of Alexander’s acting. Duckman can be a voice of reason, but also a voice of madness. It’s hard to distinguish the two when Alexander reads Duckman’s dialogue. All we know is that Duckman’s voice needs to be shared with the world.

#10: Tim Curry as Forte

“Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” (1997)

No stranger to voice acting, Tim Curry lent his vocals to Disney when taking on the character of Forte—the enchanted pipe organ who is nothing like his light-hearted, more whimsical peers. The part was rather on brand for the actor, who commonly takes parts with evil storylines. Incorporating easily observable hints of villainy, power, and vigor in his voice, the actor somehow manages to make an animated instrument equally terrifying and memorable. Even though “The Enchanted Christmas” is a much less iconic follow-up to “Beauty and the Beast”, there’s no denying that Curry’s performance is a redeeming feature of the film.

#9: Tara Strong as Dil Pickles

“Rugrats” franchise (1991-)

Tara Strong has voiced several main characters in film and TV, but her portrayal of Dil Pickles in “Rugrats” remains one of her best. We were introduced to the baby brother of Tommy in “The Rugrats Movie” and immediately had a new character to love. One might think that voicing a male baby when you're an adult woman would be tricky, but it certainly wasn’t for Strong. Seamlessly manipulating her vocals to portray the rugrat, the actress produced infantile cries and noises that had us thinking that an actual baby was filling the role. Further delivering great acting, Strong continued to masterfully embody Dil in several follow-up projects and as he grew up on the TV series.

#8: Cree Summer as Kida

“Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001) & “Atlantis: Milo’s Return” (2003)

As a prominent voice actress in the business, Cree Summer has quite the resume and has enjoyed a fair dose of praise. But one of her more underappreciated performances is her role of Princess Kida in “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”. The movie’s generally poor reception likely contributed to Summer’s work being overlooked, even though she absolutely killed it. It wasn’t her first movie by any stretch, but through it, she proved just how talented she is when it comes to voice work. And she did an excellent job when she returned for the sequel, too. Summer equips Kida with a refreshing attitude and regalness that elevate the franchise. Her performance is as underrated as the world of “Atlantis” itself.

#7: Bradley Cooper as Rocket

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)

We’ve seen Bradley Cooper on our screens plenty of times, whether it be in live-action TV series or films. The multi-talented, easy-on-the-eyes actor has also dabbled in voice work, most notably as Rocket the raccoon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since we’re all aware of what Cooper sounds like, it’s hard to believe the voice coming from the animated animal is his. But any doubts can be eased thanks to this hilarious evidence. It sounds nothing like the actor we know, making the performance both shocking and impressive. Considering the humor, courage, and distinctness the character exudes, Rocket is a Bradley Cooper role we should talk about more.

#6: Francesca Marie Smith as Helga Pataki

“Hey Arnold!” franchise (1996-)

For a whopping 5 seasons and two movies, Francesca Marie Smith voiced Arnold’s super memorable tormentor, Helga Pataki. All things complex and intense, Helga isn’t easy to embody, but Smith sure did her justice. The character feels quite an array of emotions throughout the “Hey Arnold!” releases —love, hate, pain, humor, anger, etcetera, and Smith masterfully voices them all. We couldn’t help but feel for Helga despite the relentless way she taunts her crush. By the time she and Arnold get together in the 2017 film, we actually buy it. That’s entirely because of the convincing voice work done by the actress. Love or hate the character, Francesca Marie Smith deserves some respect on her name.

#5: Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel

“Tangled” franchise (2010-)

Donna Murphy chose to try something new, and auditioned to voice Mother Gothel in Disney’s “Tangled”. She scored the role, which marked her debut voice acting performance. It’s hard to believe she wasn’t already a pro considering just how well she plays the part. As the film’s villainous maternal figure, Gothel is a strong, overbearing presence that requires a distinct, seasoned voice behind it. Murphy’s subtle choices and exceptional singing shine through both the dialogue and music, and she’s delightfully wicked in each scene she appears in. If you need proof, just listen to her villain song, “Mother Knows Best”. We never tire of the character, so her few appearances in the animated TV show were a treat, too!

#4: Jason Marsden as Thackery Binx (in Cat Form)

“Hocus Pocus” (1993)

It's understandable that anyone appearing alongside the beloved Sanderson sisters would be underappreciated. But we can't forget about the top-tier performance gifted to us by Jason Marsden as Thackery Binx — ”Hocus Pocus”’ black cat who was occupied by the soul of a formerly human boy. Binx is the loyal, courageous feline who you can’t help but love, and that’s due largely in part to the man behind the animal. Despite steep competition, Marsden is a standout in the film and his work warrants more attention. The emotion, humor, and passion that his voice carries is what makes Binx such a captivating hero.

#3: Chris Sanders as Stitch

“Lilo & Stitch” franchise (2002-)

As if co-writing and co-directing 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch” wasn’t enough, Chris Sanders filled the titular role for the character he crafted with a voice acting performance we could never forget. Given how instrumental Sanders was in developing the attributes of Experiment 626, it's no surprise that he plays the part so perfectly. Nonetheless, his performance is next-level, as his vocal manipulations are consistent, fitting, and impeccably executed. He doesn’t falter in any of the follow-up “Lilo & Stitch” releases, either, keeping up the flawless work. Few actors could portray the sense of humor and humanity of the multifaceted Stitch like he does. And making Sanders deserving of further recognition is this hilarious behind-the-scenes peak at him doing his thing in the recording studio.

#2: Jeremy Irons as Scar

“The Lion King” (1994)

Anyone who knows Jeremy Irons is aware of the signature evilness he effortlessly brings to life. But he brings much more than just that to the table in this classic as the unforgettable antagonist. Going beyond delivering villainous vocals and punch-packing roars, Irons infuses Scar with an entertaining sense of humor and relatability. The actor’s attitude, versatility, and range are a huge part of what makes “The Lion King” so iconic. Not to mention the musical talent he showcases when blessing our ears with “Be Prepared,” although Jim Cummings sang part of that song. Let’s be real—Irons’ Scar is just as compelling as James Earl Jones’ beloved Mufasa – so why don’t we talk about his performance as much?!

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

Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964)

A Holiday Staple That Deserves a Gold Medal, or At Least a Silver One

​​Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano, “Star Wars” franchise (1977-)

The Long-Time Voice of Ahsoka, Eckstein Conveys the Evolution of the Badass Female Jedi

Jeff Bennett as Johnny Bravo, “Johnny Bravo” (1997-2004)

Making an Idiot Sound as Endearing as Elvis

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lisa Hesselman, “Anomalisa” (2015)

An Acting Anomaly

Matt Hutchinson as Tiny Chef, “The Tiny Chef Show” (2022-25)

There Isn’t Another Voice in the Kitchen Quite Like His

#1: Scarlett Johansson as Samantha

“Her” (2013)

Okay, we know Scarlett Johansson did fittingly win a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work on “Her”, but we still say more acclaim is warranted. The global superstar is known for her showstopping looks and acting skills on screen, but we had no idea she could make as big of an impact with just her voice. As Theodore’s evolving AI system— “Samantha”—the actress fills uber complex shoes while managing to incorporate hints of seduction, kindness, and fear in a film of versatile scenes. Johansson reportedly found the part of Samantha somewhat daunting, but it certainly doesn't seem like it when you watch the movie.

Which voice acting performance do you think needs more praise? Let us know in the comments.