Nala is a fictional character who appears in The Lion King film and its sequels The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and The Lion King 1½. She is Simba’s best friend and later becomes his wife. Nala is voiced by actresses Moira Kelly in the films Niketa Calame as a cub and by Kyla Pratt as an adult in The Lion King 1½.
Nala is first seen as a young cub accompanying Simba and Sarafina Simba’s mother to Pride Rock to witness his father Mufasa being crowned King of the Pride Lands. She is later seen with Simba and Sarafina when Mufasa shows them the Pride Lands from the top of Pride Rock.
When Simba is an adult Nala is voiced by Moira Kelly. She is first seen as an adult when she and Simba meet again after many years apart. She is surprised to see that Simba is alive since she had heard that he had died in the stampede. Nala scolds Simba for running away and tells him that the Pride Lands have suffered since he left. She persuades Simba to return home and take his rightful place as king.
Nala and Simba eventually fall in love and get married. They have a son Kopa who does not appear in the films but is featured in some of the spin-off materials. Nala remains a loyal friend and confidante to Simba throughout the films.
The character of Nala has been generally well received by movie critics.Writing for the Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan called Nala “the most fully developed of the film’s animal characters” and praised Kelly’s vocal performance saying that she “brings an emotional directness to her scenes with Simba that greatly enhances their impact.” In a review of The Lion King 1½ Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune praised Pratt’s vocal performance as Nala saying that she “sounds like she’s enjoying herself.”
Who voiced Nala in The Lion King?
Moira Kelly
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Nathan Lane
Who voiced Pumbaa in The Lion King?
Ernie Sabella
Who voiced Scar in The Lion King?
Jeremy Irons
Who voiced Mufasa in The Lion King?
James Earl Jones
Who voiced Simba in The Lion King?
Matthew Broderick
Who voiced Zazu in The Lion King?
Rowan Atkinson
Who voiced Sarafina in The Lion King?
Whoopi Goldberg
Who voiced Sarabi in The Lion King?
Madge Sinclair
Who voiced Young Simba in The Lion King?
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Who voiced Rafiki in The Lion King?
Robert Guillaume
Who voiced Vitani in The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride?
Suzanna Ranaweera
Who voiced Young Nala in The Lion King?
Niketa Calame-Harris
Who voiced Zira in The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride?
Suzanne Pleshette
Who voiced Kovu in The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride?
Jason Marsden
