How Kylie McNeill, a Teen Without Internet Fame, Wound Up as the Voice Star of ‘Belle’ (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comMónica Marie Zorrilla In an era of TikTok favorites getting record deals and lead acting roles, follower counts and blue checkmarks seem to be a requirement for getting a big break in Hollywood.
It is therefore refreshing and rare when a 19-year-old from Manhattan with no internet fame whatsoever is plucked from relative obscurity and given the chance of a lifetime: voicing the protagonist of one of the highest-grossing anime movies in Japan of this past year as her industry debut.
And, boy, does she have the pipes to prove she belongs in the big leagues.Much like her character Suzu in Mamoru Hosoda’s highly-acclaimed and visually stunning “Belle,” Kylie McNeill is just a soft-spoken teenager that likes to record herself belting her heart out from the comfort of her bedroom.
Though she majored in theater at New York’s prestigious Professional Performing Arts School — which has churned out singers and musicians like Alicia Keys, Tru Collins, Taylor Momsen, Britney Spears and Elena Satine — McNeill has, thus far, kept a low profile.
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