Nala ( the Lion King ) - wikipedia Nala ( the Lion King ) Jump to : navigation , search Nala The Lion King character Adult Nala as she appears in the first film First appearance The Lion King ( 1994 ) Created by Irene Mecchi Jonathan Roberts Linda Woolverton Voiced by Moira Kelly ( adult , speaking ) Niketa Calame ( cub , speaking ) Sally Dworsky ( adult , singing ) Laura Williams ( cub , singing ) Gabrielle Union ( The Lion Guard ) Beyoncé ( adult in the 2019 remake ) Shahadi Wright Joseph ( cub in the 2019 remake ) Information Species Lion Gender Female Family Sarafina ( mother ) Mufasa ( father - in - law , deceased ) Sarabi ( mother - in - law ) Kovu ( son - in - law ) Scar ( uncle - in - law , deceased ) Spouse ( s ) Simba ( husband ) Children Kopa ( son ) Kiara ( daughter ) Kion ( son ) Nala is a fictional lioness , a character who appears in the Disney Lion King franchise . Introduced in the animated film The Lion King in 1994 , Nala subsequently appears as a less prominent character in the film 's sequels The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride ( 1998 ) and The Lion King 11⁄2 ( 2004 ) . In the original film , the adult Nala was voiced by American actress Moira Kelly . Young Nala 's speaking voice is provided by actress Niketa Calame , while singers Laura Williams and Sally Dworsky provide the singing voices of young and adult Nala respectively . Nala is introduced as the childhood best friend of Simba , and ultimately becomes his wife by the end of The Lion King . Several years after Simba 's uncle Scar has killed Simba 's father Mufasa and usurped the throne , Nala desperately ventures into the jungle to find help . Upon unexpectedly reuniting with a grown Simba , who she had long been tricked by Scar into presuming dead , Nala encourages him to return to Pride Rock , overthrow his uncle and ultimately become king . As Simba 's queen , Nala has a daughter , Kiara , whose story is explored in The Lion King : Simba 's Pride . Nala is the most significant female character in The Lion King . As the film was inspired by William Shakespeare 's tragedy Hamlet , Nala is considered to be The Lion King 's equivalent of Hamlet 's love interest Ophelia , although differences remain between the two characters . Many early concepts first developed for Nala were eventually abandoned , including a brother and father for the character , as well as her being romantically pursued by Scar . While critical reception towards Nala has been generally mixed -- both film and feminist critics complained about the character 's lack of involvement in the story and supposedly submissive demeanor during the song `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' -- Kelly 's vocal performance has been praised . Nala appears in the Broadway musical adaptation of the film , first played by singer Heather Headley . The character also appears in the television series The Lion Guard , with Gabrielle Union replacing Kelly as the voice of Nala . Beyoncé is set to voice the character in the upcoming 2019 remake of the original film directed by Jon Favreau . Contents ( hide ) 1 Development 1.1 Conception and writing 1.2 Voice and music 2 Characterization and themes 3 Appearances 3.1 Film and television 3.2 Musical 4 Reception 5 References Development ( edit ) Conception and writing ( edit ) Film critic James Berardinelli identified Nala as The Lion King 's `` sole significant female character . '' Screenwriter Linda Woolverton conceived Nala `` as part of a gradual progression ... which have driven recent public conversation about what young girls should be able to expect from their cinematic role models . '' In early versions of the screenplay , Nala has a younger brother named Mheetu , who enjoys accompanying his sister and her best friend Simba on their adventures . Pronounced `` me too '' , the character 's name alludes to this personality trait . At one point , Simba was supposed to save the cub from a wildebeest stampede , and Nala would eventually become responsible for protecting Mheetu from Simba 's tyrannical uncle Scar . Nala also had a fox friend named Bhati . According to Woolverton , Mheetu and Bhati were eventually written out of the film because their stories were beginning to distract from Simba 's , in addition to the Mheetu - Scar subplot making the film too dark when combined with the death of Simba 's father Mufasa . At one point , Nala also had a father ; the character was similarly abandoned . Because The Lion King was originally conceived as a much more mature and adult - oriented film , Nala was supposed to have been banished from the Pride Lands as punishment for rejecting Scar 's romantic advances . This idea was to have been further explored in Scar 's song `` Be Prepared ( Reprise ) '' , during which Scar demands that Nala become his queen , but the musical number was ultimately cut from the final film because the scene was considered too `` creepy . '' Matthew Roulette of TheFW believes that the scene was abandoned because of the characters ' significant age difference . This scene however appears in the musical during the song `` The Madness of King Scar '' , minus Scar banishing Nala . Nala means `` gift '' in Swahili . The character has a mother , whose name is never mentioned in the film ; however , she is credited as Sarafina during the film 's end credits . Candice Russel of the Sun - Sentinel believes that Nala contributes to the film 's love story -- `` an indispensable factor in Disney cartoon features '' -- in addition to convincing Simba to return to Pride Rock . It has been observed that , unlike Disney 's three previous animated efforts ( The Little Mermaid ( 1989 ) , Beauty and the Beast ( 1991 ) and Aladdin ( 1992 ) , the romantic relationship between Nala and Simba is not main plot of the film . Ella Ceron of Thought Catalog observed that `` At ( Simba 's ) return , she 's not exactly the friendliest little kitten , either ... but is willing to overlook her own hurt ego in the spirit of their friendship . She believes in Simba , and does n't understand why he would n't want to fight for his right to rule . '' Voice and music ( edit ) The speaking voice of adult Nala is provided by American actress Moira Kelly . Kelly was first informed that Disney was scheduling auditions for the role of Nala by her agent . Despite not having been the directors ' first choice for the role initially , Kelly was allowed to audition nonetheless because the filmmakers had been longing to hear different voices . Kelly believes that the directors were searching for a specific `` quality of voice ... a sort of authoritative voice but with a lot of warmth '' to compliment Nala 's sensible yet nurturing personality . After a series of callbacks , during which Kelly returned to Disney several times to read the character 's lines , the final decision eventually came down to be between Kelly and one other actress . It was not until several months after her audition that Kelly would finally be contacted and offered the part ; Disney 's initial first choice for the role remains undisclosed . Actor Matthew Broderick , voice of Simba , had already begun recording alongside another actress who had been cast as Nala before that actress was eventually replaced with Kelly . Broderick was not informed about his original co-star being recast , and only learned that Nala was actually voiced by Kelly at the film 's premiere . The film 's entire recording process took approximately three years to complete , during which Kelly 's sessions were held in both the United States and Canada , while her co-stars Broderick and Jeremy Irons , voice of Scar , were recording in the United States and England , respectively . Each main cast member recorded their dialogue separately , which took Kelly some time to get used to because she had grown accustomed to working with several other actors at a time on the sets of live - action films . For The Lion King , a director would often take the place of another actor for Kelly to act opposite of . Vocally , Kelly decided to approach the role as though she were reading to a child , explaining , `` it 's kind of fun to play with different voices and try to color the lines for the child so they can imagine it more fully '' , which she admitted is different than how the actress would approach a live - action role . Because Nala is a `` very straight character '' , determining what kind of voice she would use for her was not a particularly challenging task . Additionally , the filmmakers would also film Kelly 's performances in order to incorporate her own facial expressions into her character 's design , the process of which impressed the actress . In her film debut , actress Niketa Calame voices young Nala . According to Calame 's official website , Nala remains the actress ' `` biggest role to date '' . A classically trained pianist and chorister , Laura Williams provides the singing voice of young Nala , which can be heard in the song `` I Just Ca n't Wait to Be King '' ; the singer was 15 years old at the time . Meanwhile , singer - songwriter Sally Dworsky provides the singing voice of adult Nala , which is heard during the song `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' . The film 's love theme , `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' 's lyrics were re-written approximately 15 times , according to lyricist Tim Rice , who wrote the song alongside composer Elton John . At one point , the producers wanted the song to be a comical duet performed by supporting characters Timon and Pumbaa , despite the fact that John had originally composed the song with Nala and Simba in mind . However , John lobbied in favor of `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' being a love song performed as a duet by Nala and Simba , with which the filmmakers ultimately agreed . When asked by Disney if she was interested in reprising her role as Nala in The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride , Kelly immediately accepted , joking , `` Sure , you wan na do a third , fourth , fifth ? I 'm right there '' . In the case of The Lion King 11⁄2 , it took the actress only a few days to record her character 's dialogue due to Nala 's comparatively smaller role in the film ; much of Nala 's footage from the first film was simply reused accordingly . Elton John 's official website cites Kelly among the film 's cast of actors who `` would grace any red carpet . '' Kelly 's performance as Nala is responsible for introducing the actress to a younger audience . Previously , she had been better known for appearing in more adult - oriented live - action films at that time . In 2011 , Kelly revealed that fans of the film rarely recognize her speaking voice as the voice of Nala , although Robert DeSalvo of NextMovie.com claims that the actress `` has a ... distinctive voice that The Lion King fans will instantly recognize as the voice of adult Nala . '' Characterization and themes ( edit ) A straight woman character , Kelly described Nala as a sensible and nurturing yet authoritative character , while Amber Leab of Bitch Flicks described her as strong , independent and intelligent . According to Oh My Disney , Nala serves as `` the proverbial glue that keeps The Lion King together '' , from whose perspective the audience watches the film because she `` says EXACTLY what we 're thinking '' . Occupying the role of the film 's female lead , Nala is The Lion King 's most important female character , who contributes to the film 's `` small romance element '' . Often identified as the film 's deuteragonist , Taylor Orci of The Atlantic felt that `` Nala is really the agent of change in The Lion King '' , dismissing Simba as a `` rich , lazy boyfriend . '' Leab observed that The Lion King 's male characters tend to `` take the center stage '' while `` female characters take a backseat to the action . '' Lenka Křivánková of Masaryk University wrote in her thesis `` 1990s Hollywood Break - Away Hits : A Feminist Perspective '' that she was not particularly surprised by the film 's lack of strong roles for women because of its Shakespearean source material , dubbing the film `` an old traditional fairy tale with all its traditional features '' , including patriarchy and monarchism . Writing for the University of Waterloo 's Kinema , Vicky Wong believes that Nala reinforces the film 's `` take your place '' motif , reminding main character Simba of his responsibilities . In his book Retelling Stories , Framing Culture : Traditional Story and Metanarratives in Children 's Literature , author John Stephens credits Nala with teaching Simba about responsibility -- `` the lesson the hero must learn before he can become an adult '' . Including Nala , The Lion King has only three major female characters in comparison to the film 's total of nine male ones . Shepherd University 's Emmylou Allen observed that Nala is introduced `` as a dominating young girl '' who ultimately matures into `` a strong woman '' by the film 's conclusion . Mouse Morality : The Rhetoric of Disney Animated Film author Annalee R. Ward wrote that Nala 's role in The Lion King reflected `` a 1990s feminist reversal '' . In her book Biblical Allusions , author Lindsay Bacher acknowledged that Nala is often depicted as a stronger and more responsible character than Simba , despite observations that The Lion King 's female characters lack agency . Leab identified Nala as Simba 's `` equal '' who is `` a more naturally sound leader throughout the film , while Simba tends to be comparatively a bit more immature and in need of multiple characters propelling him into responsible / rightful action . '' Physically , Nala is also a stronger and more skilled fighter than Simba , proven by the character 's ability to overwhelm him in battle , which is reminiscent `` of the physical power of lionesses in the real nature . '' However , as strong as she is , Nala has little impact elsewhere ; author Brian K. Pennington wrote in his book Teaching Religion and Violence that `` Nala 's assertions of gender equality are clearly groundless , since only a male lion can stop Scar . '' New York 's David Denbey dismissed Nala 's athleticism as nothing more than Disney 's attempt to `` disguise ( the film 's ) essential boss - daddy ethos . '' Bacher believes that had The Lion King featured Nala as the Pride Lands ' hero as opposed to Simba , the film could have avoided having a `` patriarchal structure . '' Leab concluded that `` the main and most problematic aspects of the film '' remain that The Lion King `` boils down to the fact that an entire group of strong female characters are unable to confront a single male oppressor ; to do so , they need to be led by a dominant male . '' Leab continued , `` It almost sucks more that Nala is such a strong ... female character and still ends up constrained by this plot device '' , accusing the film of depicting women as weak . Alongside Faline from Bambi ( 1942 ) and Maid Marian from Robin Hood ( 1973 ) added , Nala belongs to a trio of Disney heroines who , after having been separated from their love interests for several years , eventually reunite with them . Stephens believes that Nala and Simba 's separation allows the characters to fall in love `` properly '' upon reuniting as young adults . Because The Lion King is loosely based on William Shakespeare 's tragedy Hamlet , Nala is considered to be the film 's `` representative '' of the Hamlet character Ophelia , Hamlet 's love interest . Both characters ' relationships with and opinions of their love interests are similar , however , there are several differences between the two women . The Daily Californian 's Miyako Singer argued that `` Nala is no poor , tragic Ophelia '' , instead resembling a `` fierce princess warrior '' similar to the strong heroines Disney introduced during the 1990s . While identifying Nala as `` the closest character in The Lion King to Ophelia , '' Shepherd University 's Emmylou Allen acknowledged in her article `` Shakespeare in the Pride Lands '' that `` their similarities are not as great as their contrasts . '' Unlike Ophelia , Nala does not succumb to insanity , nor does she eventually die . Instead , Nala establishes herself as `` a physically powerful ally '' by encouraging Simba to return to Pride Rock , and helping the character overthrow Scar . Additionally , Nala is a more stubborn character than Ophelia , the latter of whom is quite passive and obedient . While Ophelia is raised by a single father , Nala is raised solely by her mother , which inspired Allen to believe that Nala is a manifestation of how Ophelia would have turned out had she been raised by a woman instead of a man , concluding , `` Nala is able to show the potential that Ophelia could have had . '' . Appearances ( edit ) Film and television ( edit ) A young Nala debuted in The Lion King ( 1994 ) as the daughter of Sarafina and the best friend of Simba , who she often accompanies on his adventures throughout the Pride Lands . Simba invites Nala to visit the forbidden Elephant Graveyard with him , despite his father Mufasa 's orders . The cubs are soon ambushed by Shenzi , Banzai and Ed , a trio of hyenas chosen by Simba 's treacherous uncle Scar to kill Simba in order to improve his own chances of becoming king , but are ultimately rescued by Mufasa . The following day , however , Nala is devastated to learn from Scar that both Simba and Mufasa have perished during a wildebeest stampede . With both Simba and Mufasa dead , Scar usurps the throne and becomes king . Several years into Scar 's tyrannical rule , which has left the kingdom barren and starving , a desperate Nala ventures into the jungle in search of help , where she attempts to eat a warthog named Pumbaa ; little does she know that the warthog is actually a friend of Simba 's , who is in fact alive and well . While defending Pumbaa from Nala , Simba recognizes Nala , and the two finally reunite only to argue over why Simba is refusing to face his responsibilities and return to Pride Rock . Upon learning that Simba has eventually decided to return to Pride Rock and face Scar , Nala travels back to the Pride Lands to assist him . Surprised to find Simba alive , Scar forces his guilt - ridden nephew to `` admit '' to the pride that he is responsible for Mufasa 's death , which was in fact caused by Scar himself by throwing Mufasa off a cliff into the stampede . Upon learning the truth , Simba forces his uncle to admit his crime to the pride , and a battle ensues between the pride and Scar 's army of hyenas . Simba eventually defeats Scar and becomes king , with Nala ultimately becoming his queen . In the film 's first direct - to - video sequel The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride ( 1998 ) , Nala appears in a less prominent role as Queen of the Pride Lands and mother of Kiara , the spirited daughter of her and Simba . Nala observes that Kiara , of whom Simba is very protective , has inherited her father 's rebellious personality and love of adventure . When Kiara befriends Zira 's son Kovu , a young lion from an exiled pride of Scar 's followers known as the Outsiders , Nala is much more tolerant of their relationship than Simba , and convinces him to offer Kovu a chance to prove himself trustworthy.At the end of the film , Nala gains Kovu as her son - in - law after he marries Kiara . In The Lion King 11⁄2 ( 2004 ) , which focuses instead on Timon and Pumbaa 's friendship , Nala 's role is virtually identical to that of her appearance in The Lion King because filmmakers reused most of the character 's footage from the first film . Voiced by actress Gabrielle Union , Nala reprises her role as Queen of the Pride Lands in the television series The Lion Guard , the 2016 premiere of which was preceded by the made - for - television film The Lion Guard : Return of the Roar ( 2015 ) . Set within the time gap in The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride , the show revolves around Nala and Simba 's son Kion who , being their second - born cub after Kiara , has been tasked with forming the next Lion Guard , a group responsible for protecting the Pride Lands . Although a fan of the Lion King franchise , Union avoided watching previous Lion King films in preparation for the role because she wanted to `` put ( her ) own stamp '' on the character . On November 1 , 2017 , it was confirmed that Beyoncé would voice adult Nala in Jon Favreau 's The Lion King , which is expected to be released in July 19 , 2019 . The same day Shahadi Wright Joseph was cast as young Nala in the film . Musical ( edit ) In the Broadway musical adaptation of The Lion King , the role of Nala was originated by Trinidadian - American singer Heather Headley . Her Broadway debut , at first auditioning for the role proved a challenge for the singer due to her Ragtime contract , which her agent was eventually successful in getting her released from . Director Julie Taymor felt that Nala 's journey in the film was underdeveloped and among the story 's weaker elements , and thus decided to `` strengthen '' the character 's narrative for Broadway . Reception ( edit ) Critical reception towards Nala has been generally mixed ; both film and feminist critics have accused the film of lacking empowering roles for female characters , including Nala . James Berardinelli of ReelViews appreciated the fact that `` after three animated motion pictures centered upon the love of two people from different worlds '' , the love story between Nala and Simba has been relegated to that of `` a subplot . '' Desson Howe of The Washington Post advised parents to remind their daughters that despite the fact that Nala `` pads in the supportive shadows , awaiting her inevitable marriage to Simba , it does n't mean human girls ca n't grow up to be monarchs too . '' Nala 's role and demeanor during the film 's romantic `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' sequence has drawn criticism in regards to her `` submissive behaviour '' . The New York Times ' Janet Maslin cited the film 's lack of a strong heroine among its weaknesses , dismissing Nala and Simba 's interaction throughout `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' as `` obligatory '' and `` gratuitous '' . Joel W. Martin wrote in the Journal of Religion and Film , `` One song later , ( Nala and Simba ) have fallen in love . Playing one day , they literally tumble down a hillside in the jungle , and he ends up on top of her . This time , she does not bear her teeth , but instead , shows ' bedroom eyes ' '' . Martin ultimately accused the scene 's `` reversal of positions '' of `` establish ( ing ) male dominance . '' Criticizing the film for `` being merely distracting when it could have been both meaningful and instructive '' , Robert Humanick of Slant Magazine wrote , `` Small potatoes , then , when Simba 's former childhood friend and betrothed queen Nala ... unexpectedly reappears in his duty - free , protein - rich life , demanding he return to his kingly responsibilities and coaxing the lion to sleep tonight with arguably the most blatant ' fuck me now ' face to ever appear in a PG - rated film . '' However , the character has garnered positive reviews as well . Sara Franks - Allen of ScreenCrush wrote that `` If being a Disney princess is about being a good role model for little girls , then Nala has a lot in her favor '' , elaborating , `` She 's strong enough to take down Simba , ventures out on her own to find help for her pride and calls Simba out for ignoring his responsibilities . '' Meanwhile , Ella Ceron of Thought Catalog ranked Nala 14th on her list of `` The 16 Most Awesome Female Characters From Disney Movies '' . Responsible for introducing the seasoned actress to a younger audience , Kelly 's vocal performance as Nala has garnered critical acclaim . Writing for The Washington Post , Desson Howe hailed Kelly 's voice acting as `` terrific . '' Jeremy Gerard of Variety commended Kelly for voicing the character `` beautifully '' . PopSugar ranked Kelly among the website 's `` Favorite Animated Voices '' , writing , `` there are a lot of great voices in Disney 's The Lion King ... but Moira Kelly has a unique quality to her voice , and I remember reveling in it as a youngster anytime the adult Nala was on the screen . '' Official Disney Blogs published an article entitled `` We All Thought it ... But Nala Actually Said It '' , which cites the character 's most revered quotes . The blog also ranked Nala eighth on the website 's `` Definitive Ranking of Disney Cats '' list . In a 2014 interview , actor Eddie Redmayne admitted that Nala was his first `` celebrity crush '' , having been specifically attracted to the character 's `` sweet '' face and singing voice , referring to the experience as his `` sexual awakening '' . References ( edit ) Jump up ^ Rothman , Lily ( May 30 , 2014 ) . `` The Same Woman Wrote Maleficent and Beauty and the Beast -- Here 's How They 're Linked '' . Time . Time Inc . 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Jump up ^ Berardinelli , James . `` ' The Lion King ' '' . ReelViews.net . ReelViews . Retrieved September 28 , 2017 . ^ Jump up to : Howe , Desson ( June 24 , 1994 ) . `` ' The Lion King ' '' . The Washington Post . The Washington Post Company . Retrieved November 3 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Humanick , Rob ( September 12 , 2011 ) . `` The Lion King '' . Slant Magazine . Retrieved November 3 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Franks - Allen , Sara ( July 29 , 2013 ) . `` 10 Forgotten Disney Princesses '' . ScreenCrush . Townsquare Media , Inc . Retrieved December 19 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Gerard , Jeremy ( June 13 , 1994 ) . `` Review : ' The Lion King ' '' . Variety . Variety Media , LLC . Retrieved November 9 , 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Favorite Animated Voices '' . PopSugar . POPSUGAR Inc . Retrieved November 3 , 2015 . Jump up ^ `` A Definitive Ranking of Disney Cats '' . Official Disney Blogs . Disney . 2015 . Retrieved January 17 , 2016 . Jump up ^ Campbell , Tina ( December 23 , 2014 ) . `` Eddie Redmayne admits first crush was Nala from Disney 's The Lion King '' . Metro . Associated Newspapers Limited . Retrieved December 19 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Finn , Natalie ( December 19 , 2014 ) . `` So Anna Kendrick and Eddie Redmayne Used to Have a Thing for Animated Animals -- and Liam Neeson Had the Hots for a Cartoon Too ! '' . E !. Entertainment Television , LLC . Retrieved December 20 , 2015 . Jump up ^ Marquina , Sierra ( December 22 , 2014 ) . `` Eddie Redmayne Admits to `` Sexual Awakening '' During The Lion King , Says Nala Was `` So Sweet '' -- Watch `` . Us Weekly . Us Weekly . Retrieved December 20 , 2015 . ( hide ) The Lion King Films The Lion King ( 1994 ) The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride The Lion King 11⁄2 The Lion King ( 2019 ) Theater The Lion King Television or short films Timon & Pumbaa episodes Wild About Safety The Lion Guard episodes Characters Simba Timon and Pumbaa Nala Scar Music The Lion King `` Circle of Life '' `` I Just Ca n't Wait to Be King '' `` Be Prepared '' `` Hakuna Matata '' `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' The Lion King musical `` Endless Night '' `` The Madness of King Scar '' `` Shadowland '' Other Return to Pride Rock `` Love Will Find a Way '' Rhythm of the Pride Lands `` He Lives in You '' Video games The Lion King ( 1994 ) Disney 's Animated Storybook : The Lion King ( 1994 ) Timon & Pumbaa 's Jungle Games ( 1996 ) The Lion King : Simba 's Mighty Adventure ( 2000 ) The Lion King 11⁄2 ( 2003 ) Attractions Circle of Life : An Environmental Fable The Legend of the Lion King Festival of the Lion King The Lion King Celebration Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nala_(The_Lion_King)&oldid=837875959 '' Categories : The Lion King characters Fictional lions Fictional queens Female characters in animation Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from January 2018 Articles with permanently dead external links CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Good articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Español Français 日本 語 Português 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 23 April 2018 , at 15 : 37 . 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who does the voice of nala in the lion king
Nala The Lion King character Adult Nala as she appears in the first film First appearance The Lion King ( 1994 ) Created by Irene Mecchi Jonathan Roberts Linda Woolverton Voiced by Moira Kelly ( adult , speaking ) Niketa Calame ( cub , speaking ) Sally Dworsky ( adult , singing ) Laura Williams ( cub , singing ) Gabrielle Union ( The Lion Guard ) Beyoncé ( adult in the 2019 remake ) Shahadi Wright Joseph ( cub in the 2019 remake ) Information Species Lion Gender Female Family Sarafina ( mother ) Mufasa ( father - in - law , deceased ) Sarabi ( mother - in - law ) Kovu ( son - in - law ) Scar ( uncle - in - law , deceased ) Spouse ( s ) Simba ( husband ) Children Kopa ( son ) Kiara ( daughter ) Kion ( son ) Nala The Lion King character Adult Nala as she appears in the first film First appearance The Lion King ( 1994 ) Created by Irene Mecchi Jonathan Roberts Linda Woolverton Voiced by Moira Kelly ( adult , speaking ) Niketa Calame ( cub , speaking ) Sally Dworsky ( adult , singing ) Laura Williams ( cub , singing ) Gabrielle Union ( The Lion Guard ) Beyoncé ( adult in the 2019 remake ) Shahadi Wright Joseph ( cub in the 2019 remake ) Information Species Lion Gender Female Family Sarafina ( mother ) Mufasa ( father - in - law , deceased ) Sarabi ( mother - in - law ) Kovu ( son - in - law ) Scar ( uncle - in - law , deceased ) Spouse ( s ) Simba ( husband ) Children Kopa ( son ) Kiara ( daughter ) Kion ( son ) Nala is a fictional lioness , a character who appears in the Disney Lion King franchise . Introduced in the animated film The Lion King in 1994 , Nala subsequently appears as a less prominent character in the film 's sequels The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride ( 1998 ) and The Lion King 11⁄2 ( 2004 ) . In the original film , the adult Nala was voiced by American actress Moira Kelly . Young Nala 's speaking voice is provided by actress Niketa Calame , while singers Laura Williams and Sally Dworsky provide the singing voices of young and adult Nala respectively . Nala is introduced as the childhood best friend of Simba , and ultimately becomes his wife by the end of The Lion King . Several years after Simba 's uncle Scar has killed Simba 's father Mufasa and usurped the throne , Nala desperately ventures into the jungle to find help . Upon unexpectedly reuniting with a grown Simba , who she had long been tricked by Scar into presuming dead , Nala encourages him to return to Pride Rock , overthrow his uncle and ultimately become king . As Simba 's queen , Nala has a daughter , Kiara , whose story is explored in The Lion King : Simba 's Pride . Nala is the most significant female character in The Lion King . As the film was inspired by William Shakespeare 's tragedy Hamlet , Nala is considered to be The Lion King 's equivalent of Hamlet 's love interest Ophelia , although differences remain between the two characters . Many early concepts first developed for Nala were eventually abandoned , including a brother and father for the character , as well as her being romantically pursued by Scar . While critical reception towards Nala has been generally mixed -- both film and feminist critics complained about the character 's lack of involvement in the story and supposedly submissive demeanor during the song `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' -- Kelly 's vocal performance has been praised . Nala appears in the Broadway musical adaptation of the film , first played by singer Heather Headley . The character also appears in the television series The Lion Guard , with Gabrielle Union replacing Kelly as the voice of Nala . Beyoncé is set to voice the character in the upcoming 2019 remake of the original film directed by Jon Favreau . Film critic James Berardinelli identified Nala as The Lion King 's `` sole significant female character . '' Screenwriter Linda Woolverton conceived Nala `` as part of a gradual progression ... which have driven recent public conversation about what young girls should be able to expect from their cinematic role models . '' In early versions of the screenplay , Nala has a younger brother named Mheetu , who enjoys accompanying his sister and her best friend Simba on their adventures . Pronounced `` me too '' , the character 's name alludes to this personality trait . At one point , Simba was supposed to save the cub from a wildebeest stampede , and Nala would eventually become responsible for protecting Mheetu from Simba 's tyrannical uncle Scar . Nala also had a fox friend named Bhati . According to Woolverton , Mheetu and Bhati were eventually written out of the film because their stories were beginning to distract from Simba 's , in addition to the Mheetu - Scar subplot making the film too dark when combined with the death of Simba 's father Mufasa . At one point , Nala also had a father ; the character was similarly abandoned . Because The Lion King was originally conceived as a much more mature and adult - oriented film , Nala was supposed to have been banished from the Pride Lands as punishment for rejecting Scar 's romantic advances . This idea was to have been further explored in Scar 's song `` Be Prepared ( Reprise ) '' , during which Scar demands that Nala become his queen , but the musical number was ultimately cut from the final film because the scene was considered too `` creepy . '' Matthew Roulette of TheFW believes that the scene was abandoned because of the characters ' significant age difference . This scene however appears in the musical during the song `` The Madness of King Scar '' , minus Scar banishing Nala . Nala means `` gift '' in Swahili . The character has a mother , whose name is never mentioned in the film ; however , she is credited as Sarafina during the film 's end credits . Candice Russel of the Sun - Sentinel believes that Nala contributes to the film 's love story -- `` an indispensable factor in Disney cartoon features '' -- in addition to convincing Simba to return to Pride Rock . It has been observed that , unlike Disney 's three previous animated efforts ( The Little Mermaid ( 1989 ) , Beauty and the Beast ( 1991 ) and Aladdin ( 1992 ) , the romantic relationship between Nala and Simba is not main plot of the film . Ella Ceron of Thought Catalog observed that `` At ( Simba 's ) return , she 's not exactly the friendliest little kitten , either ... but is willing to overlook her own hurt ego in the spirit of their friendship . She believes in Simba , and does n't understand why he would n't want to fight for his right to rule . '' The speaking voice of adult Nala is provided by American actress Moira Kelly . Kelly was first informed that Disney was scheduling auditions for the role of Nala by her agent . Despite not having been the directors ' first choice for the role initially , Kelly was allowed to audition nonetheless because the filmmakers had been longing to hear different voices . Kelly believes that the directors were searching for a specific `` quality of voice ... a sort of authoritative voice but with a lot of warmth '' to compliment Nala 's sensible yet nurturing personality . After a series of callbacks , during which Kelly returned to Disney several times to read the character 's lines , the final decision eventually came down to be between Kelly and one other actress . It was not until several months after her audition that Kelly would finally be contacted and offered the part ; Disney 's initial first choice for the role remains undisclosed . Actor Matthew Broderick , voice of Simba , had already begun recording alongside another actress who had been cast as Nala before that actress was eventually replaced with Kelly . Broderick was not informed about his original co-star being recast , and only learned that Nala was actually voiced by Kelly at the film 's premiere . The film 's entire recording process took approximately three years to complete , during which Kelly 's sessions were held in both the United States and Canada , while her co-stars Broderick and Jeremy Irons , voice of Scar , were recording in the United States and England , respectively . Each main cast member recorded their dialogue separately , which took Kelly some time to get used to because she had grown accustomed to working with several other actors at a time on the sets of live - action films . For The Lion King , a director would often take the place of another actor for Kelly to act opposite of . Vocally , Kelly decided to approach the role as though she were reading to a child , explaining , `` it 's kind of fun to play with different voices and try to color the lines for the child so they can imagine it more fully '' , which she admitted is different than how the actress would approach a live - action role . Because Nala is a `` very straight character '' , determining what kind of voice she would use for her was not a particularly challenging task . Additionally , the filmmakers would also film Kelly 's performances in order to incorporate her own facial expressions into her character 's design , the process of which impressed the actress . In her film debut , actress Niketa Calame voices young Nala . According to Calame 's official website , Nala remains the actress ' `` biggest role to date '' . A classically trained pianist and chorister , Laura Williams provides the singing voice of young Nala , which can be heard in the song `` I Just Ca n't Wait to Be King '' ; the singer was 15 years old at the time . Meanwhile , singer - songwriter Sally Dworsky provides the singing voice of adult Nala , which is heard during the song `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' . The film 's love theme , `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' 's lyrics were re-written approximately 15 times , according to lyricist Tim Rice , who wrote the song alongside composer Elton John . At one point , the producers wanted the song to be a comical duet performed by supporting characters Timon and Pumbaa , despite the fact that John had originally composed the song with Nala and Simba in mind . However , John lobbied in favor of `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' being a love song performed as a duet by Nala and Simba , with which the filmmakers ultimately agreed . When asked by Disney if she was interested in reprising her role as Nala in The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride , Kelly immediately accepted , joking , `` Sure , you wan na do a third , fourth , fifth ? I 'm right there '' . In the case of The Lion King 11⁄2 , it took the actress only a few days to record her character 's dialogue due to Nala 's comparatively smaller role in the film ; much of Nala 's footage from the first film was simply reused accordingly . Elton John 's official website cites Kelly among the film 's cast of actors who `` would grace any red carpet . '' Kelly 's performance as Nala is responsible for introducing the actress to a younger audience . Previously , she had been better known for appearing in more adult - oriented live - action films at that time . In 2011 , Kelly revealed that fans of the film rarely recognize her speaking voice as the voice of Nala , although Robert DeSalvo of NextMovie.com claims that the actress `` has a ... distinctive voice that The Lion King fans will instantly recognize as the voice of adult Nala . '' A straight woman character , Kelly described Nala as a sensible and nurturing yet authoritative character , while Amber Leab of Bitch Flicks described her as strong , independent and intelligent . According to Oh My Disney , Nala serves as `` the proverbial glue that keeps The Lion King together '' , from whose perspective the audience watches the film because she `` says EXACTLY what we 're thinking '' . Occupying the role of the film 's female lead , Nala is The Lion King 's most important female character , who contributes to the film 's `` small romance element '' . Often identified as the film 's deuteragonist , Taylor Orci of The Atlantic felt that `` Nala is really the agent of change in The Lion King '' , dismissing Simba as a `` rich , lazy boyfriend . '' Leab observed that The Lion King 's male characters tend to `` take the center stage '' while `` female characters take a backseat to the action . '' Lenka Křivánková of Masaryk University wrote in her thesis `` 1990s Hollywood Break - Away Hits : A Feminist Perspective '' that she was not particularly surprised by the film 's lack of strong roles for women because of its Shakespearean source material , dubbing the film `` an old traditional fairy tale with all its traditional features '' , including patriarchy and monarchism . Writing for the University of Waterloo 's Kinema , Vicky Wong believes that Nala reinforces the film 's `` take your place '' motif , reminding main character Simba of his responsibilities . In his book Retelling Stories , Framing Culture : Traditional Story and Metanarratives in Children 's Literature , author John Stephens credits Nala with teaching Simba about responsibility -- `` the lesson the hero must learn before he can become an adult '' . Including Nala , The Lion King has only three major female characters in comparison to the film 's total of nine male ones . Shepherd University 's Emmylou Allen observed that Nala is introduced `` as a dominating young girl '' who ultimately matures into `` a strong woman '' by the film 's conclusion . Mouse Morality : The Rhetoric of Disney Animated Film author Annalee R. Ward wrote that Nala 's role in The Lion King reflected `` a 1990s feminist reversal '' . In her book Biblical Allusions , author Lindsay Bacher acknowledged that Nala is often depicted as a stronger and more responsible character than Simba , despite observations that The Lion King 's female characters lack agency . Leab identified Nala as Simba 's `` equal '' who is `` a more naturally sound leader throughout the film , while Simba tends to be comparatively a bit more immature and in need of multiple characters propelling him into responsible / rightful action . '' Physically , Nala is also a stronger and more skilled fighter than Simba , proven by the character 's ability to overwhelm him in battle , which is reminiscent `` of the physical power of lionesses in the real nature . '' However , as strong as she is , Nala has little impact elsewhere ; author Brian K. Pennington wrote in his book Teaching Religion and Violence that `` Nala 's assertions of gender equality are clearly groundless , since only a male lion can stop Scar . '' New York 's David Denbey dismissed Nala 's athleticism as nothing more than Disney 's attempt to `` disguise ( the film 's ) essential boss - daddy ethos . '' Bacher believes that had The Lion King featured Nala as the Pride Lands ' hero as opposed to Simba , the film could have avoided having a `` patriarchal structure . '' Leab concluded that `` the main and most problematic aspects of the film '' remain that The Lion King `` boils down to the fact that an entire group of strong female characters are unable to confront a single male oppressor ; to do so , they need to be led by a dominant male . '' Leab continued , `` It almost sucks more that Nala is such a strong ... female character and still ends up constrained by this plot device '' , accusing the film of depicting women as weak . Alongside Faline from Bambi ( 1942 ) and Maid Marian from Robin Hood ( 1973 ) added , Nala belongs to a trio of Disney heroines who , after having been separated from their love interests for several years , eventually reunite with them . Stephens believes that Nala and Simba 's separation allows the characters to fall in love `` properly '' upon reuniting as young adults . Because The Lion King is loosely based on William Shakespeare 's tragedy Hamlet , Nala is considered to be the film 's `` representative '' of the Hamlet character Ophelia , Hamlet 's love interest . Both characters ' relationships with and opinions of their love interests are similar , however , there are several differences between the two women . The Daily Californian 's Miyako Singer argued that `` Nala is no poor , tragic Ophelia '' , instead resembling a `` fierce princess warrior '' similar to the strong heroines Disney introduced during the 1990s . While identifying Nala as `` the closest character in The Lion King to Ophelia , '' Shepherd University 's Emmylou Allen acknowledged in her article `` Shakespeare in the Pride Lands '' that `` their similarities are not as great as their contrasts . '' Unlike Ophelia , Nala does not succumb to insanity , nor does she eventually die . Instead , Nala establishes herself as `` a physically powerful ally '' by encouraging Simba to return to Pride Rock , and helping the character overthrow Scar . Additionally , Nala is a more stubborn character than Ophelia , the latter of whom is quite passive and obedient . While Ophelia is raised by a single father , Nala is raised solely by her mother , which inspired Allen to believe that Nala is a manifestation of how Ophelia would have turned out had she been raised by a woman instead of a man , concluding , `` Nala is able to show the potential that Ophelia could have had . '' . A young Nala debuted in The Lion King ( 1994 ) as the daughter of Sarafina and the best friend of Simba , who she often accompanies on his adventures throughout the Pride Lands . Simba invites Nala to visit the forbidden Elephant Graveyard with him , despite his father Mufasa 's orders . The cubs are soon ambushed by Shenzi , Banzai and Ed , a trio of hyenas chosen by Simba 's treacherous uncle Scar to kill Simba in order to improve his own chances of becoming king , but are ultimately rescued by Mufasa . The following day , however , Nala is devastated to learn from Scar that both Simba and Mufasa have perished during a wildebeest stampede . With both Simba and Mufasa dead , Scar usurps the throne and becomes king . Several years into Scar 's tyrannical rule , which has left the kingdom barren and starving , a desperate Nala ventures into the jungle in search of help , where she attempts to eat a warthog named Pumbaa ; little does she know that the warthog is actually a friend of Simba 's , who is in fact alive and well . While defending Pumbaa from Nala , Simba recognizes Nala , and the two finally reunite only to argue over why Simba is refusing to face his responsibilities and return to Pride Rock . Upon learning that Simba has eventually decided to return to Pride Rock and face Scar , Nala travels back to the Pride Lands to assist him . Surprised to find Simba alive , Scar forces his guilt - ridden nephew to `` admit '' to the pride that he is responsible for Mufasa 's death , which was in fact caused by Scar himself by throwing Mufasa off a cliff into the stampede . Upon learning the truth , Simba forces his uncle to admit his crime to the pride , and a battle ensues between the pride and Scar 's army of hyenas . Simba eventually defeats Scar and becomes king , with Nala ultimately becoming his queen . In the film 's first direct - to - video sequel The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride ( 1998 ) , Nala appears in a less prominent role as Queen of the Pride Lands and mother of Kiara , the spirited daughter of her and Simba . Nala observes that Kiara , of whom Simba is very protective , has inherited her father 's rebellious personality and love of adventure . When Kiara befriends Zira 's son Kovu , a young lion from an exiled pride of Scar 's followers known as the Outsiders , Nala is much more tolerant of their relationship than Simba , and convinces him to offer Kovu a chance to prove himself trustworthy.At the end of the film , Nala gains Kovu as her son - in - law after he marries Kiara . In The Lion King 11⁄2 ( 2004 ) , which focuses instead on Timon and Pumbaa 's friendship , Nala 's role is virtually identical to that of her appearance in The Lion King because filmmakers reused most of the character 's footage from the first film . Voiced by actress Gabrielle Union , Nala reprises her role as Queen of the Pride Lands in the television series The Lion Guard , the 2016 premiere of which was preceded by the made - for - television film The Lion Guard : Return of the Roar ( 2015 ) . Set within the time gap in The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride , the show revolves around Nala and Simba 's son Kion who , being their second - born cub after Kiara , has been tasked with forming the next Lion Guard , a group responsible for protecting the Pride Lands . Although a fan of the Lion King franchise , Union avoided watching previous Lion King films in preparation for the role because she wanted to `` put ( her ) own stamp '' on the character . On November 1 , 2017 , it was confirmed that Beyoncé would voice adult Nala in Jon Favreau 's The Lion King , which is expected to be released in July 19 , 2019 . The same day Shahadi Wright Joseph was cast as young Nala in the film . In the Broadway musical adaptation of The Lion King , the role of Nala was originated by Trinidadian - American singer Heather Headley . Her Broadway debut , at first auditioning for the role proved a challenge for the singer due to her Ragtime contract , which her agent was eventually successful in getting her released from . Director Julie Taymor felt that Nala 's journey in the film was underdeveloped and among the story 's weaker elements , and thus decided to `` strengthen '' the character 's narrative for Broadway . Critical reception towards Nala has been generally mixed ; both film and feminist critics have accused the film of lacking empowering roles for female characters , including Nala . James Berardinelli of ReelViews appreciated the fact that `` after three animated motion pictures centered upon the love of two people from different worlds '' , the love story between Nala and Simba has been relegated to that of `` a subplot . '' Desson Howe of The Washington Post advised parents to remind their daughters that despite the fact that Nala `` pads in the supportive shadows , awaiting her inevitable marriage to Simba , it does n't mean human girls ca n't grow up to be monarchs too . '' Nala 's role and demeanor during the film 's romantic `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' sequence has drawn criticism in regards to her `` submissive behaviour '' . The New York Times ' Janet Maslin cited the film 's lack of a strong heroine among its weaknesses , dismissing Nala and Simba 's interaction throughout `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' as `` obligatory '' and `` gratuitous '' . Joel W. Martin wrote in the Journal of Religion and Film , `` One song later , ( Nala and Simba ) have fallen in love . Playing one day , they literally tumble down a hillside in the jungle , and he ends up on top of her . This time , she does not bear her teeth , but instead , shows ' bedroom eyes ' '' . Martin ultimately accused the scene 's `` reversal of positions '' of `` establish ( ing ) male dominance . '' Criticizing the film for `` being merely distracting when it could have been both meaningful and instructive '' , Robert Humanick of Slant Magazine wrote , `` Small potatoes , then , when Simba 's former childhood friend and betrothed queen Nala ... unexpectedly reappears in his duty - free , protein - rich life , demanding he return to his kingly responsibilities and coaxing the lion to sleep tonight with arguably the most blatant ' fuck me now ' face to ever appear in a PG - rated film . '' However , the character has garnered positive reviews as well . Sara Franks - Allen of ScreenCrush wrote that `` If being a Disney princess is about being a good role model for little girls , then Nala has a lot in her favor '' , elaborating , `` She 's strong enough to take down Simba , ventures out on her own to find help for her pride and calls Simba out for ignoring his responsibilities . '' Meanwhile , Ella Ceron of Thought Catalog ranked Nala 14th on her list of `` The 16 Most Awesome Female Characters From Disney Movies '' . Responsible for introducing the seasoned actress to a younger audience , Kelly 's vocal performance as Nala has garnered critical acclaim . Writing for The Washington Post , Desson Howe hailed Kelly 's voice acting as `` terrific . '' Jeremy Gerard of Variety commended Kelly for voicing the character `` beautifully '' . PopSugar ranked Kelly among the website 's `` Favorite Animated Voices '' , writing , `` there are a lot of great voices in Disney 's The Lion King ... but Moira Kelly has a unique quality to her voice , and I remember reveling in it as a youngster anytime the adult Nala was on the screen . '' Official Disney Blogs published an article entitled `` We All Thought it ... But Nala Actually Said It '' , which cites the character 's most revered quotes . The blog also ranked Nala eighth on the website 's `` Definitive Ranking of Disney Cats '' list . In a 2014 interview , actor Eddie Redmayne admitted that Nala was his first `` celebrity crush '' , having been specifically attracted to the character 's `` sweet '' face and singing voice , referring to the experience as his `` sexual awakening '' .
Moira Kelly