For Susan Egan, the first actress to bring a Disney Princess to life on Broadway and the voice of Disney’s iconic Greek heroine-of-sass on screen, it’s been a real slice.

This multitalented performer holds a distinctive place in Disney history: she not only originated the role of Belle in Disney on Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast, earning both Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress, she also lent her voice to the sharp-witted femme fatale, Megara, in Walt Disney Animation Studios’s feature film Hercules (1997).  The stage-and-screen star discovered that these unique characters resonated with her. “She doesn't fit in,” Susan once reflected of Belle. “She's intelligent, she's a reader, she's not a damsel in distress. She doesn't need anybody to save her life – in fact, she saves herself and everyone else. I love that!” As for her other leading lady, Susan observes, "Meg is definitely sarcastic and a little jaded. She can just look at a guy who's as innocent as Hercules and push all his buttons. She knows how to make him as uncomfortable as possible and that's very funny.”

Susan has also headlined on Broadway in Cabaret, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Triumph of Love and State Fair, was a series regular on WB’s Nikki, and guest-starred on Modern Family, NYPD Blue, the Disney+ series Encore, Gotta Kick It Up for the Disney Channel, and more. She voiced leading roles in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away and Porco Rosso and spent five seasons as Rose Quartz on Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe. Additionally, her world-class singing has led to her headline in concert with more than 70 symphony orchestras worldwide, including return engagements at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Hollywood Bowl. She has over 40 recording credits including seven solo albums.

Susan’s journey began in high school at the Orange County School of the Arts and then UCLA, where she was honored with a Carol Burnett Musical Theatre Award. "I'm fortunate that so many communities in Southern California support their local theater," the actress said. ''It gave me a playground to try things out, to succeed and fail, to really learn my craft before I went to New York. I found that once I went East and started auditioning that I was surprisingly prepared for it."

Her auditions included Beauty and the Beast, the stage adaptation of the popular 1991 Disney animated feature that opened on Broadway on April 18, 1994.  "I almost didn't go to the audition," Susan revealed. "I hadn’t seen the film, and I just didn't think I was right for the role. I’ve never felt ‘beautiful,’ but reading the scenes, I learned that Belle is so relatable – misunderstood and longing to find where she belongs, and that clicked” she recalled. "Later I realized they weren't interested in having someone copy the movie but rather in finding someone who could capture the spirit of the film in their own way." Susan finally saw the animated feature the night she was officially cast as Belle, over hundreds of other actresses. "I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I went to [the video store], got some Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and sat on my couch with my dog. We began watching, and I thought 'Oh, my goodness! This is huge.'"

While Susan was still in Beauty and the Beast, Disney began searching for a Broadway-caliber talent to voice the main female role for the next animated feature, Hercules. At first, the studio was reluctant to even audition Susan as they associated her with the kind-hearted Belle, but after showcasing her signature sarcasm and range, they realized she was the perfect fit for the cynical yet soulful Meg. Ken Duncan, the supervising animator of Meg observed:  "What's nice about Meg is that she's a very strong character with a mind of her own. She's quick-witted, independent and has a dramatic arc in the film which takes her from being untrusting and hard-edged to being a softer, more open person by the end of the film. Susan Egan was fantastic to work with and her take on the character gave me great ideas as to attitudes, poses and gestures." Hercules lyricist David Zippel gushed when the film was released, "Susan Egan is an extraordinary actress who really understands her character. She has an edge and yet she's likable at the same time. Susan really delivered the goods."

Today, Susan is a prolific executive producer of live global concert events. Through their company, 10th & Main Productions, she and partner Adam J. Levy have worked closely with multiple divisions of the Walt Disney Company, creating and producing: Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Concert and Disney ‘80s-‘90s Celebration in Concert, both at the Hollywood Bowl, and Disney All Stars in Taipei for Disney Concerts; Disney Hits Live for Disney Vacation Club; and the Broadway Stars Series and Heroes & Villains for Disney Cruise Line.  As managing partners of Broadway Princess Party LLC, they also co-created and produce Disney Princess – The Concert, which has played 20 countries on 5 continents, since premiering in 2021.

In November 2025, Susan was named the Official Godmother of the Disney Destiny, the Disney Cruise Line ship which features various spaces inspired by her legendary roles, including the beautifully themed Café Megara.

Susan looks at her Disney achievements as dreams-come-true, “I dreamed of Broadway, as many do, and Disney gifted me that. I had no idea at the time that the gift would prove to be open-ended - the company has allowed me to redefine myself multiple times and given me platforms to expand my reach and to participate in the storytelling that inspires and brings joy to so many. I am forever grateful for that.”