Liza Lapira shares her process for voicing Disgust in Inside Out 2. Following the beloved 2015 film, Pixar revisited the personified emotions that reside in Riley’s mind during her transition into high school. Recently nominated for Best Animated Feature at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards, Inside Out 2 introduced new emotions, like Anxiety (Maya Hawke) and Envy (Ayo Edebiri), who enter the headquarters alongside Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear. Among the original emotions, Inside Out 2 saw a change in the voice behind Disgust, with Lapira stepping into the role previously voiced by Mindy Kaling.
In an interview with Screen Rant, Lapira discussed her approach to voicing Disgust after Kaling’s iconic portrayal in the first Inside Out film. Lapira noted that her focus was not on mimicking Kaling’s voice but on capturing the essence of Disgust’s character—someone who is judgmental, protective, and almost always measuring things on a barometer of worth. Here's what she had to say:
I loved the [first] movie even if I wasn't in it. I came at it thinking about the character. I figured they chose me, they chose Tony Hale, they knew what we sounded like, so I didn't have to do anything or mimic vocals. Kelsey Mann, the director, made it clear that it wasn't about matching a timber and
more about getting to the essence of the character.
So I just thought about what Disgust thinks and feels, and I likened her to the type that always asks to speak to the manager and the type that is always judging.
Everything is a barometer.
"That's not good enough. That's good enough. That pasta is too soggy. Those potatoes are great." Everything's like, "This is good. This is not good. This is good. This is not good." And it's a very judgy and also a tween kind of attitude, like, "Ick, no." And it's all under the umbrella of protecting, right?
Because it's not just judging for judgment's sake.
It's judging to protect.
So I just took all my tween energy, all my "asking for the manager" energy, and that changed my voice. And then I had a mannerism where I checked my hair for split ends. I've talked about this a lot, but Kelsey caught me looking down, kind of picking at my split ends, and it changed the way that I spoke. I wasn't really engaging with the other person. I was just kind of like, "Yeah, whatever."
And he said, "Lisa, what are you doing?" [Laughs] And I told him, and he fell on the floor laughing, and he said, "Okay, that's brilliant. Do that." So every line, he would say,
"Okay, now do a split ends take."
If you just look down at your hair, and you just honestly look for it, it takes your energy. It is kind of rude to the person that you're talking to because you're so focused on something else. [Laughs]
What Liza Lapira's Approach To Disgust Means For Inside Out 2
The Actor Reimagines Disgust As Riley's Protector
Disgust is responsible for Riley’s aversions and maintaining her boundaries, a crucial role in Inside Out 2 as she navigates the complexities of new friends and high school norms. As the protector of Riley’s boundaries, Lapira taps into the emotional atmosphere of self-preservation that maintains Riley's sense of self in Inside Out 2. In contrast to Kaling’s more playful and confident Disgust, Lapira’s portrayal emphasizes a more self-aware, judgmental tone. Lapira's Disgust "judges to protect" as Riley navigates a new hockey team with myriad popular girls to impress and old friendships to balance.
From Envy to Anxiety to Nostalgia, Inside Out 2 introduced a bunch of new emotions in Riley's mind — and they each had their share of great moments.
Via the CBS crime drama The Equalizer and the ABC sitcom Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Lapira’s background in television has aided in her ability to effortlessly switch between comedy and drama. Disgust’s dual role as a source of judgment and protection could easily slip into flat caricature, but Lapira’s portrayal allows the character to feel both fun and empathetic. Her focus on creating a “tween” energy to Disgust is a natural extension of Riley's mind in Inside Out 2 as the movie continues to explore the push and pull between her growing independence and her childhood need for stability.
Our Take On Lapira's Approach To Disgust
Lapira's Disgust Brings New Energy To Inside Out 2
Lapira as Disgust in Inside Out 2 brought a fresh, yet faithful approach to the character. By channeling a more self-absorbed, judgmental tween attitude, Lapira captures Disgust’s protective nature while making her feel more nuanced and relatable as Riley navigates high school. The actor's "split end take" is also a clever behind-the-scenes touch to the character’s dismissiveness. Lapira’s performance in Inside Out 2 continues Disgust’s role in Riley’s emotional development, balancing humor with empathy, and effectively showcasing both Riley’s and Disgust’s journeys.
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore.
English (US) ·