Legend of Zelda: 8 Best Actors Who Could Play Zelda In The Live Action

Highlights

• Hunter Schafer, Saoirse Ronan, and Anya Taylor-Joy are fan-favorite choices for the role of Princess Zelda in the upcoming live-action movie.
• Zendaya and Kathryn Newton are also strong contenders to bring the iconic character to life on the big screen.
• Sophie Turner, Elle Fanning, and Lily James could also make fantastic portrayals of Zelda, adding depth and star power to the film.

It’s only been a few months since Nintendo announced they were partnering with Sony to develop a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, but fans have already run wild with predictions about which Hollywood stars will be cast as the wielders of the Triforce. Perhaps the casting people are most curious to learn about is the titular role of Princess Zelda.

Considering that Zelda has seen many different interpretations throughout the Zelda franchise, there are a lot of places Nintendo could take her depending on the actress they cast. Whether they go for a Zelda who fights alongside Link or a damsel-in-distress, these eight actors would probably excite movie fans the most if they are chosen for the role.

8 Hunter Schafer

The Right Choice Is Often The Most Obvious One

Notable Roles:

• Tigris Snow – The Hunger Games: A Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes
• Jules Vaughn – Euphoria

The most popular actor’s name thrown around in contention for the role of Princess Zelda is, without a doubt, Hunter Schafer. The 25-year-old actress experienced mainstream acclaim when she began starring as Jules in HBO’s Euphoria. She has since taken on roles in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and is due to appear in Hideo Kojima’s upcoming game OD.

While Schafer clearly bears a physical resemblance to video game depictions of Princess Zelda, the actress has also shown great enthusiasm towards the fan-casting. Furthermore, Schafer has also admitted to being a fan of the Zelda franchise, so it just seems like a no-brainer to cast her. Although, maybe Nintendo will be spooked by the work Schafer’s done on Euphoria.

7 Saoirse Ronan

Bonus Points If The Movie Is Filmed In Ireland

Notable Roles:

• Constable Stalker – See How They Run
• Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson – Lady Bird
• Jo March – Little Women

In the past few years, Saoirse Ronan has gained a reputation as one of the best actresses of the current generation. At only 29 years old, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress three separate times and has shown her comedic range as host of Saturday Night Live and in See How They Run, but she has yet to enter a major franchise.

The Legend of Zelda could be the perfect avenue for Ronan, who has been known to play both medieval royalty and precocious teens throughout her career. Though the actress seems particularly picky about the roles she chooses, if Nintendo plays their cards right, they could get an Oscar-nominated actress as their steadfast ruler of Hyrule.

6 Anya Taylor-Joy

The Princess’ Gambit

Notable Roles:

• Princess Peach – The Super Mario Bros. Movie
• Olga – The Northman
• Emma Woodhouse – Emma

In all fairness, Anya Taylor-Joy has already entered the Nintendo cinematic universe by voicing Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Some might think this could hurt her chances of showing up in a Zelda movie, but the major distinction between these two films is that Zelda will be live-action while Mario was animated. This could possibly work in Taylor-Joy’s favor.

Given the enthusiasm Taylor-Joy showcased while playing Peach, it’d be no shock if Nintendo trusted her to bring one of their most iconic female characters to life on screen. Taylor-Joy is also no stranger to period drama, with previous roles including Emma, The Witch, and The Northman, but her roles in The Queen’s Gambit and Furiosa might be closer comparisons to Zelda.

5 Zendaya

They Even Share An Initial

Notable Roles:

• Chani – Dune
• Rue Bennett – Euphoria
• MJ – Spider-Man: No Way Home

Zendaya is likely one of the biggest movie stars of the past few years ever since she quickly rose from Disney Channel stardom to mainstream prominence with roles in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Euphoria, and The Greatest Showman. More recently, she features in the Dune films and will next star in Luca Guadagnino’s tennis drama Challengers.

As for the role of Princess Zelda, Zendaya seems like an easy choice for Nintendo to get the younger generation interested in showing up to the theaters in droves. She’s clearly got the look to play the part, as well as both the comedic and dramatic acting chops. However, Nintendo also may have trouble locking her down, as the actress is booked and busy as of late.

4 Kathryn Newton

Gotta Cast ‘Em All

Notable Roles:

• Lucy Stevens – Pokemon Detective Pikachu
• Cassandra Lang – Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania

Kathryn Newton is also no stranger to helping Nintendo make the transition to live-action films. In 2019, she played a supporting role in Detective Pikachu, but being cast as Princess Zelda might be an entirely different experience. It’d also be a departure for Newton, who has starred in horror films like Freaky, Lisa Frankenstein, and the TV series Supernatural.

Additionally, Newton seems down for the franchise role, as seen by her appearance in the MCU’s Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania. Though Newton has never been in a role that would require her to be transported to a fantasy setting like Hyrule, there are few actresses like her who would so easily be down for the challenge of playing Princess Zelda.

3 Sophie Turner

The Queen Of The North Returns

Notable Roles:

• Sansa Stark – Game Of Thrones
• Jean Grey – Dark Phoenix

There’s been a well-deserved public reckoning for Sophie Turner in the past year after she spent some time away from the spotlight after starring in Game of Thrones and the X-Men films as a young Jean Grey. However, the actress seems primed for a comeback, and playing Princess Zelda may be the perfect one, given the character’s similarities to Sansa Stark.

In fact, Zelda may just be the perfect middle ground between Turner’s performance as Sansa and her mutant abilities as Jean Grey. Plus, the actress can keep her natural blonde hair for the role rather than dye it red like she did for the duration of Game of Thrones. If Nintendo wants fantasy credibility for their Zelda movie, a Thrones cast member could do the trick.

2 Elle Fanning

She Wouldn’t Just Be Great; She’d Be The Great

Notable Roles:

• Aurora – Maleficent
• Catherine – The Great

Despite being only 25 years old, Elle Fanning is a seasoned veteran in the film industry, having acted since she was a child alongside her older sister Dakota Fanning. She’s since had a pretty solid career of playing princesses, from the Maleficent films to her Hulu series The Great, in which she plays Russian empress Catherine the Great.

Fanning has had plenty of experience with medieval-adjacent period pieces. The Legend of Zelda, while an intimidating project to be a part of, would be no different for her. Plus, she’s set to star in Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding sequel, so she may not be a stranger to the world of video games, either.

1 Lily James

Tale As Old As Time

Notable Roles:

• Cinderella – Cinderella
• Donna Sheridan – Mamma-Mia! Here We Go Again

Lily James is one of the most exciting English actresses of the current generation, with a huge diversity of films in her resume. She showed off her princess looks in Disney’s live-action Cinderella, she proved to be an action femme fatale in Baby Driver, and she even showed off her singing skills in the musical Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

The actress may be incredibly busy in the coming years, but a role like Princess Zelda only comes around once in a lifetime. She may eschew it for a different project, but if the role of Hyrule’s fearless leader is in any actress’ hands, Lily James would be quite a safe one.