Esmeralda lives the life of a Gypsy. When she dances, the coins of many admirers fall at her feet and the hearts of men are filled with desire. Then one day she dances into danger, and only the walls of Notre Dame can save her from certain death. Esmeralda is a bit different from the past heroines. She's a little bit physically stronger and tougher. And yet, because she herself is an outcast and has been discriminated against, she has the capacity to sympathize and relate to Quasimodo as no one ever has before.
Esmeralda and her pet goat, Djali, live by their wits on the streets of Paris. The soldiers Judge Claude Frollo has ordered to rid the city of Gypsies are always a heartbeat away. Phoebus, the Captain of the Guard, clops down the cobblestones on his horse, Achilles. He tosses a gold coin into a beggar's hat. When he looks a second time, he sees that the beggar is actually a beautiful Gypsy girl in disguise -- Esmeralda!
Demi Moore brings enormous appeal, playful wit, and a sense of courage and compassion to the voice of the beautiful Esmeralda, a Gypsy dancer tangled in a web of romance and intrigue. The popular actress proved to be a great inspiration to the directors and animators, helping them to define and refine the character's look and personality throughout the lengthy production process.
Film: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996)
Voice Artist: Demi Moore (speaking) and Heidi Mollenhauer (singing)
