Tiffany Boone has breathed new life into the character of Sarabi in Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King.” The talented actress recently shared insights about voicing the younger version of Simba’s mother in the 2025 prequel to the 2019 live-action film. Her performance brings a fresh dimension to the beloved character, blending regality with youthful sass.
“I watched both performances multiple times, listened to both performances multiple times,” Boone revealed when discussing how she approached the role. She studied the work of Alfre Woodard from the 2019 film and Madge Sinclair from the original 1994 animated classic to honor the character’s legacy.
Bringing Youthful Energy and Sass to Sarabi’s Character
Director Barry Jenkins encouraged Boone to make the role her own rather than simply imitate previous performances. “We are seeing who she is as a young lady. We’re setting the path for where she’s going,” Jenkins told her during their discussions about the character.
Boone added layers to Sarabi that weren’t present in previous portrayals. “A lot of times when I was recording with Barry, he was trying to bring my natural sassiness out,” she explained. “I don’t think you see a sassiness in Sarabi in the original film. You see a lot of vulnerability I was trying to bring to it. But also she’s tough and she’s confident.”
This younger version of Sarabi shows more range, making mistakes and sometimes being defensive about them. The character also has an important role in the prequel’s storyline, as Boone noted, “In Sarabi’s youth, she’s the reason for Zazu coming in for Mufasa’s kingly stage in his life; he’s not the reason.”
Musical Success with “Tell Me It’s You” Showcases Vocal Talent
Boone’s performance isn’t limited to dialogue. Her song “Tell Me It’s You” has been trending since the film’s release. When recording the music, she worked briefly with renowned composer Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“There’s a specific sound to Lin’s music,” Boone shared. “There’s a specific way to sing it. There’s a specific way to sing Disney songs.” She revealed that her natural R&B style sometimes needed adjustment to fit the Disney musical universe. “It was about maintaining the character as well as staying in the world of Disney. The songs we’ve grown up loving, there’s a feeling to them, and we wanted to capture that.”
The musical elements of the film add another dimension to Sarabi’s character, allowing Boone to express the lioness’s emotions through song. This artistic choice helps build the emotional foundation for who Sarabi later becomes in “The Lion King” timeline.
First-Time Voice Acting Challenges and Triumphs
“Mufasa: The Lion King” marks Boone’s first voice acting role. To prepare, she worked with voice coach Christia Vayo throughout the audition process and first year of production.
“This was my first time doing voice over work. She really helped me learn the basics of everything,” Boone explained. The actress initially approached the unfamiliar medium with apprehension but soon discovered its creative freedom. “She also helped me learn how to have fun. I had so much fear around it, and she was like, ‘You’re an actor, Tiff, you do film and television all the time.'”
Vayo encouraged Boone to apply her existing acting skills while embracing the unique opportunities of voice work. “Now you get to have more freedom to just physically do anything you want to do, make your voice sound as crazy as you want it to. Just use your imagination,” Boone recalled being told.
Exploring Grief and Trauma Through Disney’s Powerful Storytelling
Boone, known for her roles in “The Following” and “Nine Perfect Strangers,” has often tackled themes of grief and trauma in her work. “Mufasa: The Lion King” continues this pattern, albeit in a more family-friendly format.
“Part of my connection for why I loved the original film so much growing up, I couldn’t articulate it as a child. It helped me process grief as a young child,” Boone reflected. She sees her participation in the franchise as coming full circle. “It’s a gift to be able to be a part of the story of The Lion King and still continue to explore those same themes.”
The actress appreciates how the Disney film allows her to address serious themes while still creating content her family can enjoy. “It’s wonderful to work in this medium, on this Disney film, in this legacy, because it’s a way to deal with the same themes I always feel like I’m working with — but in a way that’s light and I’m still able to have fun, and laugh, and sing, and dance.”
“Mufasa: The Lion King” is now available for digital streaming purchase, with behind-the-scenes content and sing-along features. The physical copy releases on April 1, 2025.
