Mae Questel - The Voice of Betty Boop

A young Mae Questel

Born Mae "Kwestel" in New York City, Questel won a talent contest at the age of 17, and began performing in Vaudeville. She was seen by Animator, Max Fleischer, who was looking for an actress to provide the voice of Betty Boop's character. She became Betty Boop's voice for many years.

An older Mae Questel, provider of the voice for Betty Boop

Photograph of an older Mae Questel	Betty Boop riding in car with the voice of Mae Questel (film archive)

Questel's "Boop-boop-a-doop" routine, done in a style similar to that of the song's originator, Helen Kane, while at the same time evoking something of the naughty allure of film star Clara Bow, was exactly what Fleischer had been looking for.

Mae Questel performing

Photograph of Mae Questel in long dress

From the mid-1930's Questel also provided the voice for Olive Oyl in the Popeye animated shorts. She based Olive's nasal vocal style on that of the legendary character actress ZaSu Pitts, and ultimately played the role for more than twenty years.

She voiced as well Little Lulu, Little Audrey and Casper the Friendly Ghost in their respected animated shorts. In the 1950's, she was the voice to the title character of the interactive, and pioneering, Saturday-morning cartoon series Winky Dink and You.

Collage of Mae Questel with all the characters she played

Collage of Mae Questel with all the characters she played