Imaginary Friends Voice Actor Guide
John Krasinski recruited an A-list cast to voice the imaginary friends in his new family-friendly fantasy film, IF.
Director and co-writer Krasinski stars as the father of 12-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming), who gains the ability to see imaginary friends (referred to as “IFs”) who have been left behind by those who’ve grown up. With the help of her neighbor Cal (Ryan Reynolds), who shares her power to see IFs, Bea sets out to provide the imaginary friends with new kids to play with.
Besides Krasinski, who in addition to his live-action role as Bea’s dad also voices Marshmallow, the all-star cast includes Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, George Clooney, Maya Rudolph, Jon Stewart, Bradley Cooper and Blake Lively.
Krasinski told The Hollywood Reporter that he took ideas from his and Blunt’s children while writing the flick. “I pitched them the idea of the script, I showed them all the drawings I did while I was writing the script — I’m a terrible artist, so I had to walk them through that,” he explained. “They told me what was cute about certain IFs, what wasn’t cute, what they wanted to change.”
He also shared that his daughters’ own IFs are featured in the movie. “Ally the pink alligator is one of my daughter’s and the other one is the flaming marshmallow, so it’s a family affair,” he said.
Read on to find out the voices behind the film’s 19 IFs.
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Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Blossom
Image Credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Phoebe Waller-Bridge voices Blossom, a ladybug who is determined to help Bea in her quest to find new people who could use an imaginary friend.
After creating and starring in Emmy-winning TV series Fleabag, based on her one-woman stage show, the British Waller-Bridge became a big star across the pond. She co-wrote the James Bond movie No Time to Die; starred alongside Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny; appeared on HBO’s Run, which she also executive produced; and reunited with her Fleabag co-star Andrew Scott, voicing his character John Parry’s daemon Sayan Kötör in His Dark Materials.
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Steve Carell as Blue
Image Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Steve Carell stars as the warm and fuzzy purple creature, Blue, who is excited to connect with a new person in need of an imaginary friend.
In addition to his role in IF, Carell is likely well-known to young audiences for voicing former supervillain Gru in the Despicable Me franchise.
Carell got his start on The Dana Carvey Show in 1996 and worked as a correspondent on The Daily Show from 1999 until 2005. He had breakout roles in Anchorman and The 40-Year-Old Virgin and spent seven seasons as Michael Scott on the U.S. version of The Office.
He has also excelled as a dramatic actor, receiving an Oscar nomination for his role as John Eleuthère du Pont in 2014 biographical sports drama Foxcatcher. He also received acclaim for his portrayal of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in Adam McKay’s Vice and his work in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City.
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Louis Gossett Jr. as Lewis
Image Credit: Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Louis Gossett Jr. voices Lewis, an elderly teddy bear.
Gossett Jr. had a decades-long career on both the screen and the stage. At 17-years-old, he made his Broadway debut in Take a Giant Step. He also starred in the original Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun before appearing in the 1961 movie version, which marked his feature film debut.
He received acclaim for portraying Fiddler on Roots in 1977, for which he received his first Emmy award. He also won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1983 for An Officer and a Gentleman.
Gossett died in March 2024 at the age of 87 after battling prostate cancer. Voicing Lewis for IF was one of his final roles.
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Emily Blunt as Unicorn
Image Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Emily Blunt is the colorful Unicorn, who brings sunshine and joy with her optimistic personality.
The English actress rose to fame in the U.S. with her supporting role in The Devil Wears Prada alongside Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. She’s since become a leading lady, with roles in Mary Poppins Returns, The Girl on the Train, Jungle Cruise, Oppenheimer and The Fall Guy.
This is the second time Blunt has been directed by her husband John Krasinski. The couple worked together in the first two Quiet Place films, in which they also played husband and wife.
Besides her role in IF, Blunt has voiced characters in Sherlock Gnomes and My Little Pony: The Movie.
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John Krasinski as Marshmallow
Image Credit: John Nacion/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures In addition to directing IF and playing the dad of protagonist Bea (Cailey Fleming), John Krasinski voices Marshmallow.
Krasinski broke through with his role as Jim Halpert in NBC’s U.S. version of The Office. Krasinski co-wrote, directed and starred in the first two Quiet Place films. He also starred in Amazon Prime Video’s action series Jack Ryan as the titular CIA analyst.
As for his voice acting work, Krasinski has lent his voice to American Dad!, BoJack Horseman, Monsters University, Monsters vs. Aliens, DC League of Super-Pets and Shrek the Third, among other animated shows and movies.
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Christopher Meloni as Cosmo
Image Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Christopher Meloni is Cosmo, a P.I. who is imagined from the pages of a ’50s noir spy novel.
Meloni is best known for his role as Detective Elliot Stabler in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, making his debut on the long-running crime series in 1999. His first voice acting role was in the ABC family-friendly sitcom Dinosaurs as Spike. He has also lent his voice to Harley Quinn, Family Guy, Rick and Morty and Captain Fall.
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Maya Rudolph as Alligator
Image Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Maya Rudolph voices Alligator, who is absolutely harmless unlike others of her species.
Rudolph first broke through on Saturday Night Live, joining the cast in 1999 until she left in 2008. Since then, she’s acted in movies such as Bridesmaids, both Grown Ups films, Inherent Vice (2014), Sisters (2015), Life of the Party (2018), Wine Country (2019), Licorice Pizza (2021) and Disenchanted (2022).
She currently stars in the Apple TV+ series Loot, which she also serves as an executive producer for.
Her voice acting credits are extensive beyond IF, including Big Hero 6, Shrek the Third, The Angry Birds Movie, Luca and Big Mouth. She won Emmys for her voice work in Big Mouth in 2020, 2021 and 2023.
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Jon Stewart as Robot
Image Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Jon Stewart lends his voice to Robot, who is described as “angrily sardonic.”
Stewart started out as a stand-up comedian, but became a household name as host of The Daily Show from 1999 until 2015 and recently returned to the gig as the Monday night host through the 2024 election. He made his feature film directorial debut with 2014’s Rosewater, which he co-wrote, and he wrote and directed the 2020 film Irresistible, starring Steve Carell and Rose Byrne.
He’s done voice acting work for Gravity Falls, Robot Chicken, Phineas and Ferb and The Simpsons, among other TV shows and movies.
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Bradley Cooper as Ice
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Bradley Cooper is the uptight but cool Ice, who is constantly worried about the other IFs gulping him up.
Cooper has earned 12 Oscar nominations for his work as an actor, writer and producer.
After making his feature film debut in Wet Hot American Summer, Cooper landed his first major role as Phil in The Hangover franchise. It turned him into one of the most sought after movie stars, with roles in Limitless, The Place Beyond the Pines, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle and American Sniper. As for his voice acting, Cooper’s biggest role to date is as Rocket in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
He made his feature directorial debut with the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born, going on to direct 2023’s Maestro. He starred in, co-wrote and produced both movies.
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Matt Damon as Flower
Image Credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Matt Damon voices Flower, a sunflower.
Damon remains one of Hollywood’s most prolific actors. In 1997, Damon co-wrote and starred in Good Will Hunting, winning an Oscar with his best friend and fellow writer and actor Ben Affleck for best original screenplay. The film launched Damon’s career as an actor, leading to him starring in major movies such as Saving Private Ryan, The Talented Mr. Ripley, the Ocean’s trilogy and the Bourne Identity franchise.
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George Clooney as Spaceman
Image Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures George Clooney is Spaceman, an astronaut who dreams of finally blasting off into the galaxy.
The actor became a household name through his starring role in ER from 1994 until 1999. He traded his TV days for leading man status, with films like Batman & Robin, From Dusk Till Dawn, Up in the Air, Gravity and the Ocean’s trilogy. The actor’s numerous credits include some voice acting work, such as the titular character in Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox.
IF marks a reunion of sorts for Clooney and Krasinski, as Clooney directed and co-starred in the Krasinski-starring film Leatherheads.
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Sebastian Maniscalco as Magical Mouse
Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Sebastian Maniscalco voices the tiny magician Magical Mouse.
Maniscalco is best known as a stand-up comedian. His stand-up specials include Sebastian Live, What’s Wrong With People? and Stay Hungry and Is It Me? He has also become a prolific actor, appearing in Green Book, Tag, The Irishman and About My Father (which he also co-wrote).
His previous voice acting credits include The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature.
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Awkwafina as Bubble
Image Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Awkwafina voices Bubble.
Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, started out as a comedic rapper, with “My Vag,” her parody of Mickey Avalon’s “My Dick,” becoming an internet sensation. Her success on YouTube led to an acting career, with roles in Ocean’s 8, Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, Renfield and other films.
She’s no stranger to voice acting, lending her voice to The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, Kung Fu Panda 4, Raya and the Last Dragon and The Bad Guys. She also voiced Scuttle in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
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Blake Lively as Octopuss
Image Credit: Jade Greene/WWD via Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Blake Lively makes her voice acting debut as Octopuss, an adorable cat-octopus.
Lively’s breakout role was as Bridget in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies. She’s also well-known for starring in The CW’s hit series Gossip Girl as Serena van der Woodsen from 2007 until 2012. Since Gossip Girl‘s end, Lively has starred in various films, including The Age of Adaline, A Simple Favor and Café Society. She stars in the upcoming adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us, which hits theaters this summer.
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Matthew Rhys as Ghost
Image Credit: John Lamparski/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Matthew Rhys is Ghost (a.k.a. Andromedus the Third), a regal spirit.
The actor broke through with his role in the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters as Kevin Walker. Two years after the series ended, he began starring alongside his now-partner Keri Russell in FX’s The Americans, which he received a best actor in a drama series Emmy for in 2018.
This isn’t his first time voicing an animated character. He’s done voice acting work for Seal Team, Archer, BoJack Horseman, Tuca & Bertie and The Owl House.
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Richard Jenkins as Art Teacher
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Richard Jenkins portrays Art Teacher, a figure model who helps IFs tap into their creative abilities.
Jenkins starred as Nathaniel Fisher Sr., the patriarch of the Fisher family, in the critically acclaimed series Six Feet Under, which ran from 2001 until 2005. He has also appeared in countless films, including Hannah and Her Sisters, The Witches of Eastwick, There’s Something About Mary, Step Brothers and The Shape of Water, among others.
He’s lent his voice to various animated movies, including Turbo and The Tale of Despereaux.
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Keegan-Michael Key as Slime
Image Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Paramount Pictures Keegan-Michael Key voices Slime, a friendly green slimeball who is always there for the other IFs.
Key has found success as both a comedian and actor. He co-created and starred in Comedy Central’s Key & Peele alongside Jordan Peele and appeared on TV shows like Playing House, Friends From College and Reboot. Most recently, Key starred in Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon. He’s also played supporting roles in movies like Horrible Bosses 2, Pitch Perfect 2 and Don’t Think Twice, among others.
Besides IF, Key’s voice has been heard on various animated movies, such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Lego Movie and Toy Story 4.
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Sam Rockwell as Guardian Dog
Image Credit: Lia Toby/Getty Images Sam Rockwell is Guardian Dog, a canine superhero.
IF isn’t Rockwell’s first voice acting stint. He voiced Hickory in Trolls World Tour, Wolf in The Bad Guys, Justin Hammer on Marvel’s What If…? and Vic in F is for Family. Rockwell has also taken on some high-profile live-action roles throughout his career, including parts in The Green Mile, Vice, Jojo Rabbit and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. He won a best supporting actor Oscar for his performance in the latter in 2018.
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Amy Schumer as Gummy Bear
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Amy Schumer voices Gummy Bear, a big sweetie in every sense of the word.
Schumer is best known for her comedic work, starting out as a stand-up comedian. She had her own sketch comedy series Inside Amy Schumer on Comedy Central from 2013 until 2016, which was revived for a fifth season on Paramount+ in 2022. She also starred in various movies, including Trainwreck, which she also wrote, and I Feel Pretty. Recently Schumer created and stars in the “deeply personal” Hulu series Life & Beth.
Besides IF, the comedian has lent her voice to various animated films and TV shows, including The Simpsons, BoJack Horseman, Family Guy, Trolls Band Together and Bob’s Burgers.
