When Shrek the Third hit theaters in 2007, it brought back the core ensemble of fairy tale parodists while introducing a massive wave of new celebrity talent. The plot revolves around Shrek reluctantly hunting for a legitimate royal heir to rule Far Far Away, sending him on a quest alongside Donkey and Puss in Boots to find his rebellious cousin-in-law, Artie. Understanding who voices each character helps clarify how the franchise expanded its roster beyond the primary fairy tale quartet.
The voice cast blends returning comedy veterans with pop culture icons, musicians, and late-night talk show hosts. Whether you're trying to place a familiar voice or mapping out the entire roster of royal family members, fairy tale princesses, and villains, this breakdown covers every primary and supporting role in detail.
The Core Quartet
The main characters driving the narrative remain anchors for the franchise, balancing familiar chemistry with new situational pressures.
- Shrek: Voiced by Mike Myers. Myers returns as the lovable, cynical ogre who suddenly faces the terrifying prospect of becoming a father and a king. His performance keeps the character grounded despite the surreal royal obligations.
- Donkey: Voiced by Eddie Murphy. Murphy brings his signature fast-talking comedic energy, particularly during the chaotic body-swap sequence where Donkey and Puss in Boots accidentally trade physical forms.
- Princess Fiona: Voiced by Cameron Diaz. Fiona takes center stage organizing a resistance movement among the fairy tale princesses while pregnant and waiting for Shrek to return with the next king.
- Puss in Boots: Voiced by Antonio Banderas. Banderas continues to parody his Zorro persona, delivering punchlines with dramatic flair and dealing with the comedic indignity of spending part of the movie trapped inside Donkey's body.
The Royal Family and New Heirs
As King Harold's health declines, the lineage of Far Far Away expands to introduce unexpected heirs and royal relations.
- King Harold: Voiced by John Cleese. The former frog king spends his final moments offering sage, albeit quirky, advice to Shrek before passing away.
- Queen Lillian: Voiced by Julie Andrews. Fiona's mother reveals a surprising hidden toughness, headbutting stone walls to break the princesses out of captivity.
- Arthur "Artie" Pendragon: Voiced by Justin Timberlake. Artie is introduced as an awkward, unpopular high school student at Worcestershire Academy before Shrek drafts him to take the crown. Timberlake captures the character's transition from insecure teen to reluctant leader.
- Merlin: Voiced by Eric Idle. The eccentric, retired wizard botches magic spells and provides erratic guidance to Artie and Shrek after a crash landing.
The Villainous Faction
Prince Charming stages a theatrical coup, recruiting discarded fairy tale villains who feel cheated by their traditional happy endings.
- Prince Charming: Voiced by Rupert Everett. Charming acts as the primary antagonist, bitter over his mother's death and his ruined storybook destiny, turning local tavern patrons into an army of goons.
- Captain Hook: Voiced by Ian McShane. The iconic pirate captain trades his ship for a piano stool in the Poison Apple tavern, serving as one of Charming's chief enforcers.
- The Evil Queen: Voiced by Susanne Blakeslee. Representing the classic Snow White adversary, she joins Charming's coalition of outcasts.
- The Headless Horseman and Rumpelstiltskin: Voiced by Conrad Vernon. Vernon pulls double duty voicing minor villains in Charming's inner circle alongside his regular role as the Gingerbread Man.
The Fairy Tale Princess Resistance
Instead of waiting passively for rescue, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel take matters into their own hands when Charming seizes power.
- Snow White: Voiced by Amy Poehler. Poehler portrays a deadpan, slightly aggressive version of the princess who uses woodland animals as tactical combat units.
- Rapunzel: Voiced by Maya Rudolph. Rapunzel serves as a major twist antagonist, betraying Fiona and the other princesses out of a desire for her own happily ever after with Charming.
- Cinderella: Voiced by Amy Sedaris. Sedaris voices the cleaning-obsessed royal, who uses her glass slippers and housekeeping tools as impromptu self-defense weapons.
- Sleeping Beauty: Voiced by Cheri Oteri. Oteri's character struggles with chronic narcolepsy, repeatedly falling asleep mid-sentence during high-stakes escape plans.
Supporting Roles and Cameos
The background cast features notable actors, comedians, and media personalities voicing quirky residents of Far Far Away.
- The Gingerbread Man ("Gingy"): Voiced by Conrad Vernon. Gingy relives his life flashing before his eyes during a near-death experience, recalling his creation in a hysterical parody of medical dramas.
- Pinocchio: Voiced by Cody Cameron. Cameron also voices the Three Little Pigs, with Pinocchio forced into awkward semantic gymnastics to help Shrek lie to Prince Charming.
- Doris the Ugly Stepsister: Voiced by Larry King. The late talk show host brings his distinct gravelly voice to the bar-owning stepsister.
- Mabel the Ugly Stepsister: Voiced by Regis Philbin. Philbin pairs with King, giving the second stepsister a similarly larger-than-life media personality.
- Sir Lancelot: Voiced by John Krasinski. Krasinski voices Artie's pompous, athletic high school rival who bullies him at Worcestershire Academy.
- Ship Captain: Voiced by Seth Rogen. Rogen voices the captain of the vessel that transports Shrek, Donkey, Puss, and Artie back across the sea.
To learn more about the technical production and box office performance behind the film, you can check the Wikipedia Shrek the Third Overview, or review character credits on Behind The Voice Actors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't Mike Myers voice Artie?
Many viewers confuse Justin Timberlake's character with a younger role for Myers, but Artie is an entirely separate character written as Shrek's teenage cousin-in-law. Myers exclusively voices the titular ogre.
Who plays the villain in Shrek the Third?
Rupert Everett returns as Prince Charming, who acts as the main antagonist by organizing a coup against Far Far Away. Maya Rudolph's Rapunzel serves as the secondary antagonist following her betrayal.
Are there any uncredited voice actors in the film?
Yes. Archival audio recordings of John Lithgow were used briefly for Lord Farquaad flashbacks, and several background crew members voiced minor guards, trees, and ogre babies.
What happened to the voice of the Dragon?
Unlike the previous films, the Dragon (voiced by Elizabeth Gatto in earlier installments) has no spoken dialogue lines in this sequel, appearing purely in physical scenes with her and Donkey's hybrid children, the Dronkies.
