The “very boring” role that has become one of Tom Hanks’ greatest contributions to cinema
Tom Hanks is one of those actors who brings an immediate sense of familiarity to every character he takes on. He’s been a mainstay on our screens for decades now, from playing the beloved Forrest Gump to bonding with a volleyball in Cast Away, endearing himself to more and more audiences with each new performance. However, perhaps the most comforting character in his cinematography comes from his role in Disney’s Toy Story series.
When Hanks took on the role of Sheriff Woody, the rootinest tootinest cowboy in the toy box, his voice became well-known and well-loved by kids and parents alike. Awarding the character warmth and real emotion beyond his plastic pull-string form, he found a place in real-life toy boxes worldwide. Three movies later, it remains one of the most recognisable voice acting roles in all of animation.
While Woody may be one of Hanks’ most beloved characters, the actor wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the process of filming the series. During a BBC interview in promotion of another family favourite, The Polar Express, Hanks admitted that the Toy Story films are “very boring things to do”.
“Essentially you go on to a soundstage by yourself,” he explained, and you end up reading the line in 17 different ways and they pick the one that they want, edit it together and out comes the performance.” While Hanks acknowledged that this is an art form, he prefers having the space to act beyond a solo soundstage.
It’s easy to see why voice acting for animation might not be the most riveting experience for an actor like Hanks. In the past, he’s ventured across the world and committed fully to his characters. He filmed Cast Away in Monuriki and lost weight for the role, while filming Saving Private Ryan took him across Europe. Reading lines on a soundstage isn’t quite the same experience.
Hanks has also had a lucrative collaborative career, working with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio on Catch Me If You Can and opposite Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle. Unable to bounce off his fellow co-stars, it’s easy to see why Hanks might have found the voice-acting process somewhat stifling.
Despite the uninspiring surroundings, Hanks delivered a terrific voice acting performance as Woody, as demonstrated by the enduring love for the character and the continued demand for sequels. Hanks returned to the role in 2019 for Toy Story 4, and a fifth instalment in the series is already pencilled in for 2026.
Still, Hanks noted that the experience of shooting The Polar Express, in which he played everyone from a conductor to Santa, was completely different. Rather than limiting his acting skills to a soundstage and hiding his voice behind animation, the Christmas classic utilised motion capture, allowing Hanks to express his physicality in character and see it reflected on-screen.
Though it wouldn’t birth a franchise quite like Toy Story did, The Polar Express has become one of Hanks’ most well-loved films in its own right. It’s a staple of the festive season, a cosy tale of steam trains and hot chocolate only bolstered by Hanks’ familiar presence. Between the two films, Hanks has become one of the most familiar voices in family filmmaking.
What makes Hanks’ performance as Woody so significant is precisely how invisible the labour feels. There is no spectacle in the recording booth, no transformation through costume or location, yet the emotional weight of the character never falters. Across decades, Woody grows, doubts, loves, and lets go, and Hanks guides each shift with remarkable consistency. It is a performance built on restraint and trust, allowing the animators and storytellers to meet him halfway.
In that sense, Woody may represent one of Hanks’ most generous contributions to cinema. By surrendering the visible elements of his craft, he created a character who belongs to everyone rather than to himself. Generations have grown up with that voice as a constant presence, offering comfort without ever demanding attention. For an actor often celebrated for his humanity, it is fitting that one of his greatest achievements came from stepping back and letting the character lead.
Revisit Hanks’ beloved performance as Woody in Toy Story 4 below.
