Washington D.C [USA], Sept. 22 : Page O'Hara, who plays Belle in the 1991 'Beauty and the Beast' appreciated Dan Stevens and other actors cast for the upcoming live-action, 'Beauty and the Beast.'

The 60-year-old American actress, whiles sharing her words of appreciation for Stevens, spoke about how she reacted after his character died in British drama series, 'Downton Abbey,' reports People magazine.

"I fell in love with him on Downton Abbey," she exclaimed, "I was so angry and upset for three days after he got killed off that series - I almost boycotted it I was so angry!"

Ever since her first role in 1991, the 'Belles by Belle' painter has been the definitive Belle of 'Beauty and the Beast,' but now is more than happy to make room for younger actors including Emma Watson, who would play Belle in the live-action.

"I thought it was genius casting!" she opined.

"I don't think you could pick anyone more right for Belle that's out there that's the right age. She's beautiful, she's got the intelligence, she's extremely smart. I think she's going to be wonderful. I really do!," she added.

O'Hara, who also stars in the American musical, 'Showboat,' performed opposite Robby Benson as the Beast in the original and has been there all along through the remarkable history of Disney's take on the French classic fairy tale of the same name by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.

The film ultimately became the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, and was subsequently adapted into one of the longest-running stage musicals in Broadway history. (ANI)