<P> On June 16 , 2011 , it was announced that Smaug would be voiced and interpreted with performance capture by Benedict Cumberbatch in Peter Jackson 's three - part adaptation of The Hobbit , wherein Smaug is presented with a long head , red - golden scales , and piercing yellow - red eyes . The dragon speaks with Received Pronunciation with an underlying growl ; Cumberbatch 's vocal performance was vocoded using alligator growls . Smaug 's design was created with key frame animation , in addition to Cumberbatch 's motion capture performance . Weta Digital employed its proprietary `` Tissue '' software which was honoured in 2013 with a `` Scientific and Engineering Award '' from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to make the dragon as realistic as possible . In addition , Weta Digital supervisor Joe Letteri said in an interview for USA Today that they used classic European and Asian dragons as inspirations to create Smaug . </P>
<P> On June 16 , 2011 , it was announced that Smaug would be voiced and interpreted with performance capture by Benedict Cumberbatch in Peter Jackson 's three - part adaptation of The Hobbit , wherein Smaug is presented with a long head , red - golden scales , and piercing yellow - red eyes . The dragon speaks with Received Pronunciation with an underlying growl ; Cumberbatch 's vocal performance was vocoded using alligator growls . Smaug 's design was created with key frame animation , in addition to Cumberbatch 's motion capture performance . Weta Digital employed its proprietary `` Tissue '' software which was honoured in 2013 with a `` Scientific and Engineering Award '' from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to make the dragon as realistic as possible . In addition , Weta Digital supervisor Joe Letteri said in an interview for USA Today that they used classic European and Asian dragons as inspirations to create Smaug . </P>
who did the voice of smaug in the hobbit
who did the voice of smaug in the hobbit
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch