Jodi Benson Birthday Special: Did You Know The Little Mermaid Star Also Played THIS Role In Disney Movie Alongside Ariel? Find Out

As an ardent fan of Disney and Jodi Benson, it feels like I’ve grown up alongside this extraordinary talent! While Ariel will always be my favorite, learning that Jodi also voiced Vanessa, Ursula’s human disguise, adds a whole new layer to the magic of The Little Mermaid. It’s fascinating to think about how she had to mimic Pat Carrol’s iconic accent and cackle for Ursula!


Jodi Benson is one name that has entertained us for a really long time being associated with Disney. While we have been brought up on the magnificent fairy tales and talks of Disney princesses, it was Ariel who we all fantasized about meeting one day. Yes, the princess of Atlantis, the red-haired and beautiful mermaid, who was again voiced by Benson. However, it was not only Ariel whom Jodi Benson lent her voice to. 

On her upcoming 62nd birthday, which falls on October 10, let’s revisit a 2021 article that disclosed some interesting details about the voice-over artist, including the characters she lent her voice to in the 1989 film The Little Mermaid.

In conversation with Jim Korkis from Cartoon Research, she shared significant insights about her involvement in the Disney film.

As a lifestyle expert, let me clarify that while many recognize my voice as Ariel, they may not know that I also lent my voice to Vanessa, the human form taken by Ursula in Disney’s Little Mermaid. So, don’t forget that beneath the sea and on land, I’ve left my mark!

For individuals unfamiliar with Vanessa, she is the character who deceives Prince Eric into marriage by disguising herself using Ariel’s voice. Intriguingly, it is Vanessa who manipulates Prince Eric’s affection through this ruse.

During a discussion about her involvement in one of Disney’s most iconic stories, Benson shared that she spent time learning from Pat Carroll, who provided coaching for her role. It was Carroll, you see, who gave voice to Ursula and taught Jodi Benson how to perfectly replicate the character’s accent and cackle.

In the course of her interview, Jodi Benson reminisced about the way she came to be employed as the voice for an animated character, a vocation that wasn’t particularly celebrated during the 1980s.

In January 1987, during her run in the Broadway production “Smile,” which took place in 1986, the show unfortunately closed after only 48 performances. Consequently, both Benson and other cast members were left without work at that time.

Fortunately, Howard Ashman had already commenced the preliminary work on The Little Mermaid, as mentioned by Benson. Ashman was also known for penning the script of Smile, and since the musical production had to cease, he invited all the actresses from the play to try out for the role of Ariel.

After approximately 18 months, Jodi Benson was informed by her agent of a voice-over part in an upcoming film that she had entirely overlooked, following a phone call.

The Little Mermaid was released on November 17, 1989.

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2024-10-09 15:37