Jodi Benson

Jodi Benson is a recognized actress and singer best known for her role as the voice of Ariel in Disney's 1989 animated film "The Little Mermaid" and its sequels and spin-offs. Additionally, she lent her voice to Barbie in the Toy Story franchise and played the title character in the animated film "Thumbelina" in 1994. Benson's voice work extends beyond Disney, featuring in Cartoon Network's "Camp Lazlo" and Hanna-Barbera's "The Pirates of Dark Water." She was also part of the Broadway musical Smile in 1986 and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in "Crazy For You" in 1992.

Benson's career encompasses both voice and live-action roles, including her appearance as Patrick Dempsey's assistant, Sam, in Disney's live-action film "Enchanted." Her debut came in 1983 with the Kenny Ortega-directed "Marilyn: An American Fable." Benson's versatility is evident in her work as a concert soloist with symphonies worldwide, her role as a frequent celebrity narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World, and her contribution as the host and narrator of the children's Christian home video series "Baby Faith" from 2004-06. She also appeared in the 2023 live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" as a market vendor. She also protrayed Dolly Gallagher Levi in a concert production of "Hello, Dolly!" in June 2024.

Recognized for her contributions to animation and voice acting, Benson was named a Disney Legend in 2011. She also received a nomination for an Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Feature Production for "Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure." Benson has leveraged her voice acting talent in various TV shows such as "Sofia the First," "The Loud House," and video games including "Ariel's Story Studio," "Kingdom Hearts," and "Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey." She continues to play a main role as Nia Igiby/Wingfeather in the TV series "The Wingfeather Saga."