Jodi Benson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jodi Benson (born October 10, 1961) is an American voice actress and singer, best known for providing the voice of Disney's Princess Ariel in The Little Mermaid and its sequels. She was born in Rockford, Illinois, attended Millikin University, and currently lives in north Georgia with her husband Ray Benson (not the Ray Benson of band "Asleep At The Wheel").
Jodi and her husband Ray are both born again Christians who are vocal about their faith in God. Jodi has also performed in several Broadway Productions.
In 2002 and 2006, she reprised the role of Ariel in the Kingdom Hearts video game series.
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[edit] Filmography
- 1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (voice) - Lastelle's Mother (2004 Disney Dub)
- 1988 P.J. Sparkles (voice)- P.J. (1988 Mattel)
- 1989 The Little Mermaid (voice) - Princess Ariel, Vanessa
- 1991 Pirates of Dark Water TV Series (voice) - Tula
- 1991 Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Under the Sea (voice, archive footage) - Ariel
- 1992 The Little Mermaid TV Series (voice) - Ariel
- 1994 Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Circle of Life (voice, archive footage) - Ariel
- 1994 Thumbelina (voice) - Thumbelina
- 1996 Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Friend Like Me (voice, archive footage) - Ariel
- 1996 Guideposts Junction, a six-part Christian video series for children - Herself
- 1997 Flubber (voice) - Weebo
- 1997 A Christmas Carol (voice) - Belle
- 1998 The Mighty Kong (voice) - Ann Darrow
- 1998 Hercules TV Series (voice) - Helen of Troy
- 1998 A Bug's Life (Videogame) - Atta
- 1999 Toy Story 2 (voice) - Tour Guide Barbie/Barbie on Backpack
- 1999 Wish Upon a Starfish (voice) - Ariel
- 1999 Hercules: Zero to Hero (voice) - Helen of Troy
- 1999 Giggles (voice) - Ariel
- 2000 The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (voice) - Ariel
- 2000 Joseph: King of Dreams (voice) - Asenath
- 2000 Grandia II (voice) - Millenia/Reena
- 2001 House of Mouse TV Series (voice) - Ariel/Belle
- 2001 Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (voice) - Lady (Segment "Pidge")
- 2001 Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse (voice) - Ariel
- 2001 Balto II: Wolf Quest (voice) - Jenna
- 2001 The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy - The Blue Fairy
- 2002 Kingdom Hearts (voice) - Ariel
- 2002 Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa (voice) - Lenee
- 2003 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (voice) - Anita
- 2003 Mickey's PhilharMagic (voice) (uncredited) - Ariel
- 2004 Balto III: Wings of Change (voice) - Jenna
- 2005 Camp Lazlo (voice) - Patsy Smiles, Ms. Jane Doe, Almondine Owl.
- 2006 Kingdom Hearts 2 (voice) - Ariel
- 2007 The Little Mermaid III (voice) - Ariel
- 2007 Peter Pan III (voice) - Ariel
[edit] Discography
- 1991 Jodi Benson Sings Songs From the Beginner's Bible I
- 1992 Jodi Benson Sings Songs From the Beginner's Bible II
- 1992 Little Mermaid: Splash hits
- 1992 Crazy For You Cast Recording
- 1993 Songs from the Sea
- 1994 Unsung Musicals
- 1995 Songs of Guideposts Junction
- 1996 Hollywood Christmas (Various artists)
- 2000 Little Mermaid II Soundtrack
[edit] Trivia
Mrs. Benson seems incapable of escaping her Little Mermaid legacy. In the Guideposts Junction video series, one character jokingly asked if Jodi knew anything about mermaids. The Mighty Kong featured one scene in which the lead female character (whose voice she provided), swam through the water, her hair flowing about in an Ariel-like fashion. She even provided the voice for a character called Aquagirl in an episode of Batman Beyond. Fortunately, Ms. Benson seems to have no regrets about her Little Mermaid role. She says that she never gets tired of singing Part of Your World, her trademark song from this movie.
Also of note, Ms. Benson played Ariel again in the video game Kingdom Hearts, portraying the only female fighter in the game; she is also in Kingdom Hearts II, playing Ariel, who this time around doesn't fight but rather sings in musicals.
Fittingly enough, Ms. Benson performs the song Disneyland on the Unsung Musicals compilation CD. This song was originally performed by her in the short-lived Broadway musical Smile, long before she became affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.
