Jodi Benson
The release of The Little Mermaid signaled the start of a golden age for Disney animated pictures. Ariel, the red-headed mermaid, was a fresh type of Disney princess, so she needed someone with a great voice. Jodi Benson was chosen to play Ariel and did both the speaking and singing voices for her.
Jodi Benson was dubbed a Disney Legend ten years ago, thanks to her legendary performance as Ariel, but not just for that. She wasn’t named a Disney Legend only because she played Ariel; she also earned the title for her work in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3, which cemented her status as a Disney Legend. Jodi Benson has worked in over 40 films throughout her career!