"I pretty much came out of the womb singing. I think I sang all the time."
Jodi Marie Benson (née Marzorati; born October 10, 1961) is an American actress, voice actress, and singer. She's best known for voicing Ariel from The Little Mermaid, a role she's reprised in all future projects since, making her the longest-running voice actress for a Disney Princess. She was born and raised in a Catholic environment, graduating from Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois. She married actor/singer Ray Benson in 1984. They have two children, McKinley and Delaney.
On September 13, 2022, she published her memoir, Part of My World, which tells her story of how she went through life as well as her involvement with The Little Mermaid and other stage productions she did before and after.
She has no relation to Robby Benson (the voice of the Beast), or Ashley Benson for that matter.
Theater Roles:
- Marilyn: An American Fable (1983): Factory Girl.
- Smile (1986): Doria Hudson.
- Welcome to the Club (1989): Betty Bursteter.
- Chess (1990): Florence.
- Crazy for You (1992): Polly Baker.
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1998): Narrator.
Film Roles:
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984, 2005 Disney dub): Lastelle's Mother.
- The Little Mermaid (1989): Ariel.
- The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000): Ariel.
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (2008): Ariel.
- The Little Mermaid (2023, live-action remake): Market Vendor
- Thumbelina (1994): Thumbelina.
- Flubber (1997): Weebo.
- A Christmas Carol (1997): Belle.
- The Mighty Kong (1998): Ann Darrow.
- Toy Story 2 (1999): Barbie.
- Toy Story 3 (2010): Barbie.
- The Crippled Lamb (1999): Abigail, Mary, and Laura Lamb.
- Joseph: King of Dreams (2000): Asenath.
- Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001): Lady.
- Balto II: Wolf Quest (2002): Jenna.
- Balto III: Wings of Change (2004): Jenna.
- Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa (2002): Lenee.
- 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (2003): Anita.
- K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments (2003): Leila and Martha.
- Enchanted (2007): Sam.
- The Little Engine That Could (2011): Jillian.
- Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings (2012): Healing Fairy.
- Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018): Ariel.
- LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest (2023): Ariel.
Television Roles:
- Hunter (1984), episode "Cries of Silence" (1991): Police Officer.
- The Pirates of Dark Water (1991-1993): Tula.
- PJ Sparkles (1992): PJ.
- The Little Mermaid (1992-1994): Ariel.
- Caroline in the City, episode "Caroline and the Egg" (1997): Mother.
- Pepper Ann, episode "Green Eyed Monster" (1998): as Amber O'Malley.
- Hercules: The Animated Series (1998-1999): as Helen of Troy.
- The Wild Thornberrys, episode "Cheetahs Never Prosper" (2000): as Mother Cheetah.
- Batman Beyond, episode "The Call" Parts 1 & 2 (2000): as Aquagirl.
- Kids Ten Commandments (2003): as Martha the Lamb.
- House of Mouse (2001-2003): Ariel, Belle.
- The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire, episode "Sleeping Lions" (2003): Choir Soloist.
- Duck Dodgers (2003-2004): Princess Incense, Captain Tortelli.
- The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2004-2006): The Blue Fairy, Floraculture Lady, Rich Lady.
- Camp Lazlo (2005-2008): Patsy Smiles, Ms. Jane Doe, Almondine.
- Toy Story Toons, episode "Hawaiian Vacation" (2011): Barbie.
- Sofia the First (2013-2018): Ariel, Queen Emmaline.
- Star vs. the Forces of Evil, episode "St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses" (2015): Singing Teacher.
- Clarence, episode "The Tails of Mardrynia" (2016): Diana.
- The Loud House, episode "Flip This Flip" (2022): Tammy Gobblesworth.
- The Wingfeather Saga (2022-): Nia.
Video Game Roles:
- A Bug's Life (1998): Atta.
- Grandia II (2000): Millennia and Reena.
- Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge (2000): Nasira.
- House of Mouse (2001-2002): Duchess
- Kingdom Hearts (2002): Ariel.
- Kingdom Hearts II (2005): Ariel.
- Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey (2007): Ariel.
- Kinect: Disneyland Adventures (2011): Ariel.
- Cookie Run: Kingdom (2022): Ariel Cookie.
- Disney Dreamlight Valley (2022): Ariel.
- Disney Speedstorm (2024): Ariel.
Here are tropes associated with her:
- Approval of God: Expressed her wholehearted approval of Halle Bailey's performance in The Little Mermaid (2023) and has been extremely supportive of her taking over the part. Given Ms. Benson's well-known protectiveness of Ariel, that is a ringing endorsement indeed.
- Beautiful Singing Voice: Given that her most famous role of all time, Ariel, has this as her signature trope, Ms. Benson has been particularly famous, even among the Disney Princesses, for her amazing voice.
- Passing the Torch: Symbolically does this in the live-action The Little Mermaid remake, when her character gives Ariel a fork (aka a dinglehopper).
- Role Reprise: She's voiced Ariel in every Disney production since 1989.
