Жоанна Бенсон: Ұлы дауыс иесі және сахна шебері

American actress, voice actress and singer (born 1961)
She also gave voice to the spirited "Weebo" in Disney's live action Flubber, starring Robin Williams. For Warner Bros., she did the voice of the title character in Thumbelina in 1994, a Don Bluth animated feature film with songs by Barry Manilow. Her other projects include Secret of the Wings, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, Balto II: Wolf Quest, and Balto III: Wings of Change. She appeared as Patrick Dempsey's assistant Sam in Disney's live action feature film Enchanted. While being a Disney Legend, she also voiced Jane Doe and Patsy Smiles in Cartoon Network's Camp Lazlo. She also voiced the character Tula in Hanna Barbera's animated series The Pirates of Dark Water.

Benson was born and raised in a Catholic family, graduating from Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois, and Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. She experienced a religious conversion while dating actor/singer Ray Benson (not to be confused with frontman Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel). She has two children, a son and a daughter. An article originally published in 2013 by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said the couple "live north of Atlanta, GA."

Benson made her debut in the 1983 Kenny Ortega directed "Marilyn: An American Fable". Other Broadway credits include a starring role in the 1986 Broadway musical Smile, where she introduced a song called "Disneyland". In 1987, Howard Ashman, the lyricist of Smile, would go on to write the lyrics for The Little Mermaid. She describes the song "Disneyland" at the "Smile" Reunion concert held on September 22, 2014, "This is the first piece of the puzzle of my life, the first step of the journey, so to speak". Benson also sings "Disneyland" on a compilation CD called Unsung Musicals. In 1989, Benson appeared in the Broadway musical, Welcome to the Club, alongside Samuel E. Wright, who performed the voice for Sebastian the Crab in The Little Mermaid. In 1992, Benson received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Polly Baker in Crazy For You. She played the narrator in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1998. In 2004–06, Benson contributed as the host and narrator of the children's Christian home video series called "Baby Faith", created by Integrity Publishers & FamilyTreeMedia. In 2007, she played the secretary Sam in Disney's live action/animated film, Enchanted. Benson also played the Queen in a one night concert version of Rodgers & Hammersteins Cinderella at the Nashville Symphony Orchestra in May 2010. She was at the 2012 SYTA conference singing her signature song "Part of Your World" on August 27, 2012. She joined the "2013 Spring Pops" on May 14–15, 2013 as a guest soloist with the Boston Pops. Benson has been a frequent celebrity narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World, appearing most recently in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021. Benson can be heard on over a dozen recordings. Her animated TV series include the Emmy Award winning Camp Lazlo for Cartoon Network, The Little Mermaid, Batman Beyond, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Wild Thornberrys, Barbie, Hercules: Zero to Hero, P. J. Sparkles, and the series Sofia the First for Disney. On the concert stage, Benson has performed as a concert soloist with symphonies all over the world, including The Boston Pops, The Philly Pops (conductor: Peter Nero), The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (conductor: John Mauceri), The National Symphony (conductor: Marvin Hamlisch), Cleveland, Dallas, Tokyo, and the San Francisco and Chicago Symphonies. She starred in the Kennedy Center Honors for Ginger Rogers, and in Disney's Premiere in Central Park with Pocahontas, The Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Spectacular and Disney's 100 Years of Magic. Benson is the resident guest soloist for the Walt Disney Company/Disney Cruise Line and ambassador for feature animation. On June 6, 2016, Benson performed the role of Ariel at the Hollywood Bowl's concert performance of The Little Mermaid. She also made a special appearance in ABC's 2019 live musical spectacular The Little Mermaid Live! Benson was originally going to reprise her role as Sam in the 2022 film Disenchanted, but her scene was cut from the movie. She recently lent her voice to Ariel in the 2022 video game Disney Dreamlight Valley as well as singing as Ariel on various Disney Princess albums of the 2000s. From 1992 to 2011 she was the official voice of Barbie for Mattel and Pixar for projects such as Toy Story and Dance! Workout with Barbie, until the role was taken over by Kate Higgins starting with the series Life in the Dreamhouse.

In late 1986, Benson first heard of the audition for The Little Mermaid through lyricist and playwright Howard Ashman. The two had just worked together in the Broadway show Smile until its run ended early. He knew she would be the perfect fit for the role and that she would be a great replica of Ariel. After hearing the demo for "Part of Your World", she sang a small part of it on tape where it was later sent to Disney executives. Before her audition for The Little Mermaid, she was primarily a stage actress. It was Ashman's first Disney project. In early 1988, Benson won the role of Ariel and has been voicing her ever since. She also made a cameo in the 2023 live action adaptation of the film, directed by Rob Marshall, as a market vendor who hands Ariel (Halle Bailey) a fork during her tour of the kingdom.

Year Title Role Notes 1989 The Little Mermaid Ariel (voice) Vanessa (voice)Vanessa is the Human alter ego of Ursula. 1992 Dance! Workout with Barbie Barbie (voice) Direct to video 1994 Thumbelina Thumbelina (voice) 1995 Mickey's Fun Songs: Beach Party at Walt Disney World Ariel (voice) Direct to video Guideposts Junction Herself A six part Christian video series for children 1997 Flubber Weebo (voice) A Christmas Carol Belle (voice) 1998 The Mighty Kong Ann Darrow (voice) Direct to video 1999 Toy Story 2 Barbie (voice) 2000 The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea Ariel (voice) Direct to video Joseph: King of Dreams Asenath (voice) 2001 Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure Lady (voice) 2002 Balto: Wolf Quest Jenna (voice) Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe In Santa Lenee (voice) Television film 2003 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Anita (voice) Direct to videoK10C: Kids' Ten CommandmentsLeila (voice) Martha (voice) 2004 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Lastelle's Mother (voice) English dub Balto III: Wings of Change Jenna (voice) Direct to video 2004 2006 Baby Faith: God Made Me (video series) herself (narrator) Integrity Publishing 2007 Enchanted Sam 2008 The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning Ariel (voice) Direct to video 2010 Toy Story 3 Barbie (voice) 2011 The Little Engine That Could Jillian (voice) 2012 Secret of the Wings Healing Talent Fairy (voice) 2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet Ariel (voice) 2023 The Little Mermaid Market Vendor CameoOnce Upon a StudioAriel (voice)Short film

Year Title Role Notes 1991 Hunter Police officer Episode: "Cries of Silence" 1991–1993 The Pirates of Dark Water Tula (voice) 21 episodes 1992 P. J. Sparkles P. J. (voice) Television special 1992–1994 The Little Mermaid Princess Ariel (voice) 31 episodes 1995–1996 Guideposts Junction Herself TV Mini Series 1997 Caroline in the City Mother Episode: "Caroline and the Egg" 1998 Pepper Ann Amber O'Malley (voice) Episode: "Green Eyed Monster" 1998–1999 Hercules Helen of Troy (voice) 10 episodes 2000 The Wild Thornberrys Mother Cheetah (voice) Episode: "Cheetahs Never Prosper" Batman Beyond Aquagirl (voice) Episode: "The Call" Parts 1 & 2 2001–2003 House of Mouse Ariel, Belle (voices) 3 episodes 2003 The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire Choir Soloist Episode: "Sleeping Lions" 2004–2006 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy The Blue Fairy, Additional voices 3 episodes 2005–2008 Camp Lazlo Patsy Smiles, Ms. Jane Doe, Almondine (voices) 21 episodes2011Toy Story ToonsBarbie (voice)Episode: "Hawaiian Vacation" 2013–2018 Sofia the First Princess Ariel, Queen Emmaline (voices) 2 episodes 2015 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Singing Teacher (voice) Episode: "St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses" 2016 Clarence Diana (voice) Episode: "The Tails of Mardrynia" 2019 The Little Mermaid Live! Herself TV special 2022–present The Wingfeather Saga Nia Igiby (voice) Main Role 2022 The Loud House Tammy Gobblesworth (voice) Episode: “Flip This Flip”2023Lego Disney Princess: The Castle QuestPrincess Ariel (voice)TV special