Ariel has spoken.
Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in Disney’s 1989 animated “The Little Mermaid,” came to Halle Bailey’s defense against backlash over Disney casting the talented 19-year-old in the upcoming live-action version of the film.
via CBS:
While speaking at the Florida Supercon convention, Benson defended Disney’s casting choice. “The most important thing is to tell the story,” she said, according to Comicbook.com. “As a family, we have raised our children, and for ourselves, that we don’t see anything that’s different on the outside.”
“I think that the spirit of a character is what really matters,” Benson continued. “What you bring to the table in a character as far as their heart, and their spirit, is what really counts.”
The singer and actress then said she could have been judged as well. “Let’s face it, I’m really, really old — and so when I’m singing ‘Part of Your World,’ if you were to judge me on the way that I look on the outside, it might change the way that you interpret the song,” she said. “But if you close your eyes, you can still hear the spirit of Ariel.”
We absolutely agree!
