Lea Salonga, Jodi Benson, Paige O'Hara, and Anika Noni Rose named 2011 Disney Legends!

Lea Salonga, Jodi Benson, Paige O'Hara, and Anika Noni Rose who have all appeared on Broadway will all be named Disney Legends this year. Jodi Benson received a Tony nominaton for "Crazy for You" and voiced Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" films and Barbie in the "Toy Story" films. Paige O'Hara, who last played Fantine in "Les Miserables," is best known for voicing Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" as well as its sequels and games. Lea Salonga, who received critical accalim for role as Kim in "Miss Saigon" where she won a Tony, did the singing voices of Jasmine in "Aladdin" and the title character in "Mulan" and "Mulan II." Also, Anika Noni Rose, who won the Tony for her role in "Caroline or Change," voiced Tiana in "The Princess and the Frog."

All of the voices of the Disney Princesses were given this honor except for Judy Kuhn and Irene Bedard, who did the speaking and singing voices of Pocahontas. Ming-Na, who did the speaking voice of Mulan, hasn't gotten this honor yet either. Linda Larkin, who did the speaking voice of Jasmine in the "Aladdin" films as well as its games and tv series, was named one this year. Adriana Caselotti (Snow White), Ilene Woods (Cinderella), and Mary Costa (Princess Aurora in "Sleeping Beauty") received their's a while back. I hope Judy, Ming, and Irene will get their awards one day.

ETA: I can't describe how thrilled I am to see all of these women become Disney Legends. I grew up listening to their voices and I still listen to them to this day. I also forgot about Ming-Na, who did the speaking voice of Mulan. I hope she gets this honor one day as well. I just added her in my original post.





2011 Disney Legends Awards Honorees at D23 Expo to include Regis Philbin, Jim Henson, Disney Princess voices

Updated On: 3/5/12 at 11:35 AM

I don't see how voicing one princess in one film (and a myriad of direct to video sequels, in the case of Benson and O'Hara) makes you a Disney legend, especially when you look at the other recipients of the award. I'm not taking anything away from the work these women have done, but they certainly don't belong in the same company as Disney luminaries such as Marty Sklar, Dave Smith, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, Ub Iwerks, Ollie Johnston, the Sherman Brothers, Julie Andrews, and so on.

adamgreer-
I could see the argument against Salonga, Kuhn and and Rose (I know Kuhn didn't get one, but I'm lumping her in with them) since they've never really done much with Disney.

However, Benson and O'Hara have been with the company since their respective films (89 and 91) and always put in apperances and are always glad to do work (or at least seem glad) for the company. Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast are arguably the two best films of the Disney Renaissance and to me are just as important as Sleeping Beauty or Snow White or Cinderella (and might I add none of them every did much for Disney again).

Just my 0.02

---

^ Sadly...I love that movie. It think it could be a very good musical.

---

I don't have a huge issue with Benson or O'Hara, since they've done almost nothing else since their respective films and are still holding on to their particular princesses. Just last week they rolled her out for the opening of Ariel's Undersea Adventure in California.

Why isn't Eleanor Audley a Disney Legend? I feel like her impact on the Disney canon is huge.

---

Yes, they do.

Okay, if Verna Felton hasn't been honored posthumously, this whole thing is a joke.

She is THE Disney Legend, as far as voices go. No other actor in history has voiced as many memorable characters in classic Disney animated films. For an overall career, she is peerless.

Dumbo (gossipy elephant/Mrs. Jumbo)
Cinderella (fairy godmother)
Alice in Wonderland (Queen of Hearts)
Lady and the Tramp (Aunt Sara)
Sleeping Beauty (Flora)
Jungle Book (Winifred)

That's six classic (in the truest sense of the word) Disney movies, with six different characters (not like Toy Story and the sequels with actors repeating the same role in multiple films).

It's really embarrassing if they haven't honored her yet.

---

Updated On: 6/16/11 at 04:02 PM

"And it's a slap in the face to Ming-Na who has been the speaking voice for Mulan."

Maybe she'll receive this honor next year.

Updated On: 6/16/11 at 05:29 PM

i certainly agree that Verna Felton and Eleanor Audley need to be honered. People may not know them by name but they sure as hell know the characters they have voiced. i can also Think June Foray should be honored too.

---

Lea Salonga also did "Reflection" from Mulan.

---