Jodi Benson Reveals How She Relates to Ariel

Since lending her voice to Ariel in 1989’s The Little Mermaid, Jodi Benson has become synonymous with the beloved mermaid.

35 years after first portraying Ariel, Benson remains as dedicated to the character as ever.

Jodi Benson

At New York Comic Con, however, the actress revealed that there were parts of Ariel’s character that she found difficult to relate to.

What Benson Could Not Relate To

At the heart of The Little Mermaid is the story of Ariel and her father.

Walt Disney Archives

While the relationship is central to Ariel’s story, it was one aspect of the character that Benson had a hard time relating to.

“I did not have a relationship with my father,” Benson revealed (via PEOPLE). “He had left when I was 11, so that said of father-daughter was a little difficult for me to tap into.”

Photo: Disney

Thankfully, Benson had Howard Ashman to rely on. Her relationship with the songwriter would influence her portrayal of Ariel.

“He was really helpful for me to kind of create that relationship,” Benson shared.

Similarities

While Benson may have had trouble with some aspects of Ariel’s character, there were others that resonated with her “instantaneously.”

Jodi Benson

“I think the quality of her tenacity is something I really could relate to right off the bat,” Benson said on Oct. 11, 2025, during a panel at New York Comic Con, noting that “when she gets a no, she just keeps plowing forward until every door shuts in her face, figuratively.”

Little could Benson have imagined that she would still be playing Ariel nearly 40 years later.

Photo: Disney

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