Jodi Benson Quotes

Powerful Jodi Benson for Daily Growth

About Jodi Benson

Jodi Benson, an accomplished American actress, singer, and voice actress, was born on October 10, 1961, in Walla Walla, Washington. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona, where she developed a passion for music and performance at an early age. Benson honed her talents at Brigham Young University before moving to New York City to pursue a career in musical theater. Benson's breakthrough role came in 1989 when she was cast as Ariel, the rebellious mermaid princess, in Disney's animated film "The Little Mermaid." The success of this film catapulted Benson into fame and launched her voice acting career. She reprised her role as Ariel in the Broadway adaptation of the movie in 2008. Benson's other notable roles include voicing Barbie in the "Barbie" series, Fawn in "Pocahontas," and Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas." Her work on these projects solidified her status as one of Disney's most beloved voice actresses. In addition to her voice acting roles, Benson has also appeared in several television shows, including "Tales from the Crypt" and "The Love Boat." She has released several albums, showcasing her exceptional singing abilities. Benson's personal life is marked by her devotion to her family. She is a devoted mother of three children and has been married to Anthony Marinelli since 1985. Her faith is also an important influence in her life, as she is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Quotes attributed to Jodi Benson include: "Dreams really can come true if you just believe," and "You're never too old to become younger." These quotes reflect her optimistic outlook on life and her ability to maintain a youthful spirit, qualities that have endeared her to fans around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Every moment is a fresh beginning."

This quote emphasizes that every new moment offers an opportunity for a fresh start or a chance to make amends, change course, or continue on a positive path. It encourages the viewer to seize each moment as a new opportunity to shape their future, regardless of what has transpired in the past. It's a reminder that it's never too late to correct mistakes, mend relationships, or pursue goals and dreams. In essence, it conveys hope and optimism for personal growth and transformation.


"Believe in yourself and all that you dream of will come true."

This quote emphasizes the power of self-belief and positive visualization in achieving one's goals or dreams. It suggests that if an individual has faith in their abilities, aspirations, and potential, they can manifest those ambitions into reality. Essentially, it underscores the importance of a strong, optimistic mindset as a foundation for personal success and fulfillment.


"The greatest treasure you can give anyone is your time because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life."

This quote by Jodi Benson highlights the profound value of time as a gift or treasure. When we choose to spend our time with someone, we're essentially sharing a piece of our lives with them. Time is a finite resource, making it incredibly precious because once spent, it can never be regained. By giving our time, we not only show care and dedication but also create lasting memories and connections that enrich both ourselves and others. Essentially, the quote underscores the importance of prioritizing meaningful relationships in our lives by investing our most valuable resource - our time.


"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."

This quote emphasizes that true strength is often revealed in challenging situations when one has no other option but to endure. It suggests that sometimes it takes adversity for individuals to discover their inner resilience, perseverance, and capacity for survival. The message encourages people to find their fortitude during difficult times, as these moments can provide opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.


"Just keep swimming." (This quote is from the character she voiced, Ariel, in Disney's The Little Mermaid, but it's often associated with Jodi Benson.)

This quote encourages persistence and resilience amidst difficulties. It suggests that one should not give up or lose hope, even when facing challenges, but rather continue moving forward in life, similar to the way Ariel swam in Disney's The Little Mermaid. The message is universal - no matter what our circumstances may be, we can overcome obstacles and find success if we stay determined and keep pushing forward.


The thing that I enjoy about animation is the fact that it is unbridled, and there are no boundaries; when you are in the room, you don't have to focus on your clothing, make-up, hair, your choreography or your blocking; you really do have total freedom.

- Jodi Benson

Fact, Make-Up, No Boundaries, Total Freedom

I was very flattered when Disney Junior reached out and invited me to come voice Ariel for this special primetime edition of 'Sofia the First.' As the parent myself, I really appreciate the positive messages that this animated series is trying to put out there.

- Jodi Benson

Voice, Parent, Very, Animated

I think God must have had something in mind for me that was not on my radar when I first started out in New York. Back then, doing animated voices meant your career was done - it was looked down upon.

- Jodi Benson

Career, Doing, I Think, Animated

I was doing a Broadway musical called 'Smile' with Howard Ashman and Marvin Hamlisch in 1984/5 when it abruptly closed. Howard was in the middle of pre-production for 'The Little Mermaid,' so he kindly invited all the girls in our cast to audition for the film.

- Jodi Benson

Doing, Broadway, Our, Pre-Production

What we try to do at Disney and through Disney character voices is really maintain the integrity of our classic characters at all costs. So Ariel needs to be me for every project, and if there are any other Ariels floating around out there, it's not necessarily Disney.

- Jodi Benson

Through, Other, Maintain, Floating

For me, I was able to make that statement of faith early on when my career began, so there weren't really a lot of surprises. People around me knew where my husband Ray and I stood as far as my faith went.

- Jodi Benson

Faith, Career, Stood, Surprises

I've done a variety of projects in different areas of the entertainment industry.

- Jodi Benson

Variety, Projects, Different Areas

I pretty much came out of the womb singing. I think I sang all the time.

- Jodi Benson

Think, Pretty, Sang, Womb

Homeschooling has given us some wonderful flexibility and some great life experiences, especially with our son.

- Jodi Benson

Wonderful, Some, Given, Great Life

I remember when John Lasseter called me back in the late 1990s to personally invite me to come be the voice of Barbie in 'Toy Story 2.'

- Jodi Benson

Voice, I Remember, Back, 1990s

When I do my concerts, you have got to think about everything else; so you have got to think about your gown, your hair, your body, and how you present yourself on stage.

- Jodi Benson

Think, About, Your, Everything Else

I have a studio at my house, and there is a sister studio for Disney which is about 45 minutes away, and we haven't dropped a beat. In the art of animation and voiceover work, you can pretty much work from anywhere.

- Jodi Benson

Art, Studio, Which, Animation

Anything that has to do with Disney and Pixar, I am on board with. That is where my heart and family are. So when they call, I jump.

- Jodi Benson

Heart, Pixar, Am, Board

Connecting with the kids is a great joy for me. I love meeting them backstage or at a signing event. I am overwhelmed when I meet kids who struggle with terminal illnesses.

- Jodi Benson

Love, Overwhelmed, Illnesses, Backstage

I really like worship music. It settles my soul. Gets me back on track. The lyrics are almost like a prayer, so it's my go-to.

- Jodi Benson

Soul, Like, Almost, Lyrics

I have a lot of mermaid stuff. I did start collecting a lot before I had children because I didn't know if I would have a boy or a girl. So I saved everything.

- Jodi Benson

Start, Saved, Before, Mermaid

'The Little Mermaid' changed my life.

- Jodi Benson

Life, My Life, Little, Mermaid

I can't sing, perform, do anything apart from Christ. I have no power or strength of my own.

- Jodi Benson

Strength, Christ, My Own, Apart

What I look for in a project or partner is integrity and character; I love the concept of family entertainment and crosses over the generations, where you can sit kids with their grandparents and everyone has a good time. Those are the qualities that I want to bring to viewers.

- Jodi Benson

Love, Entertainment, Concept, Crosses

I homeschool, so the start of the day is reading Bible scripture, memorization, and prayer.

- Jodi Benson

Prayer, Bible, Start, Scripture

I love working for Disney! They are my family.

- Jodi Benson

Love, Working, I Love, Disney

I grew up with 'Cinderella.' So that was my go-to Disney film, definitely. It was princess-related, and coming from a smaller area in Illinois and wanting to do something greater than myself in Broadway, that was a film that I could really relate to.

- Jodi Benson

Broadway, Wanting, Smaller, Disney

All I've been a part of has been thanks to the Disney company: the job, experience, travel, opportunities have come thanks to Disney. Working for Disney was not part of my original plan, but it was part of God's, and it shows that God is still moving.

- Jodi Benson

Original, Been, Still, Disney

We had put our son into a little preschool in Los Angeles, and it was just not going well, so we brought him back home. We had every intention of putting him back into a traditional school setting, but we just really couldn't find the right match for him. And then we moved to Georgia and again couldn't find the right match.

- Jodi Benson

Brought, Putting, Moved, Los Angeles

I am blessed to perform in the studio and on the concert stage.

- Jodi Benson

I Am, Stage, Studio, I Am Blessed

I was the original voice of Mattel's Barbie for an '80s claymation workout video.

- Jodi Benson

Voice, Original, Video, Workout

My husband has a gift for reaching out to people in need. I always look over and see him connecting to someone who needs to talk or needs some support.

- Jodi Benson

Gift, Always, Over, Connecting

I love working with talented young performers.

- Jodi Benson

Love, Performers, I Love, Talented

I think God calls and encourages us to dream big, but sometimes we put God in a box in a very small way, when God wants us to look outside the box.

- Jodi Benson

Small, Think, Big, Calls

I think good entertainment makes you feel something... it can be a variety of different feelings.

- Jodi Benson

Think, I Think, Variety

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