Jodi Benson Balances Her Triple Roles as Mom, Teacher, and Actress

AXELLE/Bauer-Griffin

You may not recall Jodi Benson‘s face, but you probably recognize her voice! The 46-year-old is Ariel in The Little Mermaid, as well as Sam in last year’s movie Enchanted. While she’s happy providing the voice of numerous characters, her main job is that of mother and teacher to son McKinley, 9 ½, and daughter Delaney, 7. Home schooling her kids is Jodi’s "full-time job during the week," but she does "do concerts on the weekend."

Jodi shares that "I generally fly out [to California] to do most of the film work, but the rest of the stuff … I could do Ariel in Atlanta," close to where she and her husband Ray Benson live with their kids. Luckily for Jodi, she can "teach the kids Monday through Friday and then do my gigs on the weekends," adding that "my studio work is generally one hour a week, in the afternoon after I finish school, so it works out well for our family."

Source: Movie Web

Comments

As a Disney Castmember, Jodi is an idol. It’s so nice to hear that she still works while homeschooling.

- Meg on August 31st, 2008

The word is that she is going to do the voice of Barbie in Toy Story 3!!!!! That will be awesome!

- Kelli on August 31st, 2008

I absolutely love Jodi as Ariel! I heard she did Thumbelina also… I heard her voice through my whole childhood, and I’m so glad she keeps making Disney movies now that she has a bigger family. Every time I hear her sing, I’m five years old again!

- Alice on August 31st, 2008

Man, what a great life! lol. Where do I sign up for this 1 hr/wk gig with Disney?

- m-dot on September 1st, 2008

Yeah I know m-dot, I know exactly what you mean! lol!

Ah Jodi lucked out indeed, when she landed the voice of Ariel, roughly 20 yrs ago!

Her kids are cute and actually pretty young for someone her age. I wonder how her daughter’s felt growing up with “Ariel” for a mom. lol!

- Autumn on September 1st, 2008

Jodi also does the voice for these videos that are like Baby Einstein but they have Christian stories instead. In between all the toys moving around they use puppets to tell a story from the bible. When my son would have some insane crying fits when he was about 3-4 months old I could turn on that video and the second he heard her voice he would stop crying and listen to her. Jodi helped me to keep my sanity during my son’s early months!

- Elle on September 1st, 2008

I’m really glad to hear a *celebrity* homeschooler speak out:)

- Shannon M on September 1st, 2008

Jodi & Paige O’hara are my favorites! Its nice to know that she is still working with Disney. She was Barbie in Toy Story 2, and wouldnt be surprised if she was to reprise her role

- Bee on September 1st, 2008

I think it’s awesome her son’s name is McKinley. I’ve one met one person that has that name and I think it’s a great name.

- Tara on September 2nd, 2008