Everyone has a favorite Disney princess. Whether it's a classic like Snow White or Cinderella, or a newer princess like Elsa, there's no denying princesses have appeal. As much as I wish it weren't true, these princesses aren't real people. However, the voices behind them are very real! It got me wondering, what did these real-life princesses do after they voiced the characters? Let's see what your favorite princesses got up to post-Disney.
1. Adriana Caselotti- Snow White (1916-1997)
After voicing Snow White, Disney's first princess, Caselotti was not allowed to appear in further film and media, so not to spoil the illusion of Snow White. However, she did sing, uncredited, in The Wizard of Oz and It's a Wonderful Life. She wrote a how-to book entitled Do You Like to Sing?, and was named a Disney Legend in 1994.
2. Ilene Woods- Cinderella (1929-2010)
Ilene Woods, similar to Adriana Caselotti, did not do much post-Cinderella. She went on to voice Snow White in the 1949 audiobook release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. She sang for Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, and retired from showbiz in 1972. She was named a Disney Legend. She contracted Alzheimer's disease in her old age, making her forget she voiced Cinderella. However, she was comforted by the song "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," and the nurses often played it for her.
3. Mary Costa- Aurora (1930-Present)
Mary Costa, after finishing production of Sleeping Beauty, went on to perform in 44 operatic roles throughout the world. She also made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, such as Bing Crosby's Christmas Show, The Hollywood Palace, Woman of the Year, and NBC Follies. She sang at the memorial for President John F. Kennedy, and and appeared in movies The Great Waltz, The Big Caper, and Marry Me Again. She was named as a Disney Legend.
4. Jodi Benson- Ariel (1961-Present)
Jodi Benson has appeared in many other voice acting roles for both Disney and Warner Bros. Most notably, she voiced Barbie in the Toy Story franchise, Thumbelina for Warner Bros., and appeared as the character Sam in Disney's Enchanted. Benson was a Broadway star, even winning a Tony award for Best Actress in a Musical. She is a Disney Legend, and is married with two children.
5. Paige O'Hara- Belle (1956-Present)
After Belle, O'Hara starred as Venus in BBC's "One Touch of Venus." As tribute to Belle, she also took on the character Angela in Disney's Enchanted. She was named a Disney Legend for her work. Currently, she is a painter for Disney Fine Art.
6. Linda Larkin and Lea Salonga- Jasmine (1970- Present and 1971-Present, respectively)
Larkin gave spoken word to Princess Jasmine, and Salonga gave song, because Larkin's voice was deemed "too high" for the Princess. Other than Jasmine in films, Linda Larkin voiced Jasmine in the "Kingdom Hearts" video game series, and was named a Disney Legend. Lea Salonga had roles in multiple Musical Theatre pieces, released an album, went on a concert tour, and took on the role of Mulan's singing voice. She is married with a child.
7. Irene Bedard and Judy Kuhn- Pocahontas
Irene Bedard (right) was the speaking voice of Pocahontas, and Judy Kuhn (left) sang for Pocahontas. After voicing the character, Bedard went on to both voice and appear in numerous films and TV shows. Kuhn is a Broadway actress, has toured in concert, and appeared on TV in both Law and Order: SVU and All My Children. She has a husband and a daughter.
8. Lea Salonga and Ming-Na Wen- Mulan
We already know what Lea Salonga is up to, but what about Ming-Na Wen? She's been busy since Mulan, appearing in multiple TV series: ER, Inconceivable, The Batman, Stargate Universe, Vanished, George Lopez and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., among others. She has also appeared in the films The Joy Luck Club, Street Fighter, and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. She is married with two children.
9. Anika Noni Rose- Tiana
Rose has appeared in a few other films, including The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and For Colored Girls. She has made TV appearances, both in-person and voice acting, on Bag of Bones, The Simpsons, Roots, Power and The Quad. She was named a Disney Legend for her work.
10. Mandy Moore- Rapunzel
There's no denying Mandy Moore's fame before starring as the voice of Rapunzel in Tangled. After the film, however, she went on to act for TV series, such as Hotel Noir, Tron: Uprising, and Sheriff Callie's Wild West. She is currently working on a handful of films and a seventh studio album.
11. Kelly MacDonald- Merida
After voicing Merida in Brave, MacDonald appeared in a sprinkling of TV shows, most notably Boardwalk Empire. She also received critical acclaim for her starring role in an episode of the Netflix series Black Mirror. She is married with two children.
12. Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell- Elsa and Anna
Stars of Disney's smash-hit Frozen, Menzel and Bell are not to be forgotten. Idina Menzel has not been up to much since lending her iconic voice to the film. She has starred in a Lifetime film, Beaches, and is rumored to star in an upcoming sitcom, Happy Time. Kristen Bell, on the other hand, has been busier since the film. She appeared in Parks and Recreation, Veronica Mars, Zootopia, The Boss, and Bad Moms. She is set to appear in CHiPs and The Good Place. She is married with two children.
13. Auli'i Cravalho- Moana
Auli'i Cravalho is the most recent Disney princess, starring in the 2016 film Moana. At just 16 years old, she is one of the most well-known voices in the film industry. She has made appearances on multiple talk shows, and sang her character's iconic song "How Far I'll Go," at the 2017 Oscars. She is to appear as Moana again in the upcoming short Gone Fishing.
Our princesses sure have been up to a lot!
(Images from Mental Floss, Wikipedia, and Disney Wikia.)
