When it comes to playingThe Little Mermaid‘s Ariel in ABC’s live special,Auli’i Cravalhohas the most magical mentor.
Ahead of the ABC’sThe Little Mermaid Live!on Tuesday, the 18-year-old actress opened up to PEOPLE about the sweet advice she received from Ariel herself, Jodi Benson.
“I’ve spoken to Jodi and she’s an absolute dream,” Cravalho said of Benson, who voiced Ariel in the original 1989 animated film. “I actually met her a few years ago at D23, which is a wonderful Disney convention, and I remember her just telling me — and this is before, of course, anything about me playing Ariel — she said that Ariel had changed her life and I should ‘buckle up, buttercup’ because everything is about to change and about to be so magical and amazing.”
Jodi Benson as Ariel.
“And it truly has been,” she continued. “And she’s wonderful! She’s kind of been, I mean, to quote yet another Disney movie, she’s kind of like a fairy godmother in a way, because she’s known these characters for so long and she’s always there to give a little bit of advice. I’ll speak to her after the show and hopefully, you know, we’ll get together for lunch and we can say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is what you did when you played Ariel! And this is what I did!’”
ABC
Of course, Cravalho is no stranger to the weight of a Disney princess’s crown: She voiced the titular character in the 2016 smashMoana.
On Tuesday, ABC will honor the 30th anniversary ofThe Little Mermaidwith a live special that will be performed in front of an audience on the Disney lot as the original movie is shown on a giant projection.
Fanshave been anxiously awaiting the special since it was announced in 2017. In August, ABC confirmed the project’s air date, and in the months since, the network hasunveiled the star-studded castthat would be headlining the special, including Queen Latifah as sea witch Ursula, Shaggy as Jamaican crab Sebastian,John Stamosas Chef Louis, and Graham Phillips as Prince Eric.
GleealumnaAmber Rileywill host the special as the appropriately-named Emcee, and Benson will be making an appearance as well.
The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live!will air Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, live on ABC.
source: people.com
