Unlikely Princess of Persia

James Croot finds out how a single role opened a whole new world for Linda Larkin.

THE voice behind Disney’s beloved Princess Jasmine is not what you’d expect. Now 46, Linda Larkin is a self-confessed, ‘‘blonde-haired girl from the Midwest’’ who was lucky enough to land the vocal role of a lifetime opposite Robin Williams for the hit 1993 animated movie Aladdin.

Sunday News chatted to Larkin by phone in Australia before she touched down in Auckland for this weekend’s Armageddon Expo. The first audition I had was just one of many I had for various things that week. I didn’t even know at that time that it was for a Disney animated feature film. It could have been Duck Tales. I went away and didn’t hear from anyone for probably a month. I’d kind of forgot about it and then they called and said they want to see me again. That went on for the next few months. I would keep going back in there and there would be less actresses and more executives in the room. At my last audition, I was the only Jasmine and I thought ‘‘I might have this’’. I got the job and that started two years of recording – sometimes it went really well and sometimes it was really stressful. One of the best moments for me, of course, was the day that I got to work with Robin Williams and Scott Weinger (who voiced Aladdin) in the studio. The two of us were meeting him for the first time and we were just completely in awe of him even before we got this film. We spent most of the day trying not to ruin the take with our laughter inside the booth. In the beginning, there were no songs. She only had dialogue. I would have never been sent in on that audition had it required a song. I just wasn’t a singer, it wasn’t what I did. They were looking for strong actors who also had a comedic sense because they knew they were hiring Robin Williams – we didn’t.

They wanted people that could get in the booth with Robin and they felt that I could do that. When songs were introduced, they pretty much knew they were going to use another person for Scott, but when they wrote a duet with Jasmine they asked me if I could sing – I said, ‘‘not like a princess’’ and they said, ‘‘don’t worry, we’ll get a singer for you too’’.

I thought, ‘‘for sure, I’m losing this job. Anybody who can sing can also talk and they are going to replace me’’. It was only when I heard myself on the big screen at the premiere that I said, ‘‘OK I believe it now – they were true to their word’’. I watched that on the plane from LA to Auckland. It was so moving, I was crying so much that the flight attendant looked at me and I had to go ‘‘oh no, I’m fine’’. I was so moved. I had spoken to Owen’s father during a press week we did last year and I just thought it was amazing how deeply moved he was by the story and by how we had an influence and an impact on this kid’s life. I had heard these stories, personally from some people, but it was just so well told in that movie. Us Disney Princesses always knew we were going to have a special place at Disney and a special place in the heart of people who enjoy these films. But it was a marketing executive at Disney who created this ‘‘Princess Brand’’ idea and that really did change things. When you could all of a sudden have a video that had all the princess’s stories woven together, it just created another experience for people. All of a sudden we were working all of the time again, instead of being in the vault. I saw Paige O’Hara (who voices Beauty and the Beast’s Belle) recently at the 25th Anniversary of her film. It was in New York and we were in her hotel room. I said. ‘‘how are you doing?’’ and she said, ‘‘I’m very emotional. It feels like you’re at your own memorial service’’ – and I burst out laughing. I’d just done a 23rd anniversary bash for Aladdin the year before and I remember feeling those exact same emotions – I knew exactly how she felt. Grateful, emotional, humble – so much at once. It’s funny. I love working in the recording studio. It is my favourite place to be. I love being able to access my imagination and be in the cocoon of that studio. I really would not desire to have a role in a live action version of Aladdin. I would love to just enjoy it at the premiere – to be the secret, special guest in the audience enjoying the story told in a new way. ● Linda Larkin is one of the many international guests at this long weekend’s Auckland Armageddon Expo. For more info, see armageddonexpo.com