Q&A: ‘Aladdin’ voice actors Linda Larkin and Jonathan Freeman

Disney Legend Linda Larkin (the speaking voice of Princess Jasmine) and Jonathan Freeman (the voice of Jafar) will be celebrating 30 years of “Aladdin” when they take the stage at Give Kids The World Village on Aug. 26, 2023.

Linda Larkin and Jonathan Freeman
Image courtesy of Give Kids the World

In addition to “Aladdin” (1992),  Larkin voiced Princess Jasmine in “The Return of Jafar” (1994), Aladdin and the King of Thieves” (1996), and “Ralph Breaks the Internet” (2018). Freeman voiced Jafar in “The Return of Jafar” and played the Disney villain onstage in a special performance of “Aladdin” at the Prince Edward Theatre in London in 2019.

“[Jonathan and I] will be coming to the Give Kids The World [GKTW] campus for a really special evening to raise money and awareness for GKTW’s great work,” Larkin said. “If you live in Central Florida – or if you’ll be visiting the Orlando area – please come out and join us! Together, we can build a world where every child’s wish can come true.”

Jasmine and Jafar

We asked the voices of Jasmine and Jafar about their careers – including what they like most about working in animation.

How did the dream of a career in show business begin?

Jonathan: I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1950s/60s which was very fertile time with a lot of support and money available to the arts. The Cleveland Playhouse (the oldest regional theater in the United States), the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra (considered one of the best orchestras in the world), The Cleveland Museum of Art, and The Cleveland Institute of Dance all had wonderful programs for not only adults but children, too. So, as a young kid, I took drawing and puppetry classes at the museum, acted in youth theater productions at the playhouse and other local theaters, and participated in kids programs with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to all that, my family was very interested in performing arts, and…one of my earliest recollections is seeing the First National Tours of “Flower Drum Song” and “Oliver” with Davy Jones as The Artful Dodger. Once I started going to professional theater, I never wanted to do anything else (and didn’t do anything else). I worked professionally as a kid in Cleveland, went to university to study in an acting program, then came to New York City, continued studying, and started auditioning.

Linda: My dream of a career in show business started with my love for dancing. I was very fortunate to have exceptional dance teachers at a studio practically in my backyard. The studio became my second home, my teachers my second family, and it was there I started to dream of a career in the arts. I remember traveling to NYC with my teachers, seeing “A Chorus Line” on Broadway, and thinking, that’s what I want to do!

My journey has taken many unexpected and exciting turns, but the dream began very simply, with a ballet class in my hometown.

What do you like best about working in animation?

Jonathan: First of all, you don’t have to look your best; you can show up in your pajamas. You don’t have to worry about hair and makeup or getting into a crazy costume to get the job done. And it’s so much fun because you don’t have to worry about ruining a take or dropping a line. In an animation session, they’re recording everything you do, and you join this larger collaborative effort that includes the writers, directors, composers, lyricists, animators, technicians, and more. It’s very rarefied.

Jafar

Linda: In the recording studio, all the distractions of the outside world fall away. You’re in a soundproof booth with headphones, a music stand, a microphone, and your script. It’s my favorite work environment because I’m able to disappear into my imagination, guided by the creators, the directors, and the engineers on the other side of the glass.

Princess jasmine

One of my favorite things about working in animation is what is created in the end. An animated feature can take many years and the contributions of hundreds of artists and technicians to complete. It’s truly a magical world where the finished work is greater than the sum of its parts.

Why is it important for you to support Give Kids The World by participating in this event? Do you have any personal connections to GKTW?

Jonathan: I think it’s important to participate in projects that support dreams. We owe it to each other.

Linda: I’m inspired by the impact we can have on each other’s lives in the face of adversity. GKTW started with one man trying to help one critically ill little girl and grew into what it is today, fulfilling wishes for hundreds of children and their families each year.

An Evening with Linda Larkin and Jonathan Freeman

The discussion with Linda Larkin and Jonathan Freeman will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m.on Aug. 26, 2023. General Admission tickets are $59.99 (+$2.50 fee), and VIP tickets are $179.99 (+$5.50 fee). VIP guests will participate in a meet-and-greet, including an autograph and photo opportunity.

Ticket sales end on Aug. 26, 2023; all proceeds benefit Give Kids The World. Click here for details and to purchase tickets.

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