You know that voice. It’s slightly raspy, fiercely independent, and sounds exactly like someone who is tired of being told who to marry. When Princess Jasmine first graced our screens in 1992, she didn't just look different from the princesses who came before her—she sounded different too. But the story of the voice of Jasmine Disney fans grew up with is actually a tale of two different women, a massive risk by the studio, and a near-firing that almost changed movie history.
The Woman Who Almost Lost the Crown
Linda Larkin is the name you’ll see in the credits. She’s the one who gave Jasmine her fire. But here is the thing: Disney almost fired her. About six months after she got the job, Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was the big boss at Disney at the time, decided he wasn't feeling it. He thought her voice wasn't "regal" enough.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think about now. He wanted her to sound more like a traditional princess—soft, airy, maybe a bit more like Cinderella. Larkin had to re-audition several times just to keep the role she’d already won. To keep her job, she basically had to lower her natural pitch. She made Jasmine sound a bit more grounded and "older," which ended up being the secret sauce. That lower register made Jasmine feel like a leader, not a damsel.
The Singing Secret
If you ever noticed that Jasmine’s voice sounds a little more "musical theater" when she’s soaring through the clouds on a carpet, there’s a good reason. Larkin doesn't sing. Well, she sings, but "not like a princess," as she famously put it.
This was a huge turning point for Disney. Before Aladdin, the studio usually hired one person to do everything. Think Jodi Benson as Ariel or Paige O'Hara as Belle. But for Jasmine, they split the role in two.
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- Speaking Voice: Linda Larkin
- Singing Voice: Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga is a literal legend. She had just crushed it in Miss Saigon on Broadway, and her voice had this crystal-clear quality that matched Larkin’s speaking tone perfectly. It was a gamble. Would people notice the swap? Turns out, most kids didn't have a clue. It felt seamless. Salonga actually went on to provide the singing voice for Mulan too, making her the only person to be the "voice" of two different Disney princesses.
Why the Voice Matters So Much
Jasmine was a shift. She was the first non-white Disney princess, and the way she was voiced had to reflect that "feisty" energy without falling into weird stereotypes of the early 90s.
Larkin’s performance wasn't just about reading lines. She brought a specific kind of modern sarcasm to the role. When she says, "I am not a prize to be won," it doesn't sound like a scripted line. It sounds like a person who is genuinely annoyed. That’s why the voice of Jasmine Disney created still resonates today; it feels real.
The Live-Action Transition
Fast forward to 2019. Disney decided to go live-action. They needed someone who could do it all—the acting, the singing, and the "don't mess with me" attitude.
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Enter Naomi Scott.
Unlike the original animated version, Scott did both her own speaking and singing. She even got a brand new "power anthem" called Speechless. It was a huge departure from the 1992 vibe. While Salonga’s Jasmine was about wonder and romance, Scott’s Jasmine was about political agency and literally finding her voice in a world that wanted her silent. Some fans missed the Larkin/Salonga combo, but Scott’s version brought a different kind of depth that worked for a modern audience.
The "Other" Jasmines You Forgot
Believe it or not, there have been others. Because Disney is a giant machine, Jasmine appears in more than just movies.
- Courtney Reed: She originated the role in the Broadway musical. If you’ve seen the show in New York, that’s the voice you heard. She had to balance the animated character’s spunk with the physical demands of a two-hour stage show.
- The TV Series: Linda Larkin actually stayed on for the Aladdin television series. That’s pretty rare. Usually, big movie actors bail when the show goes to Saturday morning TV, but she stuck with the character for over 100 episodes.
- Video Games: Whether it’s Kingdom Hearts or Disney Infinity, Larkin has been the consistent thread. She was even honored as a Disney Legend in 2011 because she’s been voicing this character for over three decades.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that Jasmine’s voice was "recast" for the sequels. It wasn't—well, not exactly. While Linda Larkin stayed for the speaking, Lea Salonga didn't always return for the singing. In The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, the singing voice was actually Liz Callaway.
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If you listen closely to "Forget About Love," it’s not the same person who sang "A Whole New World." Callaway has a slightly different vibrato, but she did a killer job mimicking that "Disney style."
How to Appreciate the Craft
If you want to really hear the evolution, do a side-by-side. Listen to the original 1992 soundtrack, then go watch a clip of the Broadway show, and then finish with Naomi Scott’s Speechless.
You'll see a clear line from a princess who was fighting for her right to marry for love, to a queen who was fighting for her right to rule. It’s all in the voice.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Credits: Next time you watch Ralph Breaks the Internet, listen for Jasmine. That’s Linda Larkin returning once again to play the role she started in 1992.
- Explore the Discography: Look up Lea Salonga’s live performances of "A Whole New World." Seeing her sing it live shows the technical difficulty of those high notes that sounded so effortless in the movie.
- Compare the "Lower Pitch": Try to find Linda Larkin’s natural speaking voice in interviews. You’ll hear just how much she had to "deepen" her tone to satisfy the Disney execs back in the 90s.