Olive Oyl was created originally in the newspaper comic strip Thimble Theatre by cartoonist Elize Segar. Mae collaborated with Max to create Olive’s voice: all crackly, squeaky and wobbly sounding, based on some characteristics of a 1930s actress. He hired her to be Betty Boop and then Olive Oyl. Max Fleisher found Mae through her comedic imitations. Her first big break was as an impressionist, doing all the famous stars of the time. Nevertheless, Mae began in vaudeville, became a star with her voice acting, and played occasional small roles in films and television later in her career. Mae Questel was all personality and entertainer, even though she was discouraged from that career by her parents. I was captivated with Olive Oyl’s silly, unique, fragile, flippant, and sometimes defiant character. Extremely famous for her performance as Betty Boop and sensations made while voicing her, Mae captured me with her vocals as Olive Oyl, Popeye the sailor’s girlfriend. Mae QuestelĪn impersonator, vaudevillian, actress and voice actress – Mae Questel made Betty Boop a media sensation and created the voice of Olive Oyl in more than 450 Popeye cartoons. At the same time, she seemed enamored of the role, embracing the joy it brought to so many, re-sharing it over and over again in many ways. This was back in the “studio era” of Hollywood when studios made all the big decisions. In fact, she was paid a small day rate for her work, and much later unsuccessfully sued Disney and RCA for a share of the soundtrack-record profits. Disney didn’t credit voice actors, pretending its animated characters were real. The Snow White film came out in 1937 and Adriana wasn’t even credited with the role at that time. ![]() It is alleged that while under contract, she was limited to only do what Disney allowed. The irony? Being on contract with Disney created a single-lane career for Adriana. And with it, she achieved many firsts: first Disney princess, first English heroine in an animated feature, first ‘named’ female voice actress, a voice on the first feature film soundtrack. Adriana was already a singer and performer when she took the Snow White role. Adriana jumped on the second line in the house to suggest herself! She auditioned for and received the role. Her father was also a singing teacher in Hollywood, and Disney’s casting called him to ask for potential singer-actors for the Snow White role. I felt enchanted when I heard that song “I’m Wishing” as a little girl, and saw the way that Snow engaged animals.Īdriana’s father, mother and sister were performers. Adriana was the voice Walt Disney knew was meant to be Snow White’s voice as well, when he heard her among the 150 or so auditioning for the role. Adriana CaselottiĪn official Disney Legend, she is the speaking and singing voice of Snow White, Disney’s main character in the worlds first feature-length animated film. I now dare to veer into fan-girl territory as I share juicy details about these three actresses, their firsts and their careers. ![]() As a child, I was simply enchanted and captured by their voices and the beloved characters they played. Only as I pursued my own voiceover career did I learn… that June is the voice actor behind Rocky and many other beloved characters… that Mae is the voice of Olive Oyl and Betty Boop… and that is Adriana the voice of Disney’s Snow White. In my childhood, each of these ladies held a special place in my heart for the animated character they played. June, Mae and Adriana (wouldn’t it be funny if her name was April?) were from different paths and times, and each came to fame in animation voiceover. ![]() Have you heard of June Foray? Mae Questel? Adriana Caselotti? And although very different, they are iconic, classic characters and voice actors that are lauded for their work. What animated character captured your imagination so strongly that it’s seared into your memory?įor me, there are three.
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