Benson made her debut in the 1983
Kenny Ortega-directed
Marilyn: An American Fable. She was introduced to
Alan Menken around 1985, during an audition for Kick, which never was produced. Other Broadway credits include a starring role in the 1986 Broadway musical
Smile, where she introduced a song called "Disneyland". In 1987,
Howard Ashman, the lyricist of
Smile, would go on to write the lyrics for
The Little Mermaid. She describes the song "Disneyland" at the "Smile" Reunion concert held on September 22, 2014, "This is the first piece of the puzzle of my life, the first step of the journey, so to speak". Benson also sings "Disneyland" on a compilation CD called
Unsung Musicals. In 1989, Benson appeared in the Broadway musical,
Welcome to the Club, alongside
Samuel E. Wright, who performed the voice for Sebastian the Crab in
The Little Mermaid. In 1992, Benson received a
Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Polly Baker in
Crazy For You. She played the narrator in
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1998. In 2004, Benson voiced the character of EVA in the video game
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Due to her association with children-oriented projects, she was advised by voice director
Kris Zimmerman to adopt a
pseudonym for the game; her credited name, "Suzetta Miñet", was coined by Zimmerman based on the name of Benson's pet dog during her childhood, Suzette Monet. For two decades after the game's release, Miñet's true identity was the subject of scrutiny and speculation among fans until Benson officially revealed her involvement during the promotion of the game's remake,
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, in November 2024. In 2004–06, Benson contributed as the host and narrator of the children's Christian home video series called "Baby Faith", created by
Integrity Publishers & FamilyTreeMedia. In 2007, Benson played the secretary Sam in Disney's live-action/animated film,
Enchanted. Benson also played the Queen in a one-night concert version of
Rodgers & Hammersteins
Cinderella at the
Nashville Symphony Orchestra in May 2010. Benson was at the 2012 SYTA conference singing her signature song "Part of Your World" on August 27, 2012. Benson joined the "2013 Spring Pops" on May 14–15, 2013 as a guest soloist with the
Boston Pops. She has been a frequent celebrity narrator at
Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World, appearing most recently in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021. Benson can be heard on over a dozen recordings. Her animated TV series include the Emmy Award-winning
Camp Lazlo for
Cartoon Network,
The Little Mermaid,
Batman Beyond,
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy,
The Wild Thornberrys,
Barbie,
Hercules: Zero to Hero,
P. J. Sparkles, and the series
Sofia the First for Disney. On the concert stage, Benson has performed as a concert soloist with symphonies all over the world, including The Boston Pops, The Philly Pops (conductor: Peter Nero), The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (conductor: John Mauceri), The National Symphony (conductor: Marvin Hamlisch), Cleveland, Dallas, Tokyo, and the San Francisco and Chicago Symphonies. She starred in the Kennedy Center Honors for Ginger Rogers, and in ''Disney's Premiere in Central Park with Pocahontas
, The Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Spectacular
and Disney's 100 Years of Magic''. Benson is the resident guest soloist for the Walt Disney Company/Disney Cruise Line and ambassador for feature animation. On June 6, 2016, Benson performed the role of Ariel at the
Hollywood Bowl's concert performance of
The Little Mermaid. She also made a special appearance in ABC's 2019 live musical spectacular
The Little Mermaid Live! Benson was originally going to reprise her role as Sam in the 2022 film
Disenchanted, but her scene was cut from the movie. She recently lent her voice to Ariel in the 2022 video game
Disney Dreamlight Valley as well as singing as Ariel on various Disney Princess albums of the 2000s. From 1992 to 2011 she was the official voice of Barbie for Mattel and Pixar for projects such as
Toy Story and
Dance! Workout with Barbie, until the role was taken over by
Kate Higgins starting with the series
Life in the Dreamhouse. In June 2023, Benson starred as Mama Rose in a concert production of
Gypsy alongside her daughter Delany at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in
Fort Myers, Florida. The two of them reprised their roles in a 2025 production at the OFC Creations Theatre Center in
Rochester, New York. Benson portrayed Dolly Gallagher Levi in a concert production of
Hello, Dolly! at the
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in
Orlando, Florida from June 21-22, 2024.
The Little Mermaid In late 1986, Benson first heard of the audition for
The Little Mermaid through lyricist and playwright
Howard Ashman. The two had just worked together in the Broadway show
Smile until its run ended early. Ashman knew she would be the perfect fit for the role and that she would be a great replica of Ariel. After hearing the demo for "Part of Your World", she sang a small part of it on tape where it was later sent to Disney executives. Before her audition for
The Little Mermaid, she was primarily a stage actress. It was Ashman's first Disney project. In early 1988, Benson won the role of Ariel and has been voicing her ever since. Benson also made a cameo in the 2023
live-action adaptation of the film, directed by
Rob Marshall, as a market vendor who hands Ariel (
Halle Bailey) a fork during her tour of the kingdom. ==Personal life==