Mae Whitman is Disney’s Tinker Bell

When Mae Whitman was three-and-a-half she inadvertently wandered into her mother’s commercial audition—and booked the job. A year later she was cast in her first feature film, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” starring Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia, followed by the comedy “Bye Bye Love,” with Randy Quaid, Paul Reiser and Amy Brenneman.

Next came the record-breaking “Independence Day,” appearing as the president’s daughter. “One Fine Day” was Mae’s fourth feature film (she played George Clooney’s daughter). Robert Altman and Kenneth Branagh introduced her to improvisation with “The Gingerbread Man.” For “Hope Floats” she worked alongside Sandra Bullock, Gena Rowlands and Harry Connick, Jr. Next came a trio of independent features: the award-winning “American Rhapsody” with Scarlett Johansson, Henry Jaglom’s “Going Shopping” and the festival hit “Bondage” with lleana Douglas and Michael Angarano.

Whitman continued to show her versatility with the suspense/horror picture “Boogeyman 2,” and will soon be seen opposite John Cusack in the thriller “The Factory.” In 2008 she starred as Diane Lane’s daughter in the romantic dramedy “Nights in Rodanthe” with Richard Gere. Her comedic skills shined through as Ann Veal on the Emmy® Award-winning “Arrested Development,” and were seen again in the Warner Bros.’ comedy “Spring Breakdown,” with Amy Poehler, Parker Posey and Amber Tamblyn. She traveled to New Orleans to shoot the six-part miniseries “Thief”—another Emmy-winner—with Andre Braugher for FX. She has guest-starred on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Justice,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Cold Case,” “Presidio Med,” “Century City,” “Judging Amy,” “Friends,” “Providence,” “Early Edition” and PBS’s acclaimed televised radio play “Merry Christmas, George Bailey.” Some other TV series credits include the title role in “State of Grace,” and recurring roles in “Chicago Hope,” “JAG” and “In Treatment.”

Whitman’s made-for-television movie appearances include “Death In Paradise,” “The Judds,” “Degree of Guilt,” “Invisible Child,” “After Jimmy,” and two for Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions: “A Season for Miracles” and “Love’s Abiding Joy.”  

Her love for animation continues as she voiced the character of Katara in Nickelodeon’s wildly successful anime-style series, “Avatar.” For Disney, she played both Rose and her alter ego Huntsgirl on “American Dragon,” and co-starred with Haley-Joel Osment as the voice of Shanti in “Jungle Book 2.” She can also be heard as Little Susie on “Johnny Bravo,” Leslie on “Teacher’s Pet,” and various characters on “Fillmore,” “The Wild Thornberries,” “Duckman,” “Superman” and “Max Steele.” In 2004, Whitman played the title role in “Anne of Green Gables,” a four-hour family radio drama. Her recent voice-over credits include “The Happy Elf,” “Firedog,” various characters on “Family Guy” and the voice of Yuffie in the best-selling video games “Kingdom Hearts II” and “Final Fantasy VII.” Most recently she was cast in the coveted role of April O’Neil in Nickelodeon’s reboot of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

How did you become the voice of Tinker Bell?

My agent got me an audition and we knew it had something to do with fairies in general, but that was really the most information that they would give us. But my agent knew that it was very important. I read for the role and then I got the call. It was extremely exciting. It was like a double dose of excitement, being cast in the first place, and then for something as iconic as giving a voice to Tinker bell. It was really a great honor.

Without knowing anything about the character before your audition, what do you think you brought to the role that made the director and producer recognize that you were the ideal voice for Tinker Bell?

I think all you can ever bring is whatever your absolute best is. You can’t try to fit into some category of what you think they would want. So I just gave it my absolute best with my essence and who I am, and I think they just found something in there that connected to that character. It was really fun. They liked my sense of humor. They let me come up with little jokes and fun ways to read certain lines. It’s a very collaborative effort. Tinker Bell has really become a part of me. We’ve sort merged into one.

What did you see in the character of Tinker Bell that made you want to play this iconic role?

There are so many wonderful things about Tinker Bell and all of her friends. I
think a few of the things I really love about her are that she has an attitude but she’s very smart and funny and she really has a heart of gold. It’s inspiring to see such a strong female lead character who has her little flaws and things that she needs to overcome, but is growing and learning. In the series, there are different lessons that are really important and special and she’s got great supportive friends. I think there’s a positive special message in all of her movies, like finding yourself and loving yourself for who you are.

What did you think of the characters’ wardrobe in the film?

Oh, I love them! I think they have the cutest outfits. I’m such a nature freak, and it’s
just the most beautiful world that they live in. That’s another message that’s really important and powerful, the connection to nature. In Pixie Hollow everything is made out of leaves and flowers and it’s very much a returning to the earth approach. I think that’s a really important message to teach.

Are those your values as well? Are you, as they say, a “Green” person?

Yes, I definitely try my best. I’m very environmentally passionate in general, so it’s really nice to be involved with something that sort of teaches that as a way of life to kids. I think it’s really a relief for parents to have something that they can show their kids that they believe in. I think it’s really difficult to find things that are nature oriented, and rooted in earth and in loving yourself and the earth.

What are some of Tinker Bell’s attributes that you hope are inspirational to viewers?

I think every single movie is very special and there are different things to learn
from each. I find, even as an adult, that I really connect with the focus on acceptance of others, acceptance of yourself, and encouraging your special talents, whatever they are and appreciating nature and caring about your world and your life and not to judge people. It’s sort of all based on love and friendship and faith and appreciation for the world around us. Those are all really special qualities.

We’re impressed with your confidence, poise and how articulate you are. How did you become so enlightened at such a relatively young age?

I guess my theory is … I went to a regular school so I had a regular kind of
growing up, but I also had a job, and worked on a set, and was with adults a lot. I think that’s sort of the situation that helped me grow and let me appreciate both worlds and what was special about them. I appreciate my surroundings and where I am in the moment.

What’s the most amazing aspect of being part of the Disney legacy?

One of the things is that the messages in these movies are messages that everybody can connect with. And the people working on the movies, the whole team of people are so connected and so creative and so wonderful and they genuinely love these movies and the characters. It’s like a genuine project of the heart for everybody involved, and I think that really translates. I just feel really lucky to be a part of such a great team.

Do you ever stop to think about how much of a positive impact you and Tinker Bell are having on children as they watch your movies?

I feel genuinely happy and lucky. Growing up, I was always a huge Disney fan.
“Peter Pan” was my favorite Disney movie. There’s something so special about childhood and about those formative years when you connect to things that really become a part of you forever. To know that I’m part of a team that is inspiring kids is very, very special to me and I will treasure this experience for my whole life. Disney has been making magic for a million years and to be Tinker Bell … it leaves me speechless. It’s very, very magical to be a part of this team.

Was Peter Pan your first love?

He’ll always have a little piece of my heart for sure.

Tell us about the fun you had working with directors Peggy Holmes and Bobs Gannaway.

Peggy is one of the sweetest, most kind-hearted people I know. And Bobs is
incredibly funny and smart and extremely loving. These are some of the absolute best people in show business. We all fall under the spell of loving these stories and these characters. That’s what’s important to us. I mean, we’re very much one. Everyone that I’ve worked with on this whole franchise really trust and love and respect each other and it comes through in the work when you’re with people who you really trust and you’re all sort of moving in this one big wave.

Do you enjoy working in animation as much as performing in live-action roles?

I love every different medium for its own reasons, but voice over work has such a special place in my heart. I love animation. My Mom is a voice over actress and I sort of grew up in that world and I have been doing it since I was little and I love it. It’s really about the talent and connecting the story and so many of the same voice over actors have been working for a million years and they are absolute geniuses. I mean, so funny and so smart. It’s just such a real pleasure to be involved in a business that’s just about making people happy. Plus it’s nice to not have to put on makeup and be able to work in my sweat pants!

When performing the voice of Tinker Bell, are you encouraged to offer your own artistic suggestions about the character?

It’s a very collaborative effort. I’ve been doing this part for so long, they are very,
very responsive and very open creatively if I feel like something doesn’t feel like Tinker Bell, or something she would say. They’re very encouraging. And again, I think whatever it is that they saw in me that they wanted and connected to for Tinker Bell, they like to encourage that. So if there are any little places where I feel like I can sort of bring some of my light to it they’re very encouraging about it. So that’s a very nice environment for an actor to be able to have.

You’ve been a star since you were really young, and you have so many acting options. Will you continue to voice Tinker Bell?

I hope I’m 95 years old sitting with all these same people! I feel so lucky. I would
never want to do without it. It’s such a special place, and a special and fun job and anybody would be lucky if they could keep working on something as special as Tinker Bell. I just feel very lucky to be a part of this team and I would love to be on the journey for as long as it goes.

If you could be Tinker Bell in real life, what sort of adventure would you like to go on?

To be honest, I think if I could be Tinker Bell, I would just love to soak up the
environment of living in Pixie Hollow. It’s the most magical incredible world they created and to me, it would be the best coolest adventure to explore the beaches and the forests. And I’m sure––adventure would find me soon enough.

Mae Whitman Photos | Tinkerbell and the Secret of the Wings Film Page

TINKERBELL AND THE SECRET OF THE WINGS 3D IS OUT IN CINEMAS 14TH DECEMBER