For a young and talented actress who managed to voice the main character in the first American animated feature film, such a step could be devastating, not to mention career-ending. So, what did Adriana Caselotti do to end up blacklisted by one of the most influential figures in the film industry?
Today, animated films often feature the voices of famous celebrities. If the film and script alone are not enough to attract paying audiences, big names can lure them in, giving viewers the chance to hear how a major star brings an animated character to life. Abroad, it is not uncommon for animated films to be billed for featuring celebrities, as this is often treated as a marketing strategy.
But in 1937, when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released, things were entirely different. Different because no one had ever done anything like this before, and no one knew how to handle voice actors.
When Snow White premiered, the credits contained no information about the actors voicing the characters. Adriana Caselotti had a contract with Disney, which meant she could not contest the decision. Her name was not publicized because Walt Disney did not want to break the illusion of the animated character. However, his obsession with keeping the voice of Snow White a secret went too far.
Since Caselotti was under contract, Disney had the authority not only to prevent her from revealing her role but also to stop her from pursuing any acting career at all. She was blacklisted because Disney wanted to protect the image of his fictional character.
Caselotti was paid $970 for her work on the film, which would be roughly equivalent to $16,000 today. Although her acting career was virtually destroyed by the very success of Snow White, she did appear briefly in a handful of tiny, usually uncredited, film roles.
When Jack Benny requested permission for Adriana Caselotti to appear on his radio show, Disney refused, insisting that her voice could not be used elsewhere because he did not want to break the illusion of Snow White.
