Before Mulan went off to war, Tiana opened up her own place, and Moana set sail across the ocean, Pocahontas rowed just around the river bend and into the history books. Not only did it somewhat present a version of historical events that could be found in a social studies textbook, but when Walt Disney Pictures released her film in the summer of 1995, the free-spirited Powhatan woman was voiced by Irene Bedard. With this casting, the indigenous actress from Anchorage, Alaska, became the first person of color to voice a Disney princess.
Since landing that role of a lifetime, Bedard has made numerous appearances as Pocahontas for the House of Mouse over the past two-plus decades. She’s even played the character’s mother in Terence Malick’s The New World (which also featured her Pocahontas co-star Christian Bale).
During the final Wizard World Convention, we had a chance to catch up with the award-winning actress to discuss her legacy as the iconic Disney character, the importance of showing different sides of cultures in media, and her favorite piece of merchandise from her career so far.
GeekAnything: It’s been just over 25 years since Pocahontas was released in theaters, but she’s still very much part of pop culture thanks to the Disney Princess line and appearances in other projects like Ralph Breaks the Internet. How do you feel about the legacy of the film and the character today?
Irene Bedard: As a matter of fact, when I took the role, I had the forethought to think about legacy. And I really did take it with a lot of thought about Disney’s legacy and about Pocahontas’ legacy and about how that legacy could move forward and why. And at the time I felt especially that there had never been something so directly relatable to a generation of children that could introduce them into indigenous culture. So there were so many positive aspects to that. Even in having the relationship to her elders and the relationship to the animals, the Earth, and the trees around her, who are all her relatives. That interconnectedness that all indigenous people have. And that understanding that we look at each other as human beings first before anything else and I feel like that legacy is there. And I feel like I’m glad that we have this.
GA: I really have to thank you for being such a trailblazer because you are the first non-white voice to voice a Disney Princess. Representation is so important. With that in mind, how do you feel about the state of representation for indigenous people in Hollywood and in Disney?
IB: Oh wow. It’s been, as you’ve said, some decades for me. And I have seen quite a change, especially at this time right now with Reservation Dogs. We have so many projects out there that are from indigenous eyes, basically. And what I really, really appreciate is that we’re finally getting to showcase our humor. I’m an Alaskan Native on my mom’s side and Alaskan Natives’ values, one of the top ones, is humor. Being able to laugh with one another is a way to come together and it’s also a way to survive. It was a survival mechanism. It still is. And I think to be able to show our humor… Humor always has two sides of a coin and so it’s always showing something that may have some difficulties, but it’s done with a laugh, with laughter. And so I feel very positive about where we’re headed.
GA: Are you working on any projects right now that are showing indigenous people in a humorous light and their type of humor?
IB: I have a four-part mini-series that I co-produced with John Leguizamo. John Ortiz is also in it. It’s called The Green Veil and there is humor there. It’s set in the 50s during the time when we were seeing little green men. So, I’ll leave it there.
GA: Very intriguing. On a completely different note, over the years there have been a ton of different merchandise/memorabilia for Pocahontas. Do you have a favorite item?
IB: My favorite all-time is my giant Meeko, who’s as big as I am. He’s been a part of my family. My son and his little buddies used to do WWE moves on him all the time, so he’s got a duct tape purple tiger-striped band-aid on one of his arms, but he’s still with us.
GA: That’s awesome! Well, we’ve talked a lot about legacy. With Pocahontas being an actual historical figure and being such a big part of your career, how do you think she would receive your stewardship of her story and her character?
IB: I can only hope with all humility. Because there are a lot of different roles that I’ve taken on that are not only people that I’ve actually met in person, but people where I got to know their stories, and then parts of their stories got to be a part of the story that I was able to participate in. I was able to go to Gravesend to Pocahontas’s grave and say a prayer and leave tobacco for her, and ask her permission, and beg her forgiveness. And all the things that you do in a humble way and in a good way to hope that you can do, in your little way, some good.
