How to Pronounce Ilene Woods

Meaning and Context

Ilene Woods, born Jacqueline Ruth Woods on May 5, 1929, was an American actress and singer whose legacy is forever enshrined in the golden age of Disney animation. Her career-defining achievement came when she was selected from hundreds of candidates to voice the titular heroine in Walt Disney's 1950 animated masterpiece, Cinderella. Woods's warm, gentle, and melodious voice not only brought the character to life but also imbued the iconic songs "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and "So This is Love" with a timeless, heartfelt quality. This performance established the vocal template for the Disney Princess archetype, influencing countless heroines that followed. Beyond her voice acting role in this classic Disney film, Woods had a varied career in radio and television, but it is her immortal connection to Cinderella's voice that cemented her place in animation history and in the hearts of audiences worldwide.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Ilene Woods" is generally straightforward, but common misspellings often arise from phonetic interpretations or confusion with similar names. The most frequent error is misspelling her first name as "Eileen," which is a more common given name with the same pronunciation. Other variants include "Ileen" or "Ilene." Her surname, "Woods," is occasionally mistakenly written as "Wood" (omitting the 's'), though this is less common. When searching for information about her work, it is important to use the correct spelling to accurately find resources related to her role as the voice of Cinderella and her contributions to Disney's 1950 classic.

Example Sentences

Disney historians often cite Ilene Woods's casting as a pivotal moment, as her authentic and kind vocal performance perfectly captured Cinderella's grace and resilience.

Many fans consider Ilene Woods's rendition of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" to be the definitive version, a cornerstone of the Disney musical canon.

Although she had other professional credits, Ilene Woods embraced her legacy as the original speaking and singing voice for one of animation's most beloved princesses.

The director reportedly knew Ilene Woods was the right choice for Cinderella the moment he heard her demo recording.

To understand the evolution of the Disney heroine, one must study the foundational work of performers like Ilene Woods.

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