Judy Hopps. ©2015 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
I’m always interested in the behind the scenes workings of Disney movies. I mean years of people’s lives go into these things. Voicing a Disney character is such a dream job and it must feel amazing to bring one of these characters to life in this special way. In Zootopia Ginnifer Goodwin voices Judy Hopps, an ambitious bunny out to change the world. Ginnifer’s situation is unique because she’s quite a Disney fan herself. She once shared excitedly that she was delighted to discover her home was once owned by late Disney Legend Sterling Holloway who voiced Winnie the Pooh, the Cheshire Cat and many other memorable Disney characters. I so appreciated the opportunity to ask Ginnifer at the Zootopia press junket how she would voice Judy Hopps. Read on below for Ginnifer’s Judy Hopps call info.
Actress Ginnifer Goodwin speaks to press via Skype at the ZOOTOPIA Press Junket at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in Orlando, Fl. Photo by Alex Kang. ©2016. Disney. All Rights Reserved. (That’s me on the far right!)
Ginnifer Goodwin plays Judy Hopps in Zootopia. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Nicole: So we know that you love Disney. Tell us about how you got the role. What was that like?
Ginnifer Goodwin: “I was in Mickey Mouse pajamas. Red Mickey Mouse pajamas that had my name embroidered on them. My mother gave me these pajamas. They matched my sister’s. And I was pregnant with my first son. And I was sitting in my kitchen in Vancouver where we shoot Once Upon a Time. And I had a message on the phone from all of my acting representatives, including my voiceover agent. And so I thought I was getting fired from, at the time I was working on, “Legend of the Neverbeast.” Because why else would everyone call at once, including my voiceover agent. And I said to my husband, who was also in the kitchen, ‘Oh my gosh! I’m about to get fired!’ And he said, I’m not kidding you, he said, ‘Or Disney’s calling you to offer you the lead in their next animated feature.’ I said, that’s mean. Like, I’m obviously getting fired, and I need to brace myself. And I sat down. And I picked up the phone, and miraculously got them all back on the phone immediately. I think that the words of my agent were ‘John Lasseter is calling to offer you…’ That’s all it took and I burst out crying, and I’m, like, scribbling notes to my husband like ‘how did you know?’ And… So they said ‘Disney’ and I said ‘I’m in’ and they said, well, don’t you want to know about the role or the script or what it’s called or what it’s about? I said no, no, no. I do, but later. So call them and tell them that I’m taking the job because I want it to be, like, legally binding. And then you can call me back and tell me what it is.”
Zootopia is in theaters March 4th! Read next: Zooptopia Director Interview.
Ginnifer Goodwin speaks to press via Skype. Photo by Alex Kang. ©2016. Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Giveaway! – CLOSED
Congrats, Rachel!
Leave a comment below to enter to win a Judy Hopps plush!
She is so precious! Ginnifer Goodwin exemplifies the spirit of Disney to a the letter. What a cool opportunity and a great question to ask her. This article just brightened my day. 🙂
Thats awesome that you were able to interview her!! Great job, Nicole!!
That’s so awesome that you got to speak with her! I love how much she loves Disney!
What a perfect question to ask! Love Gennifer’s enthusiasm. I wish she posted a video of her finding out!
Proud of you friend!
What an amazing opportunity to interview Ginnifer Goodwin! I love her as an actress and that story of her finding out is hilarious. Such a great question to ask her Nicole. That story brought a smile to my face 🙂 Cannot wait to see Zootopia, and see how amazing she does playing Judy Hopps!
I love Ginnifer Goodwin, I would be the exact same way if Disney called me about being in their movie!
Great interview! What fun insight into being offered the role.
She seems like such a genuine total sweetheart! I love hearing how she heard and how excited she was just to be involved in a Disney film. Awesome Q&A!!
How fun it was to read your interview… I read it out loud to my nine-year-old son, Liam, and he loved it. He recognized her from Once Upon A Time. And I love that she loves Disney too… It’s so romantic the way that she met her prince charming and married him!!! What an exciting piece to read and a wonderful opportunity for you. Thanks for sharing!!
Ginnifer Goodwin is one of my favorites. I am glad Disney chose a strong female actress/role model for the character of Judy Hobbs! My husband is a police officer and our daughter can’t wait to see a movie about a “girl” police officer. She wants to be like her daddy some day. 😉
Great interview!! I’m so happy Ginnifer is a part of the Disney family. Her enthusiasm and passion is exactly what Walt would have loved. I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback on her performance as Judy Hopps andI am SO EXCITED to see her and the rest of the “wild” gang of Zootopia this Friday!!
So cool! I love her so much. 😀
That’s such a great story! I love that her husband has so much faith in her, and he just knew it was GREAT news!
Wow! I love how genuinely excited she was when she heard the news. I imagine I would act the same way 🙂
Thanks for sharing this story!
This story was great. I absolutely love Ginnifer Goodwin. She’s starred in some of my favorite movies and of course I love Once Upon a Time. And knowing she’s a huge Disney fan makes her all the more amazing. I cannot wait to see Zootopia!
What an amazing opportunity! I love hearing of her reaction when she got the call, in her mickey mouse PJ’s!
Sounds like a great interview. The movie looks great.
So so cool!! I can’t wait to see the movie tomorrow! I love your site!!!
How awesome that you got to interview her! We bought our tickets to see Zootopia tonight and now I’m even more excited to go!! Thank you for such an awesome review.
1- HOW COOL IS YOUR LIFE YOU GET TO TALK TO IRL JUDY HOPPS! 2- I love that she was in mickey pjs when they offered her the job and she thought she was getting fired. I would TOTALLY assume I was getting fired too! This is adorable I love this so much! I just saw the movie today and Judy Hopps just became my favorite non human Disney Character haha.
She is so cute. What a fun chat. Thanks for the fun giveaway.