A Voice From Iceland : Edda Heiðrún Backman

Performances :
- Jasmine (1992 : Aladdin - speaking & singing)
- Jasmine (1994 : The Return of Jafar - speaking & singing)
- Jasmine (1996 : Aladdin & the King of Thieves - speaking & singing)
- Jasmine (1997/1998 : Aladdin TV series - speaking)
- Thumbelina (1994 : Thumbelina - speaking & singing)
- Shanzi (1994 : The Lion King - speaking)
- Lady (1995 : Lady and the Tramp - speaking & singing)
- Lady (2001 : Lady and the Tramp 2 - speaking & singing)
- Dumbo's mom (1996 : Dumbo - singing)
- Esmeralda (1996 : The Hunchback of Notre Dame - speaking & singing)
- Esmeralda (2002 : The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 - speaking)
- Kanga (1996 : The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - speaking & singing)
- Kanga (2000 : The Tigger movie - speaking & singing)
- Kanga (2002 : Winnie the Pooh : A Very Mery Pooh Year - speaking)
- Kanga (2003 : Piglet's Big Movie - speaking)
- Kanga (2005 : Pooh's Heffalump movie - speaking & singing)
- Alcmene (1997 : Hercules - speaking)
- Georgette (1998 : Oliver & Company - speaking & singing)
- Juliana (1998 : Quest for Camelot - speaking)
/ singing voice : Agnes Kristjónsdóttir
- The Wardrobe (2002 : Beauty and the Beast - speaking & singing)
- Peach, the Starfish (2003 : Finding Nemo - speaking)
- Fairy Godmother (2004 : Shrek 2 - speaking & singing)

Missing roles :
- Matriarch (1996 : Dumbo - singing)
- Rosie (1998 : Bug's Life - speaking)
- Coral (2003 : Finding Nemo - speaking)
- Shanzi (2003 : The Lion King 3 - speaking)

Bio :
- Edda Heiðrún Backman was born on November 27, 1957, and died on October 1, 2016.
Edda is the youngest of 4 children. She graduated from Menntaskólinn við Sund (Then know as Menntaskólinn við Tjörnina)in the late 1970’s. She graduated from Leiklistarskóla Íslands (The performing art school of Iceland) in 1983 and began her acting career buy playing in Litla hryllingsbúðin (Little Shop of Horrors).
In 1985 she gave out the single “Önnur Sjónarmið” and received very positive reviews and toped the Icelandic music charts.
She was married to Jón Axel Björnsson in the late 90’s and they have one child together.
She dubbed and acted in many plays and movies between 1992-2005.
She played in many plays between 1984-2003. Like: Cabaret, Chicago & The little shop of horrors. In 2003 she quit acting on stage because she began exhibiting symptoms. So then for 4 years she focust on directing. When her voice got too weak & she had lost all the feeling in her arms & legs she began too paint whit her mouth. In 2005 she retired as an actress due to a disease called MND. In 2006 she directed 2 plays while she was in a wheelchair. Now she lives with her daughter "Unnur Birna" and works as a full time painter. In 2014 she give out a book called "Úr fórum mínum", in the book where her favorite paintings. The book sold out within 4 weeks. In 1986 she did her movie debut "Eins og skepnan deyr" which was in the running for a oscar nominee

Aladdin (1993) : 36 years old
The Return of Jafar (1995) : 36 years old
Thumbelina (1994) : 37 years old
ThoND / Winnie the Pooh / Dumbo (1996) : 39 years old
Oliver & Cie / Quest for Camelot (1998) : 41 years old
Tigger Movie (2000) : 43 years old
BatB (2002) : 45 years old
Piglet's Big movie / Nemo (2003) : 46 years old
Shrek 2 (2004) : 47 years old
Pooh's Heffalump (2005) : 48 years old

Thanks for the big help of aglt ie with clips and audios and info.

[BetsyGB]

I can't believe it, she's gone. RIP amazing voice actress

[memoryguardian]

She is one of my favorite voice actress' EVER! The way she ca change her voice colour is really great. And I really admire her. All her roles are so splendid, but my favorites are Jasmine (she's my 1st), Georgette and Kanga <3 She fits their character's so perfectly, but she also shines as Fairy Godmother in Shrek <3
I have to say that I never was much interested in Icelandic dubs before, even I have the opportunity to, but since Frozen and especially realizing in how much Disney movies Edda Heiðrún actually was, I'm a happy kid, because now I can watch nearly every dub she was in ^-^
Yeah! Great video, I love this project!! <3

[klafairy]

Im from Iceland and I love her but it so sad she died earlier this year 😢

[EponineGraydeChagny]

She was never a top favorite Icelandic (singing) voice of mine, but I certainly have a lot more appreciation for her after seeing this. I especially love her acting! Her Jasmine in particular, impressed me - speaking-wise. I love her attitude. :D

[Esperantastic]

My liking to her differs by the character she plays, but regardless her voice is original and I can enjoy it nonetheless. Amazing video, and I love all these movies especially!

[agltie]

This video never gets old, so wonderful to see :) Her Jasmine is so nostalgic <3 (the child in me think it's her best role) Thumbelina is well not the best...i can point out a lot of things that are not great but I forgive her anyway. I really love her as lady as well, fitting and sounds wise, I love it. Tho I have to say that her singing in the first movie is kind of weird and not all that great. But in the second movie she sounds wonderful, strong and emotional <3 She is so heartbreaking in dumbo :'( but wonderful, very mom-ish. :) And ofc her esmeralda, just wonderful. Funny how when she sings GHTO she sounds younger then then she sung AWNW x) And Omg her Kanga so lovely, caring, and mom-ish. Her very last role but a great one :’(. And her last big role as Fairy Godmother would not have picture her working this well with that role. But it works  she sounds like a real bitch 100% fitting for the fairy godmother. I love her <3

[Father_of_Death]

I love her as Mrs. Jumbo and Kanga.
She has that beautiful motherly sound and embodies both perfectly.
Jasmine is great, too.
I don't like her as Esmeralda in the first film speaking but as singing she rocks it, and she definitely is more fitting in the sequel since Essy became a mother, there.
My absolute favorite role of Edda is the Fairy Godmother.
What a shame she succumbed to Aytryomyophic Lateral Sclerosis, I hope someday we can detect and prevent it. R.I.P Edda.

[agltie]

A wonderful video you made here <3 This is very well done and entertaining. :D :D :D 
:D :D :D

[hayleywilkinson]

I think Edda's speaking is amazing, she sounds like a 16 year old girl even if it is slightly mature, but that doesn't bother me, however her singing makes her sound older, personally I think it's the language, I can't believe she was 36 when she appeared in Aladdin, my favourite roles of hers has to be Esme

[Walnut]

I think she nails Georgettes voice. I also really love her as Shenzi and the star fish from Nemo

[rcadium]

Didn't she voice the mother from War of Birds? And...I just heard the news she died...I can't believe it, I've heard her voice from alot of my childhood movies.

[miroshchaeray]

Don't really care for her singing voice as Georgette, but speaking however... wow! Love it. <3 Was very sad when I heard of her passing, as she was and always will be one of my favorite Esmeraldas. A minor correction though; The Aladdin sequel "Return of Jafar" was released in 1994 along with The Lion King, not 1995. It was Pocahontas that was released in 1995. Sorry, but as an old Disney fanatic there's not many of the classics and sequels I do not know the release date of, so... :)

[juliaenter]

Her voice isn't in my taste, I also don't think it's good for princess. However, it works well in more mature roles like Kanga. Great job as always :)

[raneemacintosh]

Ha Lady and Belle have the same name in Icelandic? Now that I've finally seen L&T, I think Edda is a great fit to Lady, though her singing isn't at its best here