When I first got the magical #ZootopiaEvent invite, my first thought was I wanted to scream, but my seconds thought was that Ginnifer Goodwin was the voice of one of the characters. I will be honest here and I will say that I am a huge fan of hers and have been for some time now. Today I’m super excited to share with you all the Exclusive Interview with Ginnifer Goodwin the voice of Judy Hopps in Disney’s newest animation film Zootopia!
I was invited by Disney to attend the #ZootopiaEvent Press Junket at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Post sponsored by Disney, but all magical opinions are mine alone.
Photo Credit: Disney
Exclusive Interview with Ginnifer Goodwin: Judy Hopps #ZootopiaEvent
Upon our arrival at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, we were told that Ginnifer Goodwin wouldn’t be able to attend the press junket in person, but that she would be doing it via satellite. Although, I was really hoping to meet Ginnifer Goodwin in person, the experience of just being able to hear her stories about her role as Judy Hopps was amazing!
As I mention before, I’m a huge fan of her work and love that she always portrays a strong woman no matter what character she takes on! Especially when they told her in the beginning of her career that she would never be the leading lady. Say what?!
I think becoming an actress is the way that I’ve become an actress was overcoming other perceptions because, I am proud of the fact that I am not some like stereotypical, classic package of a Hollywood actress. I was certainly told early on I would never be a leading lady and I thought that was ridiculous because there are all kinds of ladies and all stories need to be told, so why wouldn’t my kind of lady, you know, lead a film at some point? And I think that maybe just yeah, being an actress in general, takes an, you know, exceptionally thick skin in that we’re rejected on a daily basis for a number of reasons and I think I’ve always been pretty good at letting it all roll of my back.
I just have to add that I think she is a phenomenal and beautiful kinda leading lady! Oh, and my 6-year-old and 4 years old think so as well!
Photo Credit: Disney
It’s funny to hear actors and directors talk so highly about Disney, not that I don’t believe it, believe me, I’m all for Disney, but it’s really great to hear their love of Disney as much as we as viewers love it. My family loves all Disney movies and my girls are huge fans! I would have to say that I re-live a lot of my childhood memories through them now as a parent. There’s nothing better than to see you child light up when they see a new character or a favorite character on screen! It was also great to hear that Ginnifer Goodwin as a parent feels the same way about Disney as we do.
To be honest, there was one word that convinced me that I needed to take this role and that was Disney I was sitting in Mickey Mouse pajamas in my kitchen. I was pregnant. I was in Vancouver shooting Once Upon a Time and I got a phone call that I was being offered this job and I had never heard of Zootopia and I took it immediately and my representatives, who were all on the phone because they knew I’d work out fine which I did. My representative said, don’t you want to know anything about the character or the script and I said well, of course. I mean, I want to, but we like, just accept the job first and then call me back. I didn’t read the script for a little while. I went in and I sat down with the filmmakers. They showed me the storyboards. They created the world for me, walked me through everything and, and I was shown a version of the script that, uh, it’s very, it’s similar to what we made. There was no question that I was going to take it the second I knew that it existed.
Photo Credit: Disney
As parents, we are so protective and sometimes even overprotective the way Judy Hopps parents are in the movie. So, we know that when we take our children to see an animated movie, especially a Disney animated movie we want them to take away the magical feeling of imagination and hopefully some type of lesson from the storyline. When asked what she would kids to take away from the character in the movie she said…
There’s so many incredible themes in this movie. I mean, the one that I gravitate towards the most because it’s the one my character articulated was that anyone can be anything and I absolutely believe that. I believe that’s in keeping with the answer, yeah, to the question about, um, you know, defying other peoples’ expectations and in, you know, stereotyping me and how I am received. I do believe anyone can be anything. I believe that there are infinite amounts of opportunities for everyone.
Photo Credit: Disney
I always wondered if actors ever see qualities of themselves in the characters they portray on films and even television shows. So, I finally had an opportunity to ask one of my favorite actresses a question (yes, I was super nervous and afraid I was going to choke on my own words)
I asked: With Judy Hopps being such a strong character in the movie, what qualities of yourself do you see in Judy Hopps?
We’re both fiercely optimistic. We’re both idealistic. I think we’re both a bit self-righteous which can then get into the flawed territory which I also love. I don’t like playing characters who don’t have some flaws and I think that our flaws are similar. I love that she, which is something that I hadn’t really, honestly, articulate for myself ever until playing Judy, I love that she believes that before one can of course, make the world a better place, one has to make one’s self better.
There’s nothing more responsible than that. I would love to be that responsible. I also wish I were as fearless as she is because, I’m a tryer like she is, but I try things and when I try things, I’m often secretly a bit scared and I feel like she didn’t get the scared gene somehow.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Ginnifer Goodwin during our interview and I’m sure that everyone in that room would agree with her 100%
I do believe anyone can be anything. I believe that there are infinite amounts of opportunities for everyone.
About Zootopia:
The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.
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Visit the official ZOOTOPIA website here: http://movies.disney.com/zootopia
ZOOTOPIA opens in theatres everywhere on March 4th!
Make sure to also check out my stay at Walt Disney World Orlando Animal Kingdom Lodge, Exclusive Interview with Jason Bateman, and Exclusive Interviews with Directors Richard Moore and Byron Howard.
What do you think of Ginnifer’s quote, “Anyone can be anything”?
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