Who plays Cal's mom on Sweet Magnolias? Star's career and notable projects, explored 

Sweet Magnolias, Netflix’s beloved show, premiered its season 4 on February 6. 2025. The show is based on the novel series by Sherryl Woods and was developed by Sheryl J. Anderson for Netflix. The show revolves around the story of three best friends who are trying to navigate their life in a town called Serenity in South Carolina.

Most of the stars, including the trio of magnolias, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Eliott, and Heather Headley, are back in Serenity, North Carolina with new challenges and celebrations in the new season of Sweet Magnolias. Apart from them, several new actors such as Jodi Benson appeared as guest stars in the new season, who will play the character of Cal’s mom, Iris Maddox.

Veteran American actress, Jodi Benson is known for her voicing the character of Ariel in the 1989 animated Disney film The Little Mermaid.

Continue to read to learn more about Jodi Benson from Sweet Magnolias.

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Who is Jodi Benson? The actress's career and notable projects explored.

Born on October 10, 1961, in Rockford, Illinois, the actress was raised in a catholic family and graduated from Millikin Univesity, in Decatur.

Jodi Benson debuted in 1983, on stage in a Broadway play, Marilyn: An American Fable, where she played the role of a factory girl. Other than that she also appeared in plays such as Sophisticated Ladies ( 1984), Smile (1986), Chess (1990), and Gypsey (2025). In 1992, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as Polly Baker in the play Crazy For You.

Other than her extensive career on Broadway, Benson is also a popular voice artist and has voiced various Disney characters. As previously mentioned, she voiced the character of Ariel in the animated movie The Little Mermaid. Apart from this, Benson was the voice of Ariel in the sequel, The Little Mermaid II: Return To The Sea (2000), the prequel: The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning ( 2008), and the TV show The Little Mermaid (1992-1994).

Benson has also voiced other Disney characters like Barbie in Toy Story 2 and 3, Thumbelina in the film Thumbelina ( 1994), and Lady in Lady And The Tramp II: Sacmp’s Adventure ( 2001).

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More about the actress Jodi Benson

Other than Sweet Magnolias, Jodi Benson also appeared in shows like Hunter as a Police Officer, Caroline In the City as Mother, and The Brotherhood Of Poland, New Hampshire as a Choir Soloist.

Jodi Benson has also lent her voice to video game characters such as Atta in A Bug’s Life (1998), Nasira in Disney’s Aladdin In Nasira’s Revenge (2000), Princess Ariel in Kingdom Hearts (2002), Kingdom Hearts II (2005), and Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey( 2007). In 2024, it was revealed that she also voiced the character of EVA in the popular video game Metal Gear’s several editions.

In 2011, Jodi Benson was named a Disney Legend for her extensive contributions.

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Catch season 4 of Sweet Magnolias on Netflix.