Ali Liebert is known for her directing and acting, especially in the world of Hallmark Channel, but a generation of viewers also grew up hearing her voice in their beloved animated Barbie movies! While her voice acting career may have been short-lived, one of her characters has continued to find new life online. During a conversation with Pop Culture Planet’s Kristen Maldonado for her new holiday film A Season of Promises, Liebert reflected on her time working on the Barbie films and the surprising popularity of Portia from Barbie: Princess Charm School.
Princess Portia is the spacey sidekick to Delancy, known for her love of “floor cakes” and often getting lost in her own thoughts. “It's so funny because I really had such a short voiceover career, but I just learned recently, like within the last 6 months,” Liebert shared. “That makes me feel really old, but I didn't know that they were a thing.”
In particular, she was surprised to learn about the major love her Portia so many years later. “Especially the Portia character, right? Huge compliment. I feel like I'm learning about what's happening,” she said, admitting that she had no idea about the online fandom until just a few months ago.
While the newfound appreciation may have caught her unaware, Liebert still has some special keepsakes from her Barbie days. “I love my little action figures,” she shared. “Hopefully I will give them to my nieces when they are a little older.”
With Barbie fans continuing to celebrate the movies and their memorable characters years later, there’s clearly an appetite to hear Liebert return to the voiceover world. “Okay, I’m going to tell them,” she said about the idea that fans would want to hear her in another Barbie movie.
Portia and her hilarious one-liners would certainly be a welcome return! Meanwhile you can watch Liebert in A Season of Promises airing November 8 on Hallmark Channel.
