Heartwarming moment Jodi Benson tears up with pride as she watches her daughter perform her iconic role as Ariel the Mermaid

Jodi Benson welled with pride as she watched her daughter play Ariel in a stage production of The Little Mermaid, more than three decades after she voiced the original animation's main character.  

Benson, 62, narrated and performed as Ariel in the original 1989 Disney cartoon film, long before the live action remake starring Halle Bailey.

Her daughter Delaney has now taken up the same role on the Area Stage in Miami for a 90-minute musical based on the classic children's animation.

Delaney Benson played Ariel on the Area Stage in Miami in a 90-minute musical based on the classic children's animation The Little Mermaid

Her mother Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the original 1989 Disney cartoon film, welled with pride as she watched

Benson shared video, shot by a fan, of herself watching and waving as Delaney sang Part of Your World, the movie's most famous song, last week.

Another part of the video showed the young actress holding a fork, as part of the play's twist on the original that involved props the audience interacts with.

'I wept throughout the show. I am so honored to pass on my treasured dinglehopper to my daughter. 

Jodi and Delaney Benson dressed up for the premiere of the musical in Miami

'Delaney has created her character of Ariel with such love, strength, vulnerability, curiosity and honesty. I'm so incredibly proud of my daughter.'

Delaney previously explained the differences between the film and the musical, which incorporates immersive elements.

'The audience will be right below [me]. I can see them. I can feel them. I can smell them. It's like nothing I've ever done,' she said.

She shared photos of herself in Ariel costume as a child, adding: 'Hi, Ariel  the little girl inside of me is so joyous right now. I get to be my favorite lil mermaid all summer long!'