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Cusack Returns to Toy Story: Jessie's Brave New Role
20 Jun
Summary
- Joan Cusack voices Jessie, calling it her most important role.
- She stepped back from Hollywood to prioritize family in Chicago.
- Jessie evolves into a brave, fearless leader in Toy Story 5.

Joan Cusack, the voice behind Jessie the cowgirl toy, has reaffirmed the significance of her role in the Toy Story franchise, calling it "the most important thing I've done." She highlighted the joy of contributing to media that entertains and educates young audiences.
Cusack began voicing Jessie in Toy Story 2 back in 1999 and has since appeared in Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4, and the recently released Toy Story 5. She described Jessie's character development in the latest film as evolving into a "real leader" who is brave and fearless, exploring unexpected emotional depth.
While Cusack has had other roles, she notably stepped back from Hollywood in 2019 to prioritize her family life in Chicago with her husband and sons. She expressed that while honored by her career, balancing family and maintaining a "normal person" life in Chicago is invaluable.
The new Toy Story iteration features returning cast members like Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz, alongside new voices such as Greta Lee and Bad Bunny.