Mary Costa has penned an open letter on the occasion of her 86th birthday.
As I celebrate my 86th birthday, I would like to acknowledge letters to me throughout the years. Hearing from you has always been a great source of inspiration. One of the most significant achievements in my career was working with Walt Disney as the voice of Princess Aurora for his animated masterpiece Sleeping Beauty. As a young performer in my first major role, Mr. Disney often encouraged me by saying:
“Mary, just remember the three D’s…Dedication, Determination, and Discipline, and you’ll achieve your Dreams!”
At the age of 22, I could never have imagined that Sleeping Beauty would become the beloved classic that it is. Nor could I have known that this door which was opened for me by Walt Disney would eventually lead to meeting and working with multiple generations of wonderful young people, as well as all the extraordinary adults who forever remain young at heart. This has truly been a great blessing in my life.
Through the years, I have always personally read and signed as many of your requests as possible. After having been so deeply inspired by letters from you, I have come to regard you not as fans, but as my friends. I have recently realized, however, that continuing to attempt to answer the volume of autograph requests I regularly receive has become more than any one “Princess” can possibly handle.
Therefore, I want to let you know why I will no longer be able to answer requests for autographs that I receive by mail, and to share with you how deeply I have appreciated your loyalty. It is my sincere hope that you will understand how very difficult it has been for me to make this decision. I have always been and will always be delighted to meet each of you in person, and I look forward to seeing you and signing autographs at future events.
Today, I believe Mr. Disney’s message of achieving your dreams has never been more important, especially for children. I will now be concentrating my efforts on working with young children on a more personal level, sharing with new generations of dreamers the moral values and creative vision of my forever friend and mentor, Walt Disney.
With heartfelt gratitude for your continuing friendship and gracious understanding…
Your Princess Aurora,
Mary