Jamie-Lynn Sigler will voice Disney's first Jewish princess

The house of mouse is doing its part to expand representation and inclusivity with news that, for the first time, a Disney Princess will be explicitly of the Jewish faith. Though we don't yet have a name, we do have an actor for the voice and it's Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler. (TBH 'Meadow' is a pretty great princess name if they need any suggestions.)The announcement as shared on Disney's Twitter page Thursday: "This December #ElenaOfAvalor will celebrate a Hanukkah-themed episode guest starring @JamieLSigler as a visiting princess from a Latino Jewish kingdom and next year Elena's royal coronation special." Sigler shared the tweet and included her sentiments.

I am so excited to voice Disney’s first Jewish princess ??♀️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/TISMnknDyQ

— Jamie-Lynn Sigler (@JamieLSigler) September 17, 2019

Sigler, who is best known for her role as Tony Soprano’s daughter Meadow Soprano on the long-running beloved series, is Sephardic Jewish and Ashkenazi Jewish on her dad's side with a Cuban mother who converted to Judaism after marriage. Sigler’s role as a Latinx Jewish princess is pretty perfect casting and the news of her upcoming double episode appearance is already drawing rave reviews from viewers and parents who are applauding Disney for creating a legit Hanukkah episode.

Yup!

— Jamie-Lynn Sigler (@JamieLSigler) September 17, 2019

Finally feel properly represented as a Disney princess

— Joel Kalkopf (@joel_kal) September 19, 2019

I never thought I’d get to see this happen ever :’-)

— Audrey G Holland (@Audrey_Holland) September 19, 2019

At 56, finally a princess for me... #ElenaOfAvalor

— Meryl the disloyal Jew (@merylnyc) September 19, 2019

Disney’s news of Sigler’s casting as the first Jewish princess has been met mostly with praise, but there are a few fans who think an important character is being overlooked. Sarah Silverman played Vanellope von Schweetz in the Wreck-It Ralph films and tweeted a very telling "…um" to Sigler’s announcement, a thought that was echoed by many of Silverman's followers.During a November 2018 interview with Yahoo!, Silverman said that she believes Vanellope is Disney's first Jewish princess, a distinction that was backed by the film’s directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston. "I say she is. No one has said no," said Silverman.Disney’s announcement proclaiming Sigler as the first Jewish princess may be up for debate but the news that more faiths, cultures and identities are being represented onscreen is something everyone can applaud.Earlier this year, Disney released the first trailer for the live action reboot of Mulan featuring an all-Asian cast and announced actor and singer Halle Bailey as Ariel in the upcoming live action remake of The Little Mermaid. In 2017, Disney aired its first same-sex kiss on the TV series Star vs. The Forces of Evil.