American children have heard the singing and speaking voice of Snow White for generations, but few know that the talent behind iconic animated character is an Italian American named Adriana Caselotti. Caselotti’s mother was a singer in the Royal Opera in Rome, and her father a music teacher from Udine. This video reveals exactly how that lineage and her girlish voice her combination of operatic landed her the plum gig in 1937.

Unlike Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz,”  Caselotti received no credit for her star turn. After the film was released, Walt Disney would not even allow other studios or radio shows to feature her, stating “I don’t want to spoil the illusion of Snow White.” Years later, Caselotti was able to finally earn a bit of the fame, appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and in this classic clip from “The Julie Andrews Hour.”