Toy Story 5 Star Reveals The 1 Thing She Disliked About Playing Jessie (That She Now Loves) [Exclusive]

Woody and Buzz Lightyear are the most recognizable characters from the Toy Story movies, but the series wouldn’t be as popular without its supporting characters. Jessie, who first appeared in Toy Story 2, is a prime example. She’s funny and full of energy, but also delivers some of Pixar’s most touching scenes, like in the song “When Somebody Loved Me.” Fans continue to love Jessie after all these years, and Joan Cusack, who voices her, is grateful for the character’s lasting appeal – even though it took her some time to get used to one of Jessie’s defining features.

While promoting Toy Story 5 (coming to theaters June 19th), Joan Cusack discussed her experience playing Jessie and why the role is so fulfilling. She admitted she didn’t fully grasp how much the character meant to fans until recently, but she genuinely loves bringing Jessie to life. Initially, she joked about being asked to do the “yee-haw” repeatedly during voice recording sessions, but she eventually grew to enjoy it – even using it in her personal life to celebrate good news with friends. Cusack expressed a deep connection to Jessie, noting she always identified more with the character than with traditional fairytale princesses. She appreciates that Jessie is kind, dependable, and comfortable with who she is, always fully embracing life.

Jessie Is Even More Important In Toy Story 5

Jessie was an important supporting character in Toy Story 2, where she and the Woody’s Roundup gang tried to persuade Woody to join them as a display piece in a Japanese toy museum. Toy Story 2 explored Jessie’s character and her sad past in detail, which helped viewers understand why she acted the way she did. After becoming one of Andy’s core toys, Jessie’s role was smaller in Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4, as those films focused more on Woody’s journey and his feelings about Andy growing up.

The next Toy Story movie, the fifth installment, will feature a significant change: Jessie takes on the role of sheriff and leads Bonnie’s toys in a conflict with new, tech-based toys. This is the first time Jessie will be the central character in a Toy Story film, offering a fresh take on the beloved franchise and exploring the story through her eyes as she adjusts to her leadership role. Woody will return, assisting Jessie, but he’ll be taking a backseat this time around.

Marketing for the new Toy Story 5 highlights a much bigger role for Jessie. The movie will show more of her past with Emily, building on the emotional story told in Toy Story 2’s “When Somebody Loved Me.” While that earlier film touched on Jessie’s history, it only revealed a little bit. Toy Story 5 aims to give Jessie a more fully developed backstory and personality. If she can solve the challenges posed by new technology, she could prove herself as a strong leader, potentially setting her up to be a central character in future Toy Story movies.

If Toy Story 5 is as Jessie-centric as it’s been made out to be and it’s as successful as its predecessors, then fans’ connection to the character will only increase. Jessie could be elevated to joining Woody and Buzz as one of the main faces of the franchise (if she isn’t there already). It’s nice that Pixar has opted to take Toy Story in this direction. Jessie has always been a fan favorite, but for nearly 30 years, she’s been a little underserved on the big screen. Now, she’s getting the starring role she’s always deserved.

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2026-06-09 19:23