Brittany Murphy gives voice to 'Tink'

LOS ANGELES, June 21 (UPI) -- Actress Brittany Murphy will give Peter Pan's fairy companion a way to talk back in the movie, "Tinker Bell," Walt Disney Studios in California said.

The Texas actress has starred in "Clueless," "Don't Say a Word," "8 Mile," "Uptown Girls" and "Sin City." She also will provide a voice for "Happy Feet," a movie about a tap dancing penguin, Zap2it reported.

"I've had the good fortune of playing many interesting characters, but none as magical as Tinker Bell," Murphy said.

The character Tinker Bell, conceived for the stage by J.M. Barrie, did not speak. Her lively repartee was understood through the tinkling of a bell.

"Tinker Bell is such an indelible character to pop culture even without a voice," said Dick Cook, Walt Disney Studios chairman. Cook said Murphy's personality suits Tinker Bell's spirit which is both "feisty" and "independent."

"Tinker Bell" fits into the Disney Fairies line of stories and products launched with the novel, "Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg" by Gail Carson Levine.