<P> Created by directors and screenwriters Ron Clements and John Musker , Ursula is based on the sea witch character who appears in the fairy tale `` The Little Mermaid '' by Hans Christian Andersen . However , her minor role was greatly expanded into that of a much more prominent villain for the film . Disney had struggled to cast Ursula for a year , during which the role was well sought after by several coveted television actresses at the time . Clements and Musker disagreed with lyricist Howard Ashman about who should voice the character . While the directors had written the role with Bea Arthur in mind , Ashman intended to offer it to soap opera star Joan Collins ; both actresses rejected the part . When Ashman cast his second choice , Broadway actress Elaine Stritch , as Ursula , both stage veterans disagreed about the manner in which Ursula 's song `` Poor Unfortunate Souls '' would be performed , and Pat Carroll was finally hired to replace Stritch after Ashman fired her . Deepening her own voice for the role , Carroll based her performance on a combination of Shakespearean actresses and car salespeople . </P>
who was ursula the sea witch based on
the sea witch character who appears in the fairy tale `` The Little Mermaid '' by Hans Christian Andersen