The Lion Queen and the Pride

For actress and Disney's The Lion King alumni Merryl Ansah, stepping into the role of Nala meant embodying one of the most iconic screen lions in history, but she'd never seen one in real life – until the night she spent at London Zoo.

In this episode of Wildest Moments, host Ben Fogle speaks with Merryl about the powerful moment she came face to face with the felines for the first time, and how she took that experience back with her to the stage.

Joining the conversation is ZSL presenter Sonya Anson, whose work brings wildlife stories to life for visitors every day at London's iconic conservation zoo. Together, they explore the power of storytelling and performance to educate, inspire and deepen our understanding of the natural world.

About Wildest Moments: Hosted by Ben Fogle and created in partnership with Mountain Warehouse, Wildest Moments is a podcast from ZSL (Zoological Society of London) exploring the surprising, emotional and transformative encounters people have had with wildlife. New episodes are released on the third Thursday of every month. Launched as part of ZSL's 200th anniversary, the series celebrates over two centuries of inspiring closer connections between people and the natural world.

Executive Producers - Rami Tzabar, Jane Gerber and Katie Derham

Senior Producer - Naomi Oiku

Production Supervisor - Mia Xerri Mondragon

ZSL editorial leads: Tina Campanella and Rebecca Blanchard

Sound Design and Additional Editing - Nada Smiljanić

Sound Engineer - Jon Last

Video Editor - Carla Mercer

Cover Art - Will Rose