Biografie

Is one of the most prolific and experienced American VAs in the business.

She loves both voice acting and directing a lot, but prefers voice acting.

She is "fascinated by Japanese culture," but has never gone. She would, however, like to go.

Says one of her most rewarding experiences was working for Dance Outreach, teaching disabled kids to dance and connect with music.

Her favorite voice-acting role is Faye Valentine from the popular anime series Cowboy Bebop (1998) for 'her strong-mindedness yet little girl interior'.

[on whether she has had to turn down a role] Yes, I've had to pass on some of the uh-hem, more graphic ones. I don't do violent XXX stuff, I'm into quality and that has little to do with the above mentioned genre. But I've been pretty fortunate in that most of the stuff that comes my way is really fun to work on.

[on whether anime is sexist in its portrayal of its female characters] Absolutely! It's totally sexist, and I would have to say that's in part because of its audience, young guys! So what can you do? Once in a while a cool title comes along that's centered around the female view, but then again that generally means plenty of T & A and skimpy costumes.

I work with just about everyone in town who is an anime voice artist. It's a very small circle so we inevitably run into each other often. I love the folks I work with. Despite the competition and politics it's a great bunch of wonderful freaks I'm proud to be a part of.

Actually those are the chicks I love playing the most. I really don't feel type-cast at all cause I get to play so many different roles; creatures, kids, boys, vixens, good girls, bad girls, bring'em on! I love them all!

[on sex and violence in anime] It's tough sometimes. I'm really just a post-hippie-bohemian-flower-child at heart and I don't believe in war or violent resolution. But on the other hand I love action and creative conflict, so I guess in a way I justify my part in it all. I do wish there wasn't so much stereotyping in what we do, and the graphic excessive violence can be rather disturbing, especially when I'm writing and directing because I have to watch the same scenes over and over again. But I don't mind the sexual aspect as long as it's marketed to the older crowd. The sexy titles are fun. But some of the female characters are depicted in rather demeaning ways which is not fun. That's always difficult as a woman. Not to mention the amazingly super-human anime babe anatomy we're expected to somehow live up to in real life. That can be a bit much! But the guys dig it... My question is, how does one get a bod like that?!