Keeping It Real

One of the worst things you could ever say to a voice over actor is, “So, do you ever do any REAL acting?” This seemingly innocent question will set any voice actor seething with fury. We may meet you with a condescending smile followed by an uncomfortable silence. You'll see our facial muscles twitch as though we are about to have a stroke as we try to contain our anger and refrain from punching you in the face. Don't believe me? Try asking this question if you ever happen to run into a voice actor. But, don't say I didn't warn you, nor attempt to hold me accountable if the one you meet happens to lose their restraint and ends up decking you right in the kisser. We're kind of sensitive that way.

Even seasoned on-camera actors will ask their voice over counterparts that question. You see, voice over acting is a very specific skill and is considered to be a specialty type of acting. To put it another way, on-camera actors are like the general practitioners of acting, where as the voice over actors are akin to the pathologists or radiologists. We're no less talented, however, you just don't see us as much.

There are some actors who do both voice over and on-camera, and who do it quite well. There are actors who are Oscar winners, yet flounder once they get inside a voice over booth all by themselves and have no co-stars to outshine. And, still, there are those who have, shall we say, a “face for voice overs”, and they remain behind the microphone and simply bless us with their melodious voices.

We are all REAL actors, yet the general public for some reason only considers the actors that appear on screen to be the “real” ones. However, if these “actors” happen to be animated, no one gives them a second thought. With the exception of 5 year olds, I suppose it's because no one truly considers cartoon characters such as Sponge Bob or Fred Flintstone to be “real”. However, the very talented actors that give voice and life to those characters are very real indeed. Let's take Dan Castellaneta for instance... “Who?” you may ask. Why the voice of Homer Simpson, of course! Did you know this immensely talent actor makes over $1 Million an episode?!?! Yes, $1 Million per episode. So, do you think he's a REAL actor or not? I assure you he is, and so is his bank account.

So, the next time you hear a voice over on a radio or television commercial, watch a cartoon or animated film, consider yourself a bit more educated and “in-the-know”, because although you do not see them, you are still experiencing the work of a REAL actor.