Even if you haven’t heard of Kari Wahlgren, you for sure have heard of her voice work that spans hundreds of characters.
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While they may not get the same hype, attention, and, let’s be real, respect as their live-action counterparts, voice actors, and the voice acting industry in general, deserve their flowers just as much. They don’t often appear on screen, but their talented voices have brought to life many of our favorite animated characters, whether that be in anime, cartoons, video games, and more. Kari Wahlgren is one such cool af voice actor you need to know who’s up there with the greats such as Ashley Johnson and Tara Strong.
HUNDREDS OF VOICES, ONE ACTOR
Like many, Kari came to Los Angeles to become an actress, but it was her voice-acting work that landed her on the map. The versatile performer first made a splash in the VO scene as part of the English dubs of animes, namely serving as the voice of Haruko in the cult-classic anime, FLCL, as her first VO job.
“I wasn’t familiar with anime,” Kari admits to NYLON Manila in an interview on booking the role. “It was still very much a subculture back then, but I was auditioning for any voiceover opportunities I could. Haruko introduced me to anime and its fan base, and I’ve been so honored to be part of it over the years.” Soon, Kari expanded beyond English dubs and developed her repertoire to include animated television series, movies, and video games. Her voice work is extensive, and we mean extensive, with over 700 characters in her resume that includes Kitana and Mileena in the Mortal Kombat games, Harley Quinn in Gotham Knights, Starfire inTeen Titans, Zatanna in DC Superhero Girls, and Diane Sanchez in Rick and Morty.
Yeah, she’s that good, and her recent project sees her step into the role of another pop culture icon: Aunt May in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Being the newest voice of Aunt May is no easy feat, but Kari says finding her version of the character wasn’t as hard as some might think. “(Showrunner) Jeff Trammell was a lovely guy to work with on this, and Sara Sherman is a great voice director, so it was a comfortable, warm environment to talk with them and find out how we saw Aunt May in this version of Spider-Man.”
With that, voicing Granny Seiko in the Netflix anime DanDanDan, and more, Kari continues to leave her mark, and for every character she brings to life that becomes a fan-favorite or a pillar of someone’s childhood, she’s filled with a immense amount of gratitude. As she puts it, “Voiceover is often very solitary work, so it’s really meaningful when people tell you that something you did makes a difference in their lives.”
Get to know more about Kari, her work, why voice actors deserve more respect, and more by reading our full interview with the actress below.
How did you discover that you’re good at voice-over work?
As a child, I was always running around the house, performing voices from the movies I saw and the books my family read to me. Apparently, when I was five, I told my parents that one day I would be the voice of a Disney princess. So I’ve loved voiceovers for as long as I can remember. I did a lot of singing and theater growing up, and doing voices was always part of that, so it’s always been a part of my creative life.
You got your start in VO by dubbing anime characters. How did you get those roles and what was it about it that attracted you to them?
During my first year in L.A., I saw a casting notice for an animated show. I auditioned and ultimately got the role, which was Haruko in the anime FLCL. I wasn’t familiar with anime. It was still very much a subculture back then, but I was auditioning for any voiceover opportunities I could. Haruko introduced me to anime and its fan base, and I’ve been so honored to be part of it over the years. I just played Granny Seiko in DanDaDan on Netflix, and it’s been cool to see a whole new generation of people discovering and enjoying anime.
One of your most recent roles is voicing May Parker in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. How did you approach the role to give it your own spin considering how popular Aunt May is to many viewers?
I’ve been loving this show! It always starts with collaboration. You have to work with the creative team to get the feel and vision of the cartoon. Jeff Trammell was a lovely guy to work with on this, and Sara Sherman is a great voice director, so it was a comfortable, warm environment to talk with them and find out how we saw Aunt May in this version of Spider-Man. Plus, I’m a fan of comic books, so I always want to do a good job on these beloved characters…I love them, too!
What’s the best part about the job?
I love that voiceover allows me to play characters that I’d never get to play in real life. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what you look like….it’s very freeing.
Considering that your work rarely involves being immersed in actual sets or locations, how do you immerse yourself in your roles?
I always imagine what the final project is going to look like. When I’m acting in a cartoon scene, I picture the animation the soundtrack, and all of the action in my head. It puts me right in the moment.
You’ve voiced hundreds of characters, but is there one in particular that stands out to you?
I just got nominated for my first Emmy for voicing Granny Caterina on Disney Jr.’s Superkitties. I’ve absolutely loved that role. She is a little old grandma who steals things and sings and loves her grandson…I’m having a blast with that character!
How does it feel that your voice has played a pivotal part in shaping many childhoods?
It’s such an honor. Voiceover is often very solitary work, so it’s really meaningful when people tell you that something you did make a difference in their lives. I never take it for granted.
What’s one thing about voice-over work and being a VO actor that you think more people should know?
It’s a skill. It’s very competitive, and it’s hard to make a career out of it. People think anyone can do it, and it’s just not true…the folks I know who have had long careers in voiceover are amazing actors.
While voice-over work is a critical part of the industry, it sometimes doesn’t get the attention or support it deserves. How do you think people and maybe even the industry can be more supportive or respectful of VO actors?
My biggest pet peeve is when I tell people I’m a voice actor and they say “Do you do any real acting?” Don’t say that. It’s really insulting.
For people who may be interested in getting into voice-over work, how can they start?
Read out loud every day (we don’t always get our scripts in advance), get to know what your voice can do, and study with good people. There’s never been a better time to train with the top VO people online. Learn everything you can to find out what makes your voice special!
Photos by Adam Hendershott
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