Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Leigh.
Hi Katie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started as a “good student who talks too much.” I was also gifted with a wide vocal range, while naturally sounding like a 12 years old and the ability to mimic. I was raised in a family that cherished humor as well. After some training in improv and dabbling in VoiceOver to the point that I earned my SAG card and getting a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, in 1981, I moved to LA to see if I could make a career in VoiceOver. I arrived at the right place at the right time. I got an agent right away and within two years, Voice-over became my full-time occupation. Since then, I’ve worked on Emmy Award-winning cartoons and voiced every genre I know. Just last year, I recorded the voice of Worldmind at the Guardians of the Galaxy Galaxarium show at Epcot Center.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There are always ups and downs, and work comes and goes. Shows get canceled, and you wonder if you will ever work again. My faith in God and God’s faithfulness to me has kept me feeling confident that I will always have work in some form or another. I have also had to reinvent myself and change with the times. E.G., building a home studio and keeping up with technology, going to VoiceOver conventions and networking. After my first twenty years, I became a single mom and practically gave up Voiceover to substitute teach to be on the same schedule as my children. Eventually, I was able to create my own business contacts and expand into voice coaching and directing. Every day brings new opportunities and challenges.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love the fun of working with the other actors. Some the longer-running animated series I’m known for are Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears (Sunni Gummi), Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies (Baby Rowlf), Darkwing Duck (Honker Muddlefoot), and Totally Spies (Alex), I specialize in doing kid and character voices and also voice matching. For instance, I am the voice of the little Maharaja in Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom. That is always a surprise to people. But I am most proud of playing the role of Connie Kendall in the International radio drama and comedy series for the past 35 years. It is some kind of distinction to be playing the same character for this long. We are still making new episodes. On top of that, a couple of years ago during Covid, my husband and good buddy Will Ryan and I started a Patreon-supported Youtube variety show called “Tell Ya Later.” Even though Will passed away 9 months after we started the show, we have kept it going and have over 100 episodes. What sets me apart from others may be my joy from the little things in life. I am thankful and don’t take lightly the positive impact my voice work has had and can have on others who I may never meet. Some of the stories I have heard are overwhelming to me.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
You have to create your own work and not take anything for granted.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katieleigh.com
- Instagram: @katieleighvo
- Facebook: @katieleighvo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieleighvo/
- Twitter: @tellyalatershow
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/tellyalater
- Other: www.patreon.com/tellyalater
Image Credits
Headshot by Laura Pavlakovich
