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Linda Ballantyne

That's so great that you all got so into it. I think many fans thought because the whole production was so rushed that people's hearts weren't into it but it really sounds like you almost had some Sailor Moon family going!

Oh. We did. You just get so close to these people. Especially the director, you're with him for like, an hour or two every other day for 4 months. Sailor Moon got me close with some amazing people, and I really hope they don't forget me.

While recording the lines did you have a screen to watch the onscreen action or was it purely reading lines from paper with help from the director?

Yes. We did. I think I did. I remember recording the final episode where Serena jumps off the building. I had no idea how to say the lines, I just matched it with the mouth movements on the screen and delievered my lines with the emotion I could see on the screen. With the help of the fantastic director.

Actually, speaking of the director, there's this crazy internet rumour floating around about the director being French and unable to communicate with the actors in English. Any truth to this? Personally I find that a little hard to believe.

Ha! Really? People say that? No. He was Canadian, His name was John. He was very, very friendly.

Haha! I KNEW that was too crazy to be true! That rumour's been circulating the net ever since Sailor Moon S first aired. Haha! You gotta love the internet.

I love stories that seem to swarm the internet, I remember lots of people thinking I was about 72 after listening to me in Sailor Moon. Oh, I was shocked haha.

Haha! Speaking of the internet, have you ever checked out all those English "fandubs" of the Sailor Moon anime where fans record their own lines for the show. (There's one fantastic one here) Sailor Moon and all of it's amazing voice actors have inspired so many people to pick up the mic. Do you have any advice for aspiring voice actors?

[I saw the link you gave me, I watched the Opening and the Today on Sailor Moon bit. It looks very professional and they have a great actress as Serena.] I've never seen a full fandub before, but I have heard some truly gifted performers on the web, who some, are actually better at voice acting than me. If I were to give advice, I'd tell them to just keep going with their dream, try to get an agent if possible, or get enough exposure, it may lead to getting scouted!

Haha. No pun intended?

Ha! That's what I was thinking.

How should they go about turning a hobby into a profession?

Like I said, getting an agent is a very good idea. Also setting up a tape or disc with lots of different voices you create is a good idea. Dropping them off at production companies could help. I'm not fully sure about that but basically, get yourself out there!

So how did you get started as a voice actor? I bet there's a story there! :D

Haha, Indeed. Well it was sort of, by accident. I've always had a husky voice. I've never been classified as truly 'feminime' as far as my voice is concered. But I was in a store one day, trying to buy a can of beans, which I was completely over charged for *giggling* so... I started getting a little bit angry with the guy serving me. Then out of nowhere comes the wailey voice. Exactly like how I voice Smoke from Ying Yang Yo! He told me to get a career in acting since I was such a "Drama queen!" I was very offended by the remark, but I did take on board what he said. Up until about 4 years, I've never really been confident by my appearence and I thought it was foolish going for TV. I got myself an agent who got me work on a show in Canada. So that's basically it ha-ha.

That's hilarious! Haha! You mentioned Ying Yang Yo! What else can fans catch you in?

Fans. You can catch me as Percy in Thomas The Tank Engine, Champ Bear in Care Bears: Journey To Joke A Lot and Big Wish Movie. Recently, Tulip in Toot and Puddle, Shelley in Will & Dewitt. And also Princess Snow Kaguya in Sailor Moon S Movie English!

Wow! I had no idea that you were Snow Princess Kaguya! That voice was completely different from Sailor Moon!

Yes. That was me. I've always been told I have a crazy range. I didn't believe it until the S movie came out. I wanted to portray her as something just so...evil, worse than any other villain on the show, I was pleased with the outcome.

You did really well! Before we finish up, I have to ask: "Who's your favourite Sailor Scout?"

Ooh, This one is a tough one, I think I'll have to go with Raye, Sailor Mars. Basically because she resembles me a lot. My brother actually said to me once, after watching the show that I should be voicing Mars instead of Moon. Apparently we have the same short temper, which personally, I have to disagree with. haha!

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview! It's been such an honour.

You're very welcome. It's been my pleasure.

Any closing words for all your Sailor Moon fans out there?

Yeah. Just, thank you for being such a great audience, we really could not have gotten anywhere without you. We love you so much and it's been a fantastic experience working on Sailor Moon, so thank you for building my confidence, it really means a lot to me. God bless.

Thanks again!

Thank you.

Fans of Linda Ballantyne can follow her on her Twitter account and she has a new blog on the way.

I'd like to thank Linda for personally taking the time to partake in this interview and reconnect with fans. It's been a fantastic experience for me and I look foward to supporting Linda in all of her future projects! Thanks again!

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