Interview with Linda Ballantyne

Linda Ballantyne is the third voice actor of Sailor Moon/Serena Tsukino in the English Dub. She voiced Sailor Moon for all of Sailor Moon S and SuperS. 

Question: Are you currently doing any voice acting?

Answer: I am always doing voice acting. I do quite a few commercials (that are on air right now). Recently I have been booked in the new George of the Jungle animated series. I play Magnolia. She's pretty funny and riding the fine line of sanity. Those kind of characters are by far my favorite kind to play. I can't wait to see how far they allow me to take this character. I also did Lucky Ducks which is a Disney animated feature. I play the very serious reporter. She's quite concerned about a lost shipment of rubber bath toys. It's a pretty cute movie. I am also Lily's mom in My Big, Big Friends. I play a bunch of other characters in that show as well.   

Question: If you were asked to return as the voice of Sailor Moon would you?

Answer: Of course I would voice Sailor Moon again! Who wouldn't?!!!? It's a great role. It would be amazing to revisit it now that I have a lot more experience as a voice actor under my belt... although I'm sure my vocal chords wouldn't love me for it. Ha!

Question: Did you ever get to work with any other voice actors when doing your scenes?

 Answer: In Sailor Moon I usually worked on my own. I had a lot of lines to do compared to everyone else so it would mean to make them sit around waiting for me to do a bunch of lines and then they'd do one line and then I'd do a bunch more. It just wasn't fair to make them wait. Sometimes I would go in with Stephanie Beard (Rini) when it was a show with the two of us doing a lot lot lines together. That was fun. She's such a great girl and we'd laugh a lot. 

In other animated series I usually go in by myself unless the director likes to have the whole ensemble in together. I love working in a group. It really gives you a sense of where the episode or show is going. That said, if someone can't get a line right (and that happens) you sit around for a long time waiting for them to get it right. But I could sit in the studio all day. I love my job!!!

Question: Besides Sailor Moon, who is your favorite Sailor Scout? 

Answer: I always liked Sailor Jupiter. She was pretty tough and tom-boyish. I like that about her. I also really liked bugging Mars too. That was a fun relationship. I bug her in real life too!! We are good friends.

Question: Any memorable or funny things happen when doing Sailor Moon?

Answer: I was always losing my voice. It's a pretty draining show to do. I remember driving to work trying to make any noise I could. Some mornings I would squeak the whole way in and think "What am I going to do?"... but somehow I'd mange to get the sound out. I was constantly warming up at home. I'd slide my voice up and down from high to low to high again to try and warm it up. My youngest daughter was only 1 when I was doing Sailor Moon. She would walk around behind me imitating me by sliding her voice up and down too. I'd say to her, "Are you making fun of me." She'd give me this sly smile and nod her head yes. Sooooo cute! Her first words weren't even words... they were Sailor Moon sounds. Such a good girl! 

Question: You took over the role of Sailor Moon after Terri Hawkes, did you have to try and imitate her for all of Sailor Moon S and SuperS?

Answer: I did the best I could imitating Terri. It wasn't easy because my voice is much lower than hers. There were so many factors that were playing on how my read went. I needed to sound like Terri and make my words match the mouth movements on the screen and act on top of all of that. It took me a while but I realized I just had to do the best I could, trust my choices and make this character my own. When I did I really started to enjoy Serena. 

Question: Do you know how much Sailor Moon has impacted peoples lives? Did you think it would ever become as popular as it did?

Answer: I had no idea how popular Sailor Moon would be. No idea at all. I knew it was popular but it has grown even more over the years and has become a real classic. I am thrilled to be a part of animation history. But I really had no idea how much the fans liked me until I started going to Anime conventions. I can tell you this: Sailor Moon fans are the greatest fans in the universe!!!!! They are so loving and appreciative. I just love the all!!! I am so honored to be a part of Sailor Moon!!!! 

Question: Did you know what Sailor Moon was before you started? 

Answer: I did know what Sailor Moon was because every kid was watching it. Especially me nieces. They loved Sailor Moon. Imagine what it was like when I called and told them I would now be Sailor Moon. Actually, I don't really think they knew how to take the news. They were shocked. I don't think they believed me. But I really didn't know the story line until I started doing the show. 

Question: Any final comments? 

Answer: It has taken me a long time to start reaching out to my fans only because I always believed that Terri was the Sailor Moon they wanted to hear from. So I sat back and let her do her thing. This year a fan reached out to me and wouldn't let go until I promised I would go to a convention. I am so grateful to that fan (Jack Buchanan). When I went to that con (Anime North) I was greeted by thousand of loving supporters who had waited many, many years to get to say hi and ask all the questions that have been plaguing them throughout the years. Now I go to as many cons as I can. Sailor Moon fans are everywhere and I plan on meeting them all! 

Thanks agian for doing this Linda! You can follow her on her Twitter here