Cartoon Voices: Questions with Susan Sheridan

[Raptormon132]

I find it so amazing that you're mother's a well known voice-actress. I loved Noddy when I was a kid & still love the Disney film, The Black Cauldron.

I hope to get into the acting industry one day & do acting in voice & live-action. There are many actors & voice-actors that inspire me to get into the acting industry & your mother, Susan Sheridan is on the list.

[straightfromschool]

@Raptormon132 Amazing, I have to show her your comment, she'll be really touched! :)

[Raptormon132]

@straightfromschool

Well, that's great news. In fact there's something that I need to know about Grant Bardsley, the guy who played Taran in The Black Cauldron. Your mother knew him & is probably the only one who knows. ...Did Grant Bardsley have a disability?

I remember looking at the special features of The Black Cauldron on DVD & there was a picture of the director over Grant's shoulders, pointing out his lines & the look on his face looked like someone with a disability.

[devourerofbabies]

So strange to hear Tricia McMillan's voice come out of Princess Eilonwy. 

[ErrorsOfLily]

Wow, I just read her wikipedia page! You're mentioned, lol.

[WaistcoatDave]

I love how this video just really reminded me of my childhood with Noddy, Moomin and The Black Cauldron clips.... She's done so much in her career.....please pass on the message that she basically made my childhood possible! Refering to Noddy as slightly indignant made me smile!

[Tozzywozzy01]

OMG just finished watching Midsomer Murders on ITV1+1 'A sacred trust'. I was sure that one of the nuns looked familiar and voila, Susan Sheridan's name on the end credits. What a surprise and delight that was. :D

[straightfromschool]

@Tozzywozzy01 Yeah that's her! I must say it was a bit weird to watch her all... dead... like that!

[TinselFairy]

she's your mom? wow was not expecting that. i was wondering why you seemed so comfortable and familiar with her.

[ewanjf]

Who voiced who in the Moomins? I've been trying to find out for ages and have bumped into this.

[straightfromschool]

@ewanjf I don't know, should all be on IMDB!

[ewanjf]

@straightfromschool That's the strange thing. There's barely anything on there about the series. There's names of the actors but nothing on who plays who apart from your Mum. I've taken aboard her advice on copying peoples voices. It is rather fun.

[straightfromschool]

@ewanjf All I know is that my mum voiced Moomin Troll, don't know the others. I'm sure it'll be on IMDB or something?

[Tozzywozzy01]

Absolutle legend! I heard her all through my childhood. Noddy, Moomin, The Animal Shelf.  I loved them all as a kid. I didn't know she was Princess Eilonwy in The Black Cauldron until I watched it last year for the first time in years and I actually squeed out loud. Luckily I was alone as I can imagine the looks I'd get, not to mention then having to explain why. If I ever manage to get any of my cartoon shows ideas from my mind into production, I'd be honoured to have her in the cast.

[straightfromschool]

@Tozzywozzy01 That's amazing! I'll show her this, I know she'll be really touched. :)

[girlwithaphonebox]

YOUR MUM IS TRILLIAN?



[straightfromschool]

@girlwithaphonebox Yup :D I've never actually listened to her as Trillian though!

[fourplusseven]

Well no questions but I'd like to give your wonderful mum a round of applause. I'm only here because I was listening to the Naxos Audiobook of Plato's "Symposium", and her wonderful velvety Diotima was a great highlight of the experience... to be able to do Diotima *and* Noddy argues a versatility bordering on the supernatural! :)

Please give here a round of applause from me.

[stachiano]

Oh my goodness, your Mother is so genius! I actually was conviced that they got children to do voice-overs. Wow! That is just too cool, I had to lol - what a suprise!

How would you say is best to get started within the whole voice-over industry?

[straightfromschool]

@stachiano Well a lot of voice work is done by children now, but if you listen carefully sometimes you can tell if it's an adult or not! Best way to get started is honestly more about contacts and knowing the radio producers. Getting a voice reel is the first step :)

[stachiano]

@straightfromschool Hmmm. Thanks a bunch!

[TheControllerofFat]

fantastic, is susan sheridan rich?

[leopoldusbenedictus]

I did my very first professional job with your Mum-Then known as Sue Thomas of course...Yes, I'm that old.....I run an ADR loop group and have employed your Mummy in the past and hope to do so in the future...She's total talent or a tiny triumph as our old head at Drama school used to say..Love to you all JAY

[straightfromschool]

@leopoldusbenedictus Wow! Small world, eh? That's very cool indeed. :) I will let her know you commented!

[rawmusic]

That's a bubble burst then - how was I to know that Noddy was not a little boy but an rather attractive and well spoken lady - gutted! Very talented lady - enjoyed your video. Thanks!

[missiloveacting]

Wow your mum did the voice of Noddy! That's pretty amazing, great video :) 

[bolshoiboy8]

Wow. The woman from Noddy is your mother?! That's amazing.

[emmawmedia]

This video is just plain awesome and an amazing resource. Your mother is seriously cool for doing this with you! :)

[AnnaleeMcGarry]

Fantastic video, really really interesting!!

[AnonymousMusicUK]

wow! Shes your mum? And she did all that? Noddy and the black cauldren! Thats amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aliceinwonderinc]

She's your Mum?! You slipped that in sneakily at the end! That's so cool!

Thanks for getting my question in there :) It must be cool to be able to say that your Mum was Noddy!

Brilliant video as always, I've always thought that doing voiceover might be fun so it's good to have that confirmed by someone who's had so much experience in the business!

[misserinmarie]

I loved this!! How wonderful and fascinating. Thank you both. :)

[thepappytube]

Oh wow. This video is really useful. People had been suggesting I give voicework a go for a while now. Is there a certain company or something I should contact. I figure it might be quite interesting to give it a go. I just don't know who to get in touch with. Thanks for the great video :)

[straightfromschool]

@thepappytube Yeah, I agree, you could get lots of voicework! The best thing to do is to clarify your voice quality and character, and get all your different voices onto a tape (voicereel). There are lots of Agencies that deal only with voice that you can submit your tape to. You can also send your CV and voicereel directly to producers of radio drama. 'Spotlight Contacts' lists all BBC Radio contacts and voice over agencies, so that can be a good place to start. :)

[thepeteris]

So cool!

[Laurbubble]

Your mother is the voice of Noddy?! That is so cool! I used to watch that show all the time when I was young and I loved it! I'm really interested in radio, I've done a lot with student radio in the past few years so I found this video really interesting!

[straightfromschool]

@Laurbubble I know, Radio is so fantastic to get into! Student radio sounds like a lot of fun. :)

[ThalliumICEtwo]

Shes your mum haha, wow that was actually a hollywood movie ending right there, wasn't expecting it at all.

[straightfromschool]

@ThalliumICEtwo Haha, yeah I wasn't going to say but then I thought I probably should!

[RogueBlueJay]

She was trillian too? That is epic.

[RogueBlueJay]

Really interesting interview. Thanks for the upload.

"Moving sideways" is such an industry time.

HOLY SHIT SHE WAS IN THE MOOMINS AND NODDY!

Wow. 25 characters. Listening to real voice over actors is really interesting. The trend currently to having animations voiced by normal actors is really annoying: they just don't have the vocal range for it.

Oh wow. She is your mum. That is so, so, so cool.

This was a long comment. I'll stop now.

Any minute now.

[straightfromschool]

@RogueBlueJay That's true, a lot of the voices for new cartoons feature established, recognizable voices of stars - because they sell, that's true - but they're just the actor's 'normal voice'. If you listen you can find the real stars of voiceover; the woman who did Tommy in 'Rugrats' did just about everything in the late 90s. As soon as you start listening you hear the same 20 people doing the work!