Interviews

Published on June 7th, 2024 | by Andrew Bistak

DEBI DERRYBERRY INTERVIEW @SupanovaExpo

We catch-up with actor Debi Derryberry to talk voice acting and of course the Supanova Expo!

Welcome to Impulse Gamer Debi, so how did you get into voice acting?

I got into voice acting as a combination of things coming together. I had moved to Nashville, TN from Los Angeles to pursue country music. The jobs I got were singing jingle work but only as a kid’s voice. Then I met someone who told me about voice over and connected me with some casting directors in Los Angeles and introduced me to my first agent. So I moved home to Los Angeles and signed with that voice agent and have been working as a Voice Actor ever since!

Who is your favourite character that you voiced and why?

Well, I love ALL the characters that I voice so it’s sort of like asking which of my dogs I like more. lol. But I would have to say that for longevity and popularity, it would have to be Jimmy Neutron!

Most challenging character? 

My most challenging character was the Tasmanian Devil’s little brother, Jake. That was a very gravely voice for me and caused me pain. I’m ok now, but the placement of that voice was a bit dangerous for me as a non-textured-voice voice actor. I would not do that voice again!

A.I. how can we protect future jobs for voice actors?

That is the great unknown question. I am not sure there is any way to prevent people from using available tech to do what tech does. BUT, as actors, we can read our contracts and not give permission to companies to use our voices in AI. The conversation is much bigger than I can speak to here, and the landscape is changing very quickly.  It is a large issue that will continue to be addressed.

What are you most looking forward to at Supanova?

I LOVE to come to Australia. What a wonderful country! I love the food, the people and the weather! My husband has never been so it will be fun to cross off a bucket-list item with him! And the toilet water swirls in the opposite direction lol.

Favourite con story?

Woo-boy! Favorite con story???? There are SO MANY! I love seeing fellow voice artists and the fans! This year I met with two people who were crying because they were so happy to meet the voice of Draculaura from Monster High who helped them through a very difficult childhood. And I also met a man who said that he became a rocket scientist because he loved Jimmy Neutron so much!

Lastly who would you cosplay and why?

Well, I can’t wait to cosplay a new project I’m doing that I can’t talk about yet. But it’s gonna be SO fun.

I probably would love to cosplay Draculaura because she has the coolest outfits!!!!

To meet Debi at Supanova, check out https://www.supanova.com.au/guests/debi-derryberry/

About Debi Derryberry

Debi Derryberry, is best known for voicing Jimmy Neutron in the Academy Award-nominated film Jimmy Neutron-Boy Genius. In Netflix’s Emmy Nominated F is For Family Debi voices Maureen, Philip, Bridget, Scott, Nurse and Kenny. Other voice-over work includes Taimi in Guild Wars 2, Tubby in Genshin Impact, World of Warcraft, The Loudhouse, Casagrandes, Bugs Bunny Builders, Draculaura in Monster High, an Alien in Toy Story, Final Fantasy X-2 (Fayth-Bahamut), Zatch Bell and many others

The new 2nd Edition of her popular book “Voice Over 101: How to Succeed as a Voice Actor” is available on her website and also through Amazon. She was also voted LA’s #1 Voice-over coach by Backstage West.

Her TikTok page has over 1.2M followers and over 25.1M likes!

Raised in Indio, CA, she participated in a plethora of community theatre, she graduated UCLA as a pre-med student. After 3 years in Nashville as a country music singer/jingle singer/writer/musician, she returned to Los Angeles to launch her voice-over career. Debi has written and recorded 3 award-winning pre-school music albums. Her song “Baby Banana” hit #1 on Sirius/XM Kid. She currently sings and plays guitar with her female trio “Honey Pig”. All her music is available on Spotify, Pandora, Apple, etc…

Debi is a supporter of spaying and neutering your dogs and cats and adopting your pets instead of getting a “purebred”. She is also a supporter of organizations who help the plight of the Orangutan. Don’t use Palm Oil!

After almost 30 years and over 300 Imdb credits, Debi is one of Hollywood’s most active and sought-after voice-over artists and coach.


About the Author

When he's not trying to save the world, Andrew enjoys travel (although loathes turbulence), going to the movies, reading and being a dad to his two dogs (and now twins) with his wife.



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