How Kristen Schaal Is Using Her Unique Voice to Her Advantage
Fans of animated shows can probably recognize Kristen Schaal’s voice anywhere. The 43-year-old actor has been in films and on television for quite some time. She has also made quite a name for herself by bringing to life characters in animated shows such as BoJack Horseman and Bob’s Burgers. Schaal has a distinct voice that she uses to her advantage. However, that voice was once a point of insecurity for her.
Kristen Schaal’s acting career
Schaal has acted in plenty of films and TV shows throughout her career. These include her role as Mel in Flight of the Conchords and Carol in The Last Man on Earth. However, it seems like as of late, Schaal’s voice work has given her special fame. For over a decade, she has been the voice behind nine-year-old Louise Belcher from Bob’s Burgers. Schaal has also provided voices for several characters on BoJack Horseman, most notably that of Sarah Lynn.
Schaal’s work is not limited to adult animation. She has also been the voice of Trixie the Triceratops in the Toy Story films and Mabel Pines in Gravity Falls.
Schaal was told her voice wouldn’t work
Before she gained fame for her unique voice, Schaal had a rough road ahead of her. She recalled being made fun of for her voice in middle school, The Daily Beast reported. Things didn’t change much in college. Schaal studied acting at Northwestern University, and the way she talked perplexed those around her.
“Every person that I came into contact with was like, ‘Oh, your voice, your voice, your voice, your voice,’ and not in a good way,” quoted The Daily Beast. “And then I had to take a voice class, because I was in the acting program and when I went in to register, the voice teacher was like, ‘Oh, there’s nothing we can do for you. You are not going to make it, that voice is atrocious.’” Luckily, Schaal proved them all wrong.
Schaal is using her unique voice to her advantage through children’s shows
Schaal is no stranger to overcoming setbacks in the entertainment industry. She was even fired from writing for South Park after only a month of working on the show. However, Schaal has come a long way since then. She treasures her unique voice and the success that it has brought her throughout the years. Now, it seems Schaal is ready for another shift in her career.
Although Schaal has proven her acting chops in various ways, she now looks to children’s shows as a big part of her future. “My voice appeals to kids,” The Daily Beast reported. “Kids’ shows are going to be my future bread and butter. I’m going to need them to like me and I want them to put me in their shows. Some of them are going to grow up and be like, ‘I loved her as a kid, she can be the grandma!’ That’s my hope.”
Schaal recently played Benedict’s Number Two in the disney+ series The Mysterious Benedict Society. Fans might be hearing Schaal on their children’s TV shows for many years to come.
