We had the pleasure of chatting with Caraline Sweet all about being a voice actress!

1. What inspired you to become a voice actor?

I’ve been in love with animation ever since I was a kid. I remember realizing the voices and talents behind my beloved characters and realizing “these are all actors, I wish I could have that job.” Later on in life and in my acting career I realized it was actually something I could pursue, and when the pandemic hit and I wasn’t able to do theatre, acting or teaching- I decided to just dive whole heartedly into voice over and I honestly never looked back since!

2. Can you describe your process for preparing for a voice acting role?

I think my process is probably similar to most other actors and voice actors. But I think for me, the most important part of the process for me is to always focus on having fun!

3. What has been your biggest challenge as a voice actor and how have you overcome it?

I feel that I can be way too hard on myself or sometimes can be my worst inner critic. As an actress I have to remember to be way kinder to myself.

4. Can you tell us about a particularly memorable project you’ve worked on and why it stands out to you?

It’s hard to choose just one, but one that always immediately comes to mind is Everlasting Shenjiu. It’s been my first lead role as a voice actress, which has been such a wonderful experience! Cat is a very special character for me and I always be so grateful to Shenjiu’s creator for trusting the role of Cat to me!

5. How do you handle the pressure of performing in front of a microphone?

Similar to #2, anytime I’m feeling my nerves or pressure, I just remember to have fun! There’s a wonderful, supportive community in the voice over world, which makes it much easier to just let go and go for it!

6. Can you share any advice for aspiring voice actors just starting out in the industry?

There’s SO MUCH information and TONS of resources out there (a lot of them for free)! Do your research and learn from those who are where you hope to be one day. Learn as much as you can, and remember that you’re never done learning and growing!

7. Can you tell us about a time when you had to adapt to a new character or voice?

I always look forward to playing as new characters and the process of finding their “voice.” I love getting the chance to play as someone or something new and getting to explore who they are and the world around them from their perspective. It’s a process I always look forward to!

8. How do you stay motivated and engaged during long recording sessions?

As long as I’m having fun and enjoying the process, even longer sessions don’t seem to be that long at all. I do remember to take breaks as needed and to always have water with me. Giving your body and brain a rest or break can definitely help quickly rejuvenate yourself so you can jump back in and keep going! I also have short guided meditations on hand in my phone, so while I’m taking a break if I need to, I can listen to one and center or reset.

9. Can you tell us about an experience you had while working on a project where you had to improvise or come up with an unexpected solution?

I’ve had the chance to improv a few different times which is always a ton of fun! One of my favorite auditions ever had me improv an entire interview and had me answer questions as said character- which was a ton of fun!

10. Can you share a funny or interesting story from your time as a voice actor?

Where do I start?! Being a voice actress has been full of hilarious and interesting moments for sure! To me, it’s been the most interesting part of my acting career! I think for me, being at a point now where I’m being cast in the same projects as so many of my mutuals and friends, is so cool to me! Getting to hear us all in the same projects as different characters, all interacting together is so much fun!

11. Can you share your favorite voice acting moment or performance?

One that always comes to mind for me, is a character I got to voice in a few videos which exists on YouTube. I adore that character so much and loved every minute I had as her. Those videos now have thousands of views, one has over 140k views! Seeing so many people loving this story and characters was amazing. And reading all the positive comments about how much people enjoyed our takes on the characters and their voices truly inspires me and still is one of my favorite performances I’ve done in VA.

12. Can you tell us about a voice acting project you turned down and why?

I haven’t been in a situation where I turned down a role or a project.

13. How do you keep your voice in good condition for voice acting?

Hydrate! I rest when I need to and I stay aware of my body and my own limitations. I also like doing vocal warm ups and exercises before sessions!

14. Can you tell us about a time when you had to take on a role that was completely different from what you were used to?

As an actress, I really try not to stay in the same “box.” I never want to limit myself to roles or characters that I only feel “safe” in. Acting gives me the chance to play, and I never want to limit who or what I can “play” as. When I first started voice over I definitely shied away from certain characters/auditions who I didn’t think I could portray. After some more experience and training, I’ve started going out of my way to stop doing that, to get out of my own head and to push myself as an actress.

15. What are your thoughts on All Ages of Geek and what can we improve on to make it a better platform?

I’m excited to see what fun and exciting things come to us from All Ages of Geek and am happy they asked to interview me and so many other VAs!

16. Where can people find you online?

I’m on the social medias at Caraline Sweet and you can learn more about me at http://caralinesweet.com. Thank you so much for having me!

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