Cristina Vee was at Fanime this year and Jay Snook was able to ask her a few questions
Here is a Bio on Cristina Vee:
Cristina ‘Vee’ Valenzuela is a anime and video game voice actress residing near Los Angeles, California. In addition to her work as a voice actress and director, Cristina is also known for her popular renditions of anime songs on YouTube, and got her first big break at an anime convention. Her first roles as a professional actress were Nanoha in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha and Louise in The Familiar of Zero. Recent voice acting roles include Homura Akemi in Madoka Magica, Mio Akiyama in K-ON!, Alisa Bosconovitch in Tekken: Blood Vengeance, Kanaria in Rozen Maiden Traumend and Rozen Maiden Ouverture, and Nagisa in Squid Girl.
Her video game credits include Noel Vermillion, Nu-13, Mu-12, and Lambda in all the current Blazblue titles, Riven the Exile in League of Legends, Compa in Hyperdimension Neptunia, and Lian Shi in Dynasty Warriors 7, just to name a few. She has also recently completed her first gig as a director for the popular fighter Skullgirls and provided the voice of Cerebella. Finally, Cristina is featured in the upcoming Crisis Hearts Brawlers: Clash at Otakon video game. She appears with support from Studio Nasu.
Cristina currently has a few songs available on iTunes from when she traveled the US with the other actresses for K-ON! and performed concerts as Mio Akiyama. She also is a host of AnimeTV and was the ASOS Brigade leader for the live action Haruhi Suzumiya season 2 promotional videos.
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What got you interested in doing voice work?
Cristina Vee: It was always what I wanted to do as a kid. I watched a lot of animation growing up, uh Disney particularly. When I was growing up that was when the Disney renaissance happened in the 90’s. I have always been pretty artistically inclined. I thought I was going to be an animator for a long time. But then I got into Anime, started watching Sailor Moon and that was when it kind of hit me. So that is why I decided to be a voice actor.
What are some recent Anime and Video Games you have done voice work in?
Cristina Vee: I am working on one called Hunter, Hunter which is on Toonami now. Madoka Magica is really popular. Seven Deadly Sins, um Love Life. Those are some pretty big recent shows I have been a part of.
What are your top three favorite characters that you have voiced?
Cristina Vee: I really enjoy voicing Marinette from Miraculous Ladybug. That is a show that is currently on Nickelodeon. Sailor Mars was one of my dream roles as a kid so it’s really cool to play her. And I guess Homura Akemi. Just getting to be a part of Madoka has been one of my favorite projects ever.
What has been one of your hardest or least favorite characters to voice?
Cristina Vee: One of my hardest characters is also Monaca but she is not my least favorite. But there are a lot of roles that you do and you don’t really know what you are going to record, especially for video games. It is kind of like a one off you know. Like “Oh we have some lines for you to record” that can go two to four hours. You record it and you never really hear about it again. Or you know, it is out there in the world but you just don’t know what you are working on you know.
Are you much of a video gamer yourself?
Cristina Vee: I don’t call myself a gamer but I do play some games. Mainly for my DS like Pokemon and Animal Crossing. Those kinds of games.
Is it ever awkward to hear your voice in the roles you have played?
Cristina Vee: It never shocks me. It is just like “yeah, cool.” (laughs) Plays my character guys.
How many Cons do you usually attend each year?
Cristina Vee: When I was younger and had more energy I used to do like 30 a year. I think at least one year I hit 30. I don’t know how I did that because I was also in college, it was crazy. But now I try to keep it right around 10, like somewhere around that number. Seems to work out pretty well for me.
Are there any voice roles you want to play or hope to play in the future?
Cristina Vee: I think anything in Street Fighter would be amazing. Also I just want to do more original animation.
How did you originally get into voice acting?
Cristina Vee: I met people at a convention actually. They liked my acting voice so they gave me a card to audition. So they let me audition and they told me “Hey we are going to keep calling you back if that is okay” and I was like “Yeah, cool”. I was sixteen at the time so I just kept with it, working really hard. I ended up taking classes,of course I was in high school at the time and I was already doing like high school theater. Then I did college theater and was just working hard at it everyday.
What do you think is the hardest part of voice acting?
Cristina Vee: The hardest part is not even the job it’s the in between. Especially when you are first starting out you can go a long time without working. Even established actors sometimes they have lulls. That is hard because you wonder “Like what is going on?!? Am I ever going to work again?”, that is the hardest part. I think if you ask any actor they will say the waiting game and you know the industry is very tricky.
Are their any voice actor you look up to that you have been able to meet? And if so what was that like?
Cristina Vee: You know, I didn’t really know voice actors before I got into it. And of course like the people I ended up and really admire are the ones who have done it for a long time. Those who always make a living off of it and who are so kind. Who offer their guidance and their love. So it has been those people who I have become fans of.
Have you ever had any opportunities to help people get into voice acting?
Cristina Vee: See, the thing about that is some people think you can magically be turned into a voice actor, but it is really up to the person. I have given people auditions but that is all you can do. It is up to that person, if they are going to get the work, if they have a good attitude. I mean, I have given friends auditions who want to be voice over actors. I am always willing to sit down an talk to people, but in the end nobody can control your career except for yourself.
What would be some advice or suggestions you would give to people who want to get into voice acting?
Cristina Vee: It would be to start taking classes. Take risks. But make sure that you have hobbies and interests other than acting. It costs money to be an actor actually. There is so much that you have to pay for. So just keep saving up and keep your goal in mind.
What are one of the best fan experiences you have ever had?
Cristina Vee: There are so many instances. I think I am always surprised when people cry, cause I feel really touched that I am able to be a part of something that they can really relate to. It’s just really fun, like I said autographs are my favorite part of conventions because I get to see what resonates with people and what the popular shows are.
Do you have any final words to say before this interview comes to a close?
Cristina Vee: Thank you for listening. I hope you are able to find some good advice thanks to the interview and just thank you.
You can like Cristina Vee on Facebook and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.