Q: Most people know you as the feared space pirate Ryoko, spanning 3 Tenchi series and 3 movies. Have you provided voices for any other anime?
A: I did some background voices for one episode of Serial Experiments: Lain, but no characters that you'd recognize.

Q: How did you get involved in voice acting?
A: I've always been a stage actor, and I was also working in the commercial voice-over field when Matt K. Miller told me about the auditions for Tenchi Muyo. So I figured I'd give it a shot.

Q: Are you a fan of anime?
A: I wouldn't call myself a "fan." I like anime but it's also my business. I watch (and listen) when I can. And I enjoy it!

Q: Can you tell us anything about the continuation of the Tenchi Muyo OAV?
A: Frankly, no. My experience has been that the fans know way more than I do about the series. As of this interview, none of us in the English-speaking cast have heard anything about the new series, or been contacted by the producers about it.

Q: Aside from voice acting you've also had on camera performances for both television and feature film. What have been some of your more memorable roles?
A: You're not going to believe this! But the truth is my most memorable roles have been Shakespearean ones. I loved playing the Empress Tamara in Titus Andronicus, and last summer I had a blast playing Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra.

Q: When comparing voice acting to on screen performances, how does the preparation process differ?
A: For me the biggest difference is memorization. For voice acting, you rarely need to memorize your lines (although it helps to know them well so you can watch the screen if you're dubbing). But for acting on screen, you've got to know exactly what you're saying, where and how you're moving, and what your face and body are doing. The emotional preparation for both is about the same for me.

Q: I noticed you will be appearing at Anime-Magic in Lancaster, California this October. What are your thoughts on anime conventions?
A: I'm pretty excited! I was at an anime convention once, several years ago, for about an hour. This will be my first experience of what a convention is really like. The Ani-Magic people (www.ani-magic2002.org) have been nice and I'm looking forward to it. I'm only able to be there one day, October 5th.

Q: What is the wackiest gift you've ever received from a fan?
A: I've received some pretty good drawings via e-mail. I think the best thing I've gotten is all the nice things people say about my work on Ryoko.

Q: Do you collect memorabilia of the characters you've voiced?
A: Not exactly. I've got a couple of Ryoko action figures, and a poster. And I think I've still got a few of the dubbing scripts.

Q: Any funny outtake stories from the recording booth?
A: Usually our recording ran pretty smoothly. But once they tried to make me sing. I'm not much of a singer! I was so embarrassed I couldn't look at the producer or the engineer, and I took the microphone into the corner where they couldn't see me while I tried to sing. They finally had to have someone else actually record the song.

Q: What can we look forward to hearing/seeing you next in?
A: I don't know yet! I'm always auditioning for stuff. I hope I'll get to do the next Tenchi OAV. And if the fans want to check out some other voice work I've done, I did three radio plays for The Hollywood Theater of the Ear. They aired on National Public Radio as a part of the "2000X" sci-fi series. You can go to http://www.audible.com/adbl/store/welcome.jsp and search 2000X. The titles I did are: In the Year 2889 (which I couldn't find on the site!), Ole Doc Methuselah, and 'Repent, Harlequin', Said the Ticktockman where I got to work with the wonderful Robin Williams and the great Harlan Ellison.

Q: Do you have a website?  How can fans contact you?
A: I don't have a website--yet. I'm working on it. Until then, fans can contact me at lilybiz@yahoo.com. I'm always glad to hear from fans, and although it may take me a little while I try to answer all my mail.