Actresses
In the Japanese animated version, Kotono Mitsuishi voices Usagi, using a higher voice than Mitsuishi's natural voice. During the recording of the early episodes, Mitsuishi had to mentally prepare herself to play Usagi. While Mitsuishi was away having her appendix removed during production of episodes 44–50, Kae Araki, who would later play Chibiusa, played Usagi.
In the English dubbed version, three different voice actresses take the role of Serena: Tracey Moore (episodes 1–11, 15 and 21), Terri Hawkes (episodes 12-14, 16–20, 22–82, and movies) and Linda Ballantyne (episodes 83-159). Jennifer Cihi provides the English vocals for Serena's songs in the series. Terri Hawkes had said that Serena is "a girl as well as an emerging young woman." Hawkes appeared at a few conventions in the 1990s to promote the series, and has expressed interest in reprising the role in a newer dub of the series, and/or a Sailor Stars dub. She was on maternity leave during production of the S and SuperS seasons, and was unable to reprise her role. Linda Ballantyne has also expressed joy in the role and has often said that she felt pressure at first to sound like Hawkes, but later eased into her own. She describes Serena as "a girl who loved being a goofy teenager but deep down inside was so much more than that." Ballantyne has also expressed interest in reprising the role for any future media.
In the stage musicals four actresses have played Usagi: Anza Ohyama (whose younger sister Chiho later played Sailor Jupiter), Fumina Hara, Miyuki Kanbe (who played the character with a "cute and high voice"), and Marina Kuroki. The numerous musicals are frequently grouped into "stages" by fans according to which of these actresses was currently playing Sailor Moon.
In the SuperS Musicals, Sanae Kimura, who played Sailor Uranus, provided the voice of Neo-Queen Serenity during Over the Moon, A duet between Sailor Moon and Neo-Queen Serenity, though a third, unknown person, was on stage in Serenity's Costume as both Sailor Moon and Uranus were onstage. Uncredited body doubles are common in the musicals to allow the character to appear to transform instantly.
In Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Usagi was portrayed by Miyū Sawai; she also portrayed Queen Serenity in the Special Act though her voice was provided by Yoko Soumi who previously narrated a book in Act 9.
Read more about this topic: Sailor Moon (character)
Famous quotes containing the word actresses:
“I don’t know why people think child actresses in particular are screwed up. I see kids everywhere who are totally bored. I’ve never been bored a day in my life.”
—Jodie Foster (b. 1962)
“... actresses are such very dull people off the stage. We are only delightful and brilliant when we are doing what we are told to do. Off stage we are awful chumps.”
—Dame Edith Evans (1888–1976)
“... actresses require protection in their art from blind abuse, from savage criticism. Their work is their religion, if they are seeking the best in their art, and to abuse that faith is to rob them, to dishonor them.”
—Nance O’Neil (1874–1965)