Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Grace Newton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Grace, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I contribute pro bono every month to a project called Birthday Fairy. The Birthday Fairy Project shines a light on the lives lost in mass shootings in the United States by recognizing the birthday of each victim. We record bios of the victims and they are posted with a photo and, as appropriate, a few details about the shooting and how it could have been prevented. This is heartbreaking work, yet also rewarding.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Grace Newton, a voice actor of four years. I was born in Beaumont, TX, grew up in central FL, and now reside in Raleigh, NC with my fiancee and two kitties. My journey into voice acting began after a 14-year, award-winning career as a chef was cut short by two auto collisions. The first collision resulted in herniated discs in my Lumbar spine 5 (L5) and my Supine spine 1 (S1), leading to spinal surgery at age 36 following months of painful treatments. Despite a month of recovery, I returned to work only to face a second collision that worsened my condition, adding a third herniation to my Cervical spine 7 (C7). These experiences serve as a stern warning to put down phones while driving. However, the adversity led me to discover my true passion for voice acting. Encountering a social media ad for a voice over technique program, I realized I had been voice acting my whole life. This discovery ignited a renewed passion, prompting me to pursue training and launch my own entrepreneurial venture in voice acting.
My professional services have a very large range, leaving me open for work in many different genres of voice acting. (A classically trained singer, my very first project was actually a jingle that aired in the regional market of Kentucky and Indiana!). From commercials to dubbing, bringing a script to life I allow my voice to create a role behind any character given to me. My character storytelling is very powerful and creative, and leaving the listeners wanting more is always a rewarding feeling.
Voice actors wear many hats, many of which I had very little experience in. We are the talent, the director, the editor, the boss, the employee, the marketing executive, the accountant, etc., and there are many challenges along the way. My community of fellow voice actors is the most supportive and encouraging one I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m so proud and grateful that I’ve been able to give back to my colleagues, peers, friends through organizing various fundraisers to bring everyone together for a common cause.
Because the first auto collision caused herniated discs in my Lumbar spine 5 (L5) and my Supine spine 1 (S1), I finally had to have spinal surgery at the age of 36 after months of failed, very painful physical therapy, trigger injections, and a lumbar epidural. I had a month recovery period after the spinal surgery, and I was right back to work as a chef for three weeks, when the second distracted driver collided with me, completely undoing what had been accomplished with the surgery, AND adding a third herniation to my Cervical spine 7 (C7). I’d like to extend a stern warning to PLEASE put your phones down while operating a vehicle!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Slow. Down. As a chef, every second on the line was crucial. Quick communication with my team was imperative. It was a rush-rush-rush of controlled chaos, each team member doing 27 things at once. For me, it was adrenaline at it’s highest peak. While multi-tasking is definitely a transferable skill I’ve utilized, [recording] booth life is an entirely different animal. It is rather sedentary, with long hours spent in solitude and little verbal communication with the outside world/other people. I’ve had to learn to take a beat, focus on one challenge at a time, and most importantly, be KIND to myself through self-care and positive self-talk.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As a voice actor, rarely are two days the same. The variety of projects is wide, and each client is different. I feel the most rewarded when I can give a voice to those that don’t have one. I’m incredibly humbled when I can be a resource to organizations that aid the unhoused and disabled military veterans, abused animals, and those that bring awareness to climate change issues. At the end of the day, it’s all about lifting each other up, and I’m glad I can contribute to that, even if it’s through a microphone in a little recording booth, in a city, in a country, in a world, in a Universe.
Contact Info:
- Website: gracenewtonvo.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracenewtonvo/
Image Credits
Professional headshot by Gary Barragan Photography