Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Morgan Berry. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Morgan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for me taking a risk. I got into the voice acting industry by competing in a voice-over contest at an anime convention. I almost backed out of the competition because I was so scared of putting myself out there and possibly making a fool of myself, but I’m glad I pushed through that fear and made the decision to try it anyway. I stepped into the opportunity with the thought of “if this is what the Lord wants for me, then I will win this competition. If not, then I guess I’ll just explore a different creative avenue.” I remember stepping up in front of the crowd holding the script in front of me. I was so nervous that the paper shook in my hands. I had no voice-over experience prior to this contest, but I had years of experience acting both on-stage and on-camera, so thankfully that prepared me for this moment. I ended up winning the contest, and the prize was an audition at Funimation (now known as Crunchyroll). This opened the door for me to receive auditions from this studio, and eventually I started booking voice roles consistently. As a performer, I was ready when the opportunity presented itself to me, and I’m grateful that my past acting experience was enough to open the door to a new world for me.
Another example of taking a risk that comes to mind is when I auditioned for a video game called Freedom Planet 2. I auditioned for the villain Merga, who when I picture the character in my head, I felt like I didn’t have a low enough voice for the role. I almost decided not to audition at all because I felt I wouldn’t be the best fit. Despite that, I was grateful to receive the opportunity at all, so I auditioned anyway with the thought of “I might as well try and see what happens. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” However, auditions aren’t always quick work. Sometimes it can feel like a wasted effort if you truly don’t think you’re going to book the role even after spending hours perfecting the audition. As actors, you’re competing against other skilled performers, so it can be discouraging at times when you feel you truly did your best and you still ended up empty handed. Even so, I have a love for performing, and that passion is stronger than my doubt. I decided to go through with the audition and just have fun, regardless of the outcome. I ended up booking the role, and that’s just one of many decisions I’ve made in my career that ended up being life changing in the best of ways.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m mainly known for my character voice work in cartoons and video games. Some of my most notable roles include the main character Bel in ‘Beyblade Burst: QuadDrive’, Moroha in ‘Yashahime’, Shyarly in ‘One Piece’, the space hero Thirteen in ‘My Hero Academia’, Desperada in ‘Miraculous Ladybug’, Nyriad in ‘Borderlands 3’, and Altena in ‘Fire Emblem’. I have voiced for over 200 characters in the decade that I have been doing voice-over, and I’m excited to continue doing this for years to come.
I get to step into a recording booth every day and become a different character. Being an actor is to play pretend professionally. It’s a fun job, but it’s important to remember that show business requires being business oriented. The work is never guaranteed in this industry, no matter how good you are. We audition on a daily basis, which doesn’t pay and can be very time consuming. Being an actor is not for the faint of heart. My passion for the craft keeps me going, even when things get rough.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Many people outside of the entertainment industry assume that most actors are rich, but the reality is being an actor is not a 9:00 to 5:00 job. The work is never guaranteed and most of the time it’s not even consistent, no matter how good of an actor you are. Our job entails MORE than just acting. It’s show business, so we have to be business oriented. Most of what we book is from auditions, and the auditions don’t always come TO you. Sometimes the actor has to actively search for audition opportunities, and even then the gig might not pay well. Actors are freelancers. We’re self employed. We rely on many different opportunities to pay the bills, and some months are harder than others. People on the outside looking in only see the glitz and glamour. They don’t see the amount of effort we put in to our craft. It’s a business most people won’t fully understand until they live it for themselves, experiencing both the ups and downs of an actor’s journey.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding thing about being an actor is the opportunity we get to deliver a message. We’re not just TELLING a story. We’re LIVING a story and sharing that message with an audience. We’re given the unique opportunity to live a life that’s not our own. For a brief moment in time, we get to step out of ourselves and into the shoes of another. I find it so fun to switch vocal prints and personalities! We get to play pretend professionally! Quite a unique job we get to do!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheMorganBerry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheMorganBerry/
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheMorganBerry
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheMorganBerry/
- Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/TheMorganBerry
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/AnUnknownSongbird
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@TheMorganBerry
Image Credits
The image with the blue blazer was photographed by Jonathan McInnis. The rest are all candid shots.