Ashleigh Hairston's Unexpected Journey to Voice Acting Stardom

Summary

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Years ago, Brian Stack, a veteran writer on Conan, once said in a workshop, “It’s never going to happen the way you think it’s going to happen.” The “it,” being success. That “breakout” moment. The thing dreams are made of. Ashleigh Hairston had zero intentions of going into voice acting when she moved to Los Angeles 12 years ago, yet here she is writing about how to break into the industry. Brian was right. She did not see this one coming. While she can't tell exactly how to break in, sharing her journey might inspire others to find their own way. Ashleigh attended Howard University and majored in Theatre Arts and Acting. Her dream was, and still is, to create, write, and star in her own live-action TV series. Upon moving to LA, she stumbled upon iO West Improv Theatre in Hollywood and immediately fell in love with its community. She interned at the Training Center, took classes, performed, and even worked as a cocktail server on the weekends during shows. Improv became her life and is an art form she still uses in all her work as a creator. No matter what artistic journey one is on, learning to improvise is invaluable. She performed on a house sketch team at iO for three years, then continued her training at The Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre, completing both the improv and sketch writing programs. She performed for four years on various house sketch teams. UCB provided opportunities to showcase their comedy in front of industry executives, agents, managers, and casting agents. Ashleigh performed in showcases for Saturday Night Live, Just for Laughs, and networks like ABC, NBC, and Nickelodeon. In 2018, she was cast in the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase, performing various characters she had written. Afterward, people kept telling her she should go into voice acting. “You have such a great voice!” they’d say. Growing up in the predominantly white Bellevue, Washington, and later attending an all-black college, she was often asked questions like, “Is that your real voice?” “Why do you talk like that?” and “Is that an accent?” It was never an accent; it was just her voice. Her unique voice made her feel different, like she stood out in a confusing way. She became self-conscious and found herself changing her voice to fit social settings. This unintentional training benefitted her as a voice actor. Once she realized that sounding different was a gift, not a limitation, she found her power and her voice. She signed up for a Cartoon Network Animation Voice Over Intensive at The Actors Company with Colette Sunderman, a veteran voice director. She realized she had been embodying characters all along, only now she was doing it behind a microphone. She took another class at The Actor’s Company, a Commercial Voice Over Intensive with James Murray, a voiceover agent at Abrams Artists. She was an intern, so she could use her work hours as credits towards classes. At the end of the class, James informed her of a few projects that were casting and invited her to audition, even though she was unrepresented. Looking back, she sees what they all saw: untapped potential. Getting representation was challenging. She got passed on by many agencies. Even her commercial agency initially told her she was too green. It wasn’t until she got a callback for a Disney pilot that she secured representation. Her manager used that as leverage to pitch her to different agencies. She landed with Osbrink Agency, who she is still with today. If you’re hunting for representation, don’t be discouraged. It’s hard and can take a long time. Sometimes years. If you have a friend who loves their reps, don’t be afraid to ask for a referral. She loves passing along her talented friends' reels. Within two months of signing with Osbrink, she booked her first voiceover job for Marvel’s Avengers Assemble: Black Panther’s Quest, voicing the role of Bask, the Queen of Wakanda. She recorded the audition in the dark on the floor of her coat closet using voice notes on her phone. This is how she recorded all her auditions. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money on fancy audio equipment. Your voice alone should book the job. Ashleigh's journey began at Howard University, where she majored in Theatre Arts and Acting. Her dream was to create, write, and star in her own live-action TV series. This vision set the stage for her move to Los Angeles, where she aimed to turn her aspirations into reality. Upon arrival, she discovered iO West Improv Theatre in Hollywood, a pivotal moment in her burgeoning career. At iO West, Ashleigh found a community that embraced her. She interned at the Training Center, took classes, performed, and worked as a cocktail server on the weekends during shows. Improv quickly became her life, an art form she continues to use in all her creative endeavors. This foundation provided her with skills that proved invaluable throughout her career. After performing on a house sketch team at iO for three years, Ashleigh continued her training at The Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre. There, she completed both the improv and sketch writing programs. Over four years, she performed on various house sketch teams, honing her craft and gaining critical exposure. Upright Citizen’s Brigade provided opportunities to showcase her comedy in front of industry executives, agents, managers, and casting agents. Ashleigh performed in showcases for Saturday Night Live, Just for Laughs, and networks like ABC, NBC, and Nickelodeon. These performances were not just stepping stones but significant milestones that showcased her versatility and talent to a broader audience. Through her involvement with iO West and The Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Ashleigh's improv skills became a cornerstone of her career. Improv taught her to be present, to think on her feet, and to embrace the unexpected. These skills translated seamlessly into her work as a creator and performer, shaping her journey in ways she had not anticipated. In 2018, Ashleigh Hairston was cast in the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase, a significant opportunity that allowed her to perform various characters she had written. This experience brought her talents to the attention of many in the industry. Following her performances, she received consistent feedback about her voice. People frequently told her, “You have such a great voice!” This marked the beginning of her recognition as a potential voice actor. Growing up in the predominantly white Bellevue, Washington, and later attending an all-black college, Ashleigh often faced questions about her voice. Questions like, “Is that your real voice?” and “Why do you talk like that?” were common. This scrutiny made her self-conscious, leading her to alter her voice to fit different social settings. However, this unintentional training turned out to be an asset in her voice acting career. Over time, Ashleigh realized that her unique voice was not a limitation but a gift. Embracing this, she found her power and her true voice. Ashleigh's transition to voice acting began with her training at The Actors Company. She enrolled in a Cartoon Network Animation Voice Over Intensive with Colette Sunderman, a veteran voice director. This course helped her understand that she had been embodying characters all along, but now she was doing it behind a microphone. She furthered her training with a Commercial Voice Over Intensive led by James Murray, a voiceover agent at Abrams Artists. As an intern, she utilized her work hours as credits towards these classes, strategically managing the costs associated with her training. At the end of the class with James Murray, Ashleigh was informed about a few projects that were casting and was invited to audition, even though she was unrepresented at the time. These moments were pivotal, as they provided her with the chance to showcase her untapped potential. This period marked the beginning of her journey into voice acting, setting the stage for her subsequent successes in the industry. Breaking into the voice acting industry was not without its challenges for Ashleigh Hairston. Securing representation proved to be a difficult task. She faced numerous rejections from agencies that deemed her too inexperienced. Even her commercial agency initially passed on her, citing that she was too green. However, Ashleigh's perseverance paid off when she received a callback for a Disney pilot. Her manager used this opportunity as leverage to pitch her to different agencies, and she finally landed with Osbrink Agency, where she continues to be represented today. Within two months of signing with Osbrink, Ashleigh booked her first voiceover job for Marvel’s Avengers Assemble: Black Panther’s Quest. She voiced the role of Bask, the Queen of Wakanda. Remarkably, she recorded the audition in the dark on the floor of her coat closet using voice notes on her phone. This unconventional method demonstrated that fancy audio equipment is not a prerequisite for success. Her voice alone was compelling enough to book the job, underscoring the importance of talent over technology. Following her debut with Marvel, Ashleigh landed a recurring role on Cartoon Network’s Craig of the Creek, voicing the zany creek scientist, Wren. The smaller recording sessions for this project allowed her to feel more at ease, enabling her to tap into her improv background and deliver standout performances. In 2021, Ashleigh took on the iconic role of Babs Bunny in Tiny Toons. A friend who was a writer on the show sent her sides for both Babs Bunny and Shirley the Loon. Unsure if she would be cast as Babs Bunny, Ashleigh enlisted the help of a voice coach, Robin Reed, to prepare for the audition. She showcased her improv skills and received a callback for Shirley. After resubmitting her audition at a faster pace, she was thrilled to learn she had booked the role of Babs Bunny. Today, Ashleigh voices Hazel Wells in Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish. This role is particularly significant as she helped create the character and serves as co-executive producer and co-head writer for the show. This project allows her to integrate all the skills she has acquired over the years—voice acting, writing, producing, and improvising—into one cohesive endeavor. Ashleigh Hairston's journey into voice acting illustrates the power of persistence and the ability to turn perceived weaknesses into strengths. Her success in roles across Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, Craig of the Creek, Tiny Toons, and The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish showcases her growth and versatility in the industry.