Few things give as much insight into the realities of the struggle for women’s equality as Hollywood. The subtle differences and inequalities between men and women are blown up on the big screen for all to see. In Hollywood, everything from the pay scale to representation to the sexualization of women is magnified in such a way that we can’t ignore it. We’re forced to look at the ugly truth.
Perhaps this is why voice acting can be so powerful. The style of acting is among the most difficult, it strips away the natural queues that come with body language and forces the actress to convey everything through tone and dialect. Voice acting removes much of the other distractions and focuses all of our attention solely on the power of the actress to tell a story without the hidden layers of biases and expectations for women in Hollywood.
Numerous recent female voice acting roles have led to significant and thought-provoking films. Many of these films capture some of the most prominent cultural and societal issues of today’s world and bring them to life. The women in these roles are not only powerful actresses in their own right, but they draw attention to aspects of our society that are often left ignored.
The Role of Diversity and Representation
There is no mistaking that Hollywood has long struggled with issues of diversity and representation in films. Fortunately, this is an arena where Hollywood has begun to recognize and work toward correcting the issue — albeit slowly.
One powerful example of positive change is through the Disney film Moana. The director and writers of the movie put special emphasis on finding Auli’i Cravalho, a Polynesian voice actress, to play the Polynesian lead in the film rather than settling for a white actress as has typically been done in the past.
Disney movies are powerful in that they seem to have the ability to live on forever by influencing impressionable young audiences. Casting a voice actress with the same heritage as an animated character will continue to impact young generations as they visualize themselves in the characters and movie stars that look like them.
Technology in Our Lives
Of course, not all voice actresses play roles that inspire future generations. Some depict the darker aspects of our society as well, such as the growing influence of technology. Many of us have grown so accustomed to having tech that we can’t even fathom how people lived in the not-so-distant past without it.
Nearly 65% of Americans today own smart devices, causing many to either celebrate or question this new common dependency. For many, this dependence is exhilarating as we discover new methods of technology that improve our daily lives, while others wonder when this development will cross ethical, moral, and safety boundaries.
Of course, Hollywood hasn’t missed a beat in depicting the nuance of technology development. Along with exhibiting the advances and magic that tech has to offer to films, some have portrayed the extreme negative sides of our technological lives. Even here in these depictions, voice actresses have made a lasting and powerful impression.
In the movie, Her, Scarlett Johansson plays the voice of an AI assistant. Throughout the entire film, she plays a disembodied voice with complex emotions and ideas wholly through the inflection and tone of her voice. It is easily one of the most challenging feats that any actress can achieve and it places her high on the list of accomplished actors. Her role is critical in a film that examines a reality that doesn’t feel all that far away.
Finding a Safe Space for Mental Health
Another voice actress that addresses some of the larger issues in our society is Amy Poehler in her role as Joy in the children’s film Inside Out. The movie takes on some of the most daunting challenges that many children face: moving away from a safe, happy life they love to the unknown. It examines the core emotions that many of us feel in a way that is accessible to children and ultimately speaks towards the value sadness has in shaping some of our memories and making them more meaningful.
Amy Poehler’s star role in this movie helps both children and adults see that although joy is a driving emotion in life, it is okay to not feel it all the time. It also shows that it is okay to reach out for support when it’s needed. Many psychologists are in awe of how this simple children’s movie dives deep into the realm of developmental psychology and pulls out meaningful conclusions that the general public can wrap their arms around.
Many leading psychologists use the movie as a means of teaching aspiring students some of the basics of the profession. Some even use it in their practice to help patients better understand and validate their own emotions. By doing so, psychologists can help patients find healthy outlets to express their emotions instead of relying on angry outbursts, withdrawals from social situations, and feelings of anxiety. The power of this movie will be felt for generations.
Voice actresses are some of the most impressive professionals in the film industry. These leading ladies have played profoundly important and inspirational roles that help people see and connect with some of the most significant cultural issues of our age. Their powerful roles will continue to influence and shape our views well into the future.