Kathleen McInerney

Veronica Taylor may be best known for playing characters on various animated series--a gig she got through an acting coach. Fans of anime, or Japanese cartoon series, would probably recognize her work, as she was attached to one of the most popular titles to cross stateside during the '90s: "Pokémon." She played Ash Ketchum, a trainer and collector of magical creatures (which the title refers to) who has a resilient personality; in interviews, she said voicing him was enjoyable because of his low, husky-sounding voice, which is full of energy and excitement. Her involvement with the franchise included the first eight seasons of the show's American broadcast as well as direct-to-video features. During this time, she also voiced Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun, a young priestess and hero-wannabe in "Slayers," which had been one of the top series in Japan. On the non-anime front, Taylor worked on the new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series that began airing in 2003, helping bring the character of April O'Neil back to her original comic book roots as more of a partner than a damsel in distress. Taylor can also be heard in various video games.