I’m Rebecca Forstadt and I’m a professional voiceover and on-camera actress.
You may have heard my voice in hundreds of English-dubbed Japanese anime films and TV series. I have extensive credits in commercials, animation, video games, audiobooks, background voices in films, and as an on-camera actor.
I am based in Los Angeles and have been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1981 but my voice is eternally young-sounding. I’m not kidding you!
How I got my start as an actress
I studied theatre in high school and college and performed in lots of plays. My first paid professional acting gig was as the heroine in melodramas at Knott’s Berry Farm’s Birdcage Theatre from 1973-1976. We did multiple shows a day. You may not know this but Dean Jones, Steve Martin, and Lauren Tewes from the “Love Boat” also got their start there.
I moved to Los Angeles in 1976 to make it as an actress and studied for a while at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, which was on Hollywood Blvd at the time.
My career and training took a detour when I was hired as a union wardrobe mistress for the TV Series The White Shadow and then later, Hill Street Blues, and Blake Edward’s feature film SOB.
I was making great money but still had the crazy idea that I wanted to be an actress so I quit and began to study at the Ossetynski Actor’s Lab. My teacher, Leonidas Osstynski, taught a combination of Jerzy Grotowski and Michael Chekov’s acting styles and had worked personally with Mr. Chekov. Our troupe also collaborated and received training by Ryszard Cieslak of the Grotowski Theatre at the Music Center in L.A.
That led me to perform in Los Angeles Equity waiver theatre productions. I received two Drama-Logue Awards for outstanding performances in the leading role of Josette for Ionesco’s Tales (with playwright Eugene Ionesco in residence) and Leonce and Lena as Lena at Stages Trilingual Theatre. Both were directed by Paul Verdier.
I earned a best supporting acting mention for my role as Bettina in Wallace Shawn’s Marie and Bruce at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in West L.A. directed by Ron Sossi. Wally came to watch our show.
In 1981 I earned my SAG card as an on-camera actress playing bit parts on Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere. Several years later, I also appeared on L.A. Law.
I starred in two feature films
My big break came when I was cast in a starring role in a film called Mugsy’s Girls, later renamed Delta Pi. I played Karen, a nerdy sorority girl and best friend of singer Laura Branigan. Eddie Deezen was my boyfriend in the film and the great actress Ruth Gordon was our housemother. Our sorority entered a mud-wrestling competition and fought some of the GLOW girls.
I was cast in a substantial role in Round Numbers starring Kate Mulgrew, Samantha Egger, Shani Wallis, and Marty Ingles playing a wacky receptionist at a high-end health spa.
How I became an anime voice actor
My natural child-like voice was perfect to play young girls in dubbed foreign films and Japanese anime so I was immediately hired to work at a recording studio called Intersound on the Sunset Strip. Most of the shows I worked on there never saw the light of day until after we recorded the TV series Robotech.
I was cast in the leading role of Minmei who was a 16-year-old singing sensation and sang on the soundtrack. It was produced by Harmony Gold and helped bring the anime genre to the forefront in the U.S. during the 1980s. Over the years, I have built an extensive resume as an anime voice actor and am considered by some to be an anime legend.
You can purchase the Robotech Complete Set DVD which I would be happy to autograph for you.
Other notable anime roles include Mihoshi in Tenchi Muyo, Tima in Metropolis, Nunnally in Code Geass, Monomi, in Danganropa, Batou’s Takikoma in Ghost in the Shell, and Sugar in Snow Fairy Sugar, and hundreds of others. Original animation roles include Miss Giggles in The Mr. Men Show TV series and a guest role in Hey Arnold for Nickelodeon.
I have voiced commercials for Verizon, Mattel, Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, and many other brands. Video games include Danganropa, .Hack, and Star Ocean. In addition, I have worked on audiobooks, and background ADR for films and TV shows such as Ants, Doctor Doolittle, Beverly Hills Cop 3, The Brady Bunch Sequel, Innerspace, Cyborg, Falcon Crest, and McGyver.
I love meeting my fans at anime conventions
Over the years I have made many appearances as a special guest at anime and sci-fi conventions throughout the U.S. It’s something I love to do and I also enjoy traveling. If you are looking for a guest to appear at your upcoming convention, you can book me through Celebworx.
I’m a digital creator
Who says you have to be young to be an influencer? I’ve been one for years, as well as a blogger for the over-50 market, and have promoted brands and created UGC videos for Omron Health, Pfizer, CVS, Walgreens, Pala Casino, Warner Bros, The Nature Conservancy, and a slew of others. I am also an Amazon influencer and a Los Angeles travel YouTuber.