EXCLUSIVE: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Interview with Susan "Wonder Woman" Eisenberg

EXCLUSIVE: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Interview with Susan "Wonder Woman" Eisenberg

CBM's own Brent Sprecher interviews Susan Eisenberg, the voice of Wonder Woman, at the world premiere of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse from The Paley Center!

By bsprecher - Sep 25, 2010 12:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman (Animated)


When I conducted my first interview at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills prior to the world premiere of DC Entertainment's latest animated feature, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, I was afforded nearly 15 minutes to speak with acclaimed casting and dialogue director Andrea Romano. Unfortunately, the event began to run behind schedule, so I only had three minutes to chat with Susan Eisenberg, the woman who has become the definitive voice of Wonder Woman, having voiced the princess of the Amazons in over 50 episodes of the Justice League Unlimited cartoon and reprised the role for Apocalypse. Susan spoke about how working in animation is a coveted job for voice actors, and also discussed how it feels to take on such an iconic role.

BRENT SPRECHER: Hi, Brent Sprecher from ComicBookMovie.com. How are you?

SUSAN EISENBERG: I'm well, thank you.

BS: How does it feel to be the embodiment of this character that has been so famous for so long?

SE: It's thrilling. …Having been hired in 2000 to play her and to still be here, in 2010, that's extraordinary. It's extraordinary for many reasons. In this town, it's extraordinary to have a job for a long time. And, also, you know, she's so iconic, so to be associated with her…it's a privilege.

BS: Do you see yourself continuing to move forward [in animation] and to seek out more roles like this?

SE: I mean, I think actors are always seeking out roles like this. I—you know, they're gifts to get them. And I think we're always auditioning and always trying to get roles…in voiceover—I do a lot of commercial work, [which is] very different from animation—love the commercial work, but there's nothing like being in the room with Kevin [Conroy, the voice of Batman] and whoever you're working with.


BS: So, you do record your scenes with the other actors?

SE: You do. Not always. I mean, I've done with everybody, where we're all together, and I've done where I'm just by myself doing ADR [Automatic Dialogue Replacement, or "looping"], you know, for the fight scenes and all of that. But, it's very different, the commercial and the animation, but just rewarding and there's nothing like it, so I think everyone wants to do animation and everyone pursues it.

BS: When you first took the role, was it intimidating?

SE: Very.

BS: How did you approach—because she's an Amazon and she's so iconic—how did you make it so that she's not a caricature of that character?

SE: Interestingly enough, I think that one of the reasons they hired me is because when I first started playing her she wasn't bigger than life, she was this woman. She was, like, on the verge of womanhood, and I didn't have to play it as a character, if you will. She was this person, this woman who was conflicted about her powers, her mother and she were at odds about certain things, and so there were some real things to hook into that made it very real. It wasn't like this big cartooncharacter, if you will. So, I didn't have a problem with that. The material that I auditioned with originally in 2000, or 1999 even, is like real. And, of course, there is some bigger stuff, you know, like, "Let's go!" The Amazons! But it was just real human moments.

BS: Thank you.

SE: You're welcome. My pleasure.







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bsprecher
bsprecher - 9/25/2010, 12:10 PM
I had so many more questions for Susan, but they rushed her away just as I started getting rolling...
Phinehas
Phinehas - 9/25/2010, 12:20 PM
Very nice, Brent. I'm glad you talked with her. She, like Conroy for Bats, really captured the essence of an animated WW. It'd be nice if any producers and studio suits take a page or more from JL TAS.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 9/25/2010, 12:30 PM
Great interview once again Brent! And like weneedrevelation, I too am curious how you get to go to all these sorts of events and score such great interviews? Regardless of your answer, keep up the aweome work! :)
bsprecher
bsprecher - 9/25/2010, 12:47 PM
Thanks, guys! Persistence mostly. Tracking down PR people & asking for invites and then delivering good product so they invite me back to the next event. No, I'm in San Diego, but LA's only 2 hours away.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 9/25/2010, 12:57 PM
Excellent interview Brent! Great stuff.
Phinehas
Phinehas - 9/25/2010, 1:02 PM
I'm in Corona. I'm just not that motivated. lol
TheStranger
TheStranger - 9/25/2010, 1:09 PM
Even so, great work as always Brent =)
Jeri
Jeri - 9/25/2010, 2:17 PM
Heh

Ur initials are B.S
bsprecher
bsprecher - 9/25/2010, 7:12 PM
@TABOO13: Yeah, the director admitted that it should have been called Superman/Batman: Supergirl, but they changed it after seeing the poor sales for the Wonder Woman animated feature. She said that they even had to fight to get Supergirl on the DVD cover and then they only put the "skanky" version of Supergirl on it (her words).
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 9/26/2010, 8:31 AM
BRENT @ Wicked stuff dude, I liked the movie, apart from it being way to short of course! : p

GR8 interview!

bdbd10 @ I'll pass on Fashiongoods lol!
davidbatmanfan
davidbatmanfan - 9/26/2010, 12:32 PM
Great article, now only if DC & WB can make a live action wonderwomen.
Phinehas
Phinehas - 9/26/2010, 2:05 PM
No hyperbole, Brent. Whollyweird, can be one the most racist, sexist, backwards industry out there. They "think" that WonderWoman didn't sell well because she's female heroine, instead of considering the fact that they sold us packaged crap. If they spent the right amount of energy, time, and thought into an epic WW (along with some clever marketing) it could have been much much better. They are some of the worst offenders. Eisenberg's correct in her observation that they put the skanky version out to sell it. Just ridicuoous. Make a good story, and you won't have to sugar-coat it visually with skanks for other stimulation of base desires!
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