Meet Jennifer Sims | Voice Actor, On-Camera Actor & Voice Over Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Sims and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I don’t think of risk as something typically dramatic. It’s more about staying aligned with my Creative vision and goals.

In this industry, one of the biggest risks can be staying in situations that no longer serve you or reflect your value just because they feel familiar.

A real turning point for me was stepping away from an 8-year coaching relationship after I requested my full rate be restored following a long-term “temporary” reduction. That request ended the relationship, and the way it was handled felt unprofessional and disrespectful, which made it very clear I needed to reassess what I was willing to accept moving forward.

As difficult as that was, it reinforced something important: it’s a bigger risk to stay in environments that aren’t aligned than it is to leave them.

Since then, I’ve been more intentional about how I structure my work. In my coaching, I focus on helping voice actors build careers that are not just about getting opportunities, but sustaining them in a way that feels grounded, skilled, and self-respecting.

So now risk feels less like taking big leaps into the unknown and more like taking a stand for my own worth and values.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work spans voiceover, on-camera acting, and coaching, which keeps me working inside the industry while also teaching people how it actually functions in real time.

As an actor in both VO and on-camera, I stay close to what’s actually happening in the industry, which is important because my coaching isn’t theoretical. I also worked as an ad agency producer, so I understand what’s happening on both sides of the glass. I find that this perspective is really valuable to both my VO clients as well as my students.

In coaching, I focus on not only the creative side of the business but also on building a sustainable career. I help students become adaptable so they’re not constantly starting their careers over as the industry continues to shift.

I’m also part of the Building Doors campaign, advocating for more opportunities for women in voiceover in traditionally male-dominated spaces. The business case is pretty simple: women drive 70-80% of purchasing decisions worldwide, so overlooking that audience is leaving a lot of money on the table.

I’ve also formalized my work under Smarty Pants Productions as an umbrella for acting, coaching, and creative work. I think of it as the official version of my tagline: Actor / Storyteller / Smarty Pants.

I’m a voiceover and on-camera actor, and a coach, and I help people stay grounded, stay working, and build careers that hold up in an industry that loves to change the rules mid-game.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my out-of-town Bestie was visiting me in Los Angeles, here’s where we’d go:

Coffee: M Street (Studio City) or Dayglow (Silver Lake)—pilot season vs “I know a photographer.”

Sushi: Asanebo (Studio City) IYKYK This place is a Sushi Row institution!

Beach Cafe: Paradise Cove Cafe (Malibu) Being served lunch at your table on the sand, sooo LA.

Hike: Fryman Canyon (Studio City) You are gonna see lots of people walking/talking with a script in their hands.

Rooftop Drinks: CaraCara (Downtown Los Angeles) The view. The vibe.

Entertainment: Dynasty Typewriter (Hollywood) Curated comedy. Very “industry adjacent.”

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is really to the VO community, as a whole. And honestly, if you know me, you know I won’t shut up about the awesome VO community.

Agents, casting, engineers, clients—everyone I get to creatively collaborate with to make the work happen, and who reminds you pretty quickly that this is a team sport.

I want to shout out my fellow Door Builders and BuildingDoorsVO. It’s a privilege to be part of a group that’s actively pushing for more access and opportunity for women in this industry.

I’ve also really appreciated how generous other coaches are with their expertise. People share ideas pretty freely, and there’s not much gatekeeping, which isn’t always what people expect.

And I’m always really grateful for my coaching students. They bring so much heart and curiosity to the work, and it’s genuinely inspiring to watch them grow.

Website: https://www.thejennsims.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejennsims/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejennsims/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thejennsims

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejennsims

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejennsims

Image Credits
Noelle Romano
Dana Patrick
Mariposa Pictures
Mike Garcia
Joanna Degeneres