Meet Mallory French | Voice Actor

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

Hi Mallory, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up all over the South—Montgomery, Memphis, Tampa, and Nashville were the big ones—but I spent most of my time in Thompson’s Station, TN. My dad’s jobs relocated us every 4 years or so, but as houses and home states changed, I was fascinated by the sounds in my ever changing environment. My formative years were spent visiting zoos a lot, resulting in an odd talent of mimicking animal noises. At home, my brother and I would become so immersed in our video games and their stories that we would mute the TV to create our own voices for the characters. Eventually, I added sound effects to my repertoire and by high school I had curated a collection of sounds that were great at talent shows, but otherwise went unused. My weirdest talent ended up being my foot in the door for so much of the work I do today. I stumbled into theater in high school as an outlet for these noises. This later led me to pursue my BA in Theater at Bethel University, a small school in an even smaller town in West Tennessee. Tiny theaters are incredible—they provide numerous opportunities to grow and gain experience—and I was fortunate enough to try on many different hats to discover my strengths. I was able to dig deeper into the performing arts, experiment with scenic art, and even direct casts of over 50 actors, among many other roles. Today, I’m a voice actor that manages and narrates for The Minimalists Podcast and I hope to create the next generation of voices for video games.

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.
From as far back as I can remember, video games sparked my first interest in voice acting. I enjoyed voicing over characters and creating sound effects back when gaming graphics were blocky and most characters didn’t even speak yet. All I knew is that I was a weird kid that was good at crazy voices and animal noises, so theater seemed to be the most appropriate outlet for me. After completing my BA in Theater with a minor in Music at Bethel University, I enjoyed a variety of roles in plays and musicals, but something still felt missing. I could turn heads at an audition with this special skill on my resume but despite startlingly convincing dog barks and baby cries, there was rarely a place for it on stage, so a lot of sounds went unused for years. After spending five years in the Nashville area, I eventually branched out to Champaign, IL to grad school shop for another four years. I enjoyed being within arms reach of Chicago for dance workshops while I debated whether a Master’s Degree in Acting or Opera would complete me. My introduction to voice acting actually came after an unexpected job opportunity. I took a risk and applied for a position as Studio Manager for The Minimalists Podcast and the next thing I knew, I had donated most of my belongings and moved to Los Angeles with my cat and everything that fit in my car. Soon after, my role evolved into a narration opportunity to introduce more vocal variety on the show. My background was all in live performance—truthfully, I was more afraid of the permanence of recording my voice than performing in front of giant crowds—but I was given the opportunity to become the voice for listener questions. This and the kind encouragement from our fans was finally what helped me overcome that dreaded feeling of hearing my own voice in playback. If something scares you: do it. Plunging into the unknown may bring you to meet a challenge you never imagined you could conquer. Spending months away from my husband on the other side of the country fresh after our wedding while I pivoted into a new career was the most challenging and terrifying chapter of my life, but the discomfort helps me grow more than I ever could have fathomed. Now I embrace all the sounds of my voice and I get to use it to help millions of listeners heal their relationships with stuff, people, money, and more. I look forward to going back to the beginning by becoming characters that will eventually be a part of someone else’s cherished video game.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
While I’m happy to indulge friends in the typical tourist attractions, I enjoy the little gems that are hidden all over the city. Venice Skatepark is what pulls me to the beach more than the ocean—I’m more of a woods and mountains gal—but I love to watch the talented skaters in person. In the summer, I head over to Castaic Lake for Boat Cinema to watch movies on the beach. They show everything from 80’s cult classics to exciting new films. If you enjoy Halloween, House of Spirits is a spooky cocktail soiree and my go-to for a scary good time. For the winter season, I can’t recommend snowboarding up at Big Bear enough. I’m terrible at it and I still have a blast. LA has some incredible spots for hiking as well, but a quick and easy one to bring my dog and a newbie to is the trail at Laurel Canyon Park. I’m not big into shopping but I love looking at pretty, old things. To get my fix, I visit Unique Vintage to check out some of the most incredible designs that perfectly blend vintage styles with modern prints and themes. You’ll often find me popping into the Goodwill and The Salvation Army for unique secondhand furniture and clothes because you never know what you’ll find. LA has so many great coffee shops around every corner, but one of my favorites I like to swing by for a sweet treat is The Ugly Mug in Burbank. If I’m looking to take someone out for dinner, I’m taking them to Joon Shabu Shabu in Glendale. I enjoy cooking, so the experience of preparing my own meal to taste in a cool dining atmosphere is one I love sharing with others. And of course, if you love to laugh, we’re definitely going to The Comedy Store!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I will always be grateful to my husband and parents for their undying love and support, but I wouldn’t be in Los Angeles without The Minimalists. Joshua and Ryan, you have been an incredible inspiration to me over the years and have become the best bosses and friends anyone could ask for. Thank you for your encouragement, laughter, and light that makes me look forward to coming to work every day.

Website: www.ladyjackalope.com

Instagram: @ladyjackalopevo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallory-french-97151521b/

Image Credits
Danny Martinez, Audra Benson, Cory Aycock