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Michaela Jill Murphy
Michaela Jill Murphy
from Wikipedia

Michaela Jill Murphy (born August 18, 1994), also known by her stage name Jessie Flower, is an American voice actress. She is best known for voicing Toph Beifong in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Chaca in Kronk's New Groove and The Emperor's New School.

Key Information

Early life

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Murphy was born in Southern Indiana and is of Irish descent.[1][2] She became interested in acting at the age of four, and her mother, Evette, moved them to Los Angeles to begin her career,[2] where she appeared in commercials for Barbie and Mitsubishi. She starred as an orphan in Oliver! when she was five.[3]

Career

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Murphy at Anime North in 2009

Murphy played the role of Chaca in Kronk's New Groove,[4] and reprised the role in the spin-off series The Emperor's New School. She later called it the "most fun" voice acting she has ever done.[3]

In 2005, Murphy voiced Meng in an episode of the Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.[5] Her performance convinced creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino to cast her as main cast member Toph Beifong because of the "energy" she brought to the role. Murphy later told The Tab that she continued voicing Toph until her first year in high school and called the role her favorite voice acting experience[3] and said she felt "pretty connected" to Toph's character,[6] although she was only eleven years old when she was cast.[7] She would also describe the second-season episode "The Library" as one of her favorite episodes in the series.[8]

Murphy later admitted that she is rarely recognized in public, even when cosplaying as Toph at San Diego Comic-Con without any recognizing her as the voice actor of Toph.[6] She later appeared as a guest on the official companion podcast for the series, Avatar: Braving the Elements, hosted by Dante Basco and Janet Varney, where she would talk about Toph and what the character "meant to her," with Basco describing Murphy as a "dear friend" and praising Toph's character.[9][10] In a 2023, Murphy said that while she would "love to come back and do stuff" for the franchise, she supported the vision of the show's creators, including possible recasting.[11][12]

She would voice other characters in animated films and series after Avatar: The Last Airbender. This included the character Peggy in Random! Cartoons (2008-2009), young Franny in the film Meet the Robinsons (2007), and other characters in the film Curious George (2006),[5] along with Chaca in The Emperor's New School (2006) and The Emperor's New Groove 2: Kronk's New Groove (2005).[13]

In 2014, Murphy guest-starred in The Legend of Korra as Toph's daughter Suyin Beifong.[5][4] It was later described as helping lay the groundwork of Suyin's "personality while also paying tribute to her original role."[14]

Murphy became an assistant theater manager at Yale University in fall 2014, but did not perform until the next year, joining the university's theater scene, working on a production of Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play and performing in the musical Hello Again, among other productions.[3][15] She graduated from Yale University in 2017, where she majored in a dual B.A. in Theater and Film Studies with concentrations in Playwrighting and Screenwriting.[16][17] Before that, she voiced the English dubbed voice of Eiko Carol in the World of Final Fantasy video game.[5]

In 2021, Murphy provided the voice of Nasse in the English dub of Platinum End.[18][19] The next year, she provided the voice of a minor character in the English dubbed version of Super Cub.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

Murphy resides in Los Angeles. Murphy is openly bisexual.[20] In June 2021, she celebrated Pride Month in an Instagram post, writing, "Pride is forever... Be kind to those around you, love is love is love!... There have been many who don’t swing my way, on multiple gender fronts, and that’s okay!"[21] She broke up with her boyfriend before she began attending Yale University in 2014, and dyed her hair purple.[3]

In September 2020, Murphy founded Bandit Basics, an e-commerce platform that sells merchandise inspired by Toph Beifong and the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe.[22]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2003 Finding Nemo Additional voices Credited as Jessie Flower
2004 Spider-Man 2 ADR cast Uncredited
2005 Kronk's New Groove Chaca Credited as Jessie Flower
2006 Curious George Kid #4[5]
Akeelah and the Bee ADR cast
Over the Hedge Additional voices
The Ant Bully Uncredited
Brother Bear 2 Young Nita, additional voices Credited as Jessie Flower
Night at the Museum ADR cast
2007 Meet the Robinsons Young Franny[5]
2008 An American Affair Additional voices
2011 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never ADR cast Uncredited
That's What I Am Additional voices Credited as Jessie Flower

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2005–2008 Avatar: The Last Airbender Meng, Toph Beifong Credited as Jessie Flower[5]
2006 The X's Girl, Ghost 2 episodes; credited as Jessie Flower
2006–2008 The Emperor's New School Chaca Credited as Jessie Flower
2008 Random! Cartoons Peggy Episode: "Tiffany"
Credited as Jessie Flower[5]
2014 The Legend of Korra Young Suyin Beifong Episode: "Old Wounds"
Credited as Jessie Flower[5]
2021 Super Cub Clerk English dub
Episode: "Reiko"[5]
Platinum End Nasse English dub
Credited as Michaela Murphy
2022 Camp WWE Bianca Belair Episode: "Sicked Slaughter"
2025 Mono An Kiriyama English dub
Credited as Michaela Murphy[23]

Shorts

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2009 ATLA: Deformed Super Shorts Toph Beifong Credited as Jessie Flower[5]
2015 Recording Cassidy Credited as Michaela Murphy
2016 The Profit Diane Credited as Jessie Flower
Happy Endings Lily
2018 The Flickering Forest Forest Sprite Credited as Michaela Murphy
2021 Stalgia Kate Also director
The Letter Ellie

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth Toph Beifong[5] Credited as Jessie Flower
2008 Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno
2011 Nicktoons MLB
2016 World of Final Fantasy Eiko Carol[5] English dub, uncredited
2024 Goddess of Victory: Nikke Mirror, Red Shoes[24]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Michaela Jill Murphy (born August 18, 1994) is an American voice actress and performer best known for voicing , the blind earthbender, in the animated series from 2005 to 2008. Working under the stage name Jessie Flower during her childhood career, she provided voices for numerous animated projects, including Chaca in and young Suyin Beifong in . A graduate of , Murphy has expanded into screenwriting, producing, and live-action stage work while maintaining a significant online following through platforms where she shares insights on her career and personal views. Her portrayal of Toph, characterized by a tough, independent demeanor, has been credited with influencing fan perceptions of strong female characters in animation.

Early life

Birth and family background

Michaela Jill Murphy was born on August 18, 1994, in to mother Evette. Her biological father was largely absent from her early life, though she has met him on occasion and maintains limited family ties, including half-brothers from his side. At age four, Murphy relocated with her mother to , where she was raised primarily by Evette in a single-parent household. She has returned to to visit extended family, reflecting ongoing connections to her birthplace despite the early move.

Relocation to Los Angeles and initial exposures

Michaela Jill Murphy was born on August 18, 1994, in . At age four, she relocated to with her mother, establishing residence there. This move marked the start of her immersion in the entertainment industry, as she began pursuing acting opportunities shortly afterward. Her initial exposures included appearances in television commercials and advertisements, which served as her entry point into professional performing. By five years old, she had secured a stage role as an orphan in a production of the musical Oliver!, further building her early experience in live performance. These foundational roles exposed her to auditions, on-set environments, and basic acting techniques at a young age, laying groundwork for subsequent voice work.

Education

Pre-college development

Murphy's early education was shaped by her relocation from to at age four, where she began appearing in advertisements and developing her performing skills under her mother's guidance. To balance her burgeoning career, which included early roles starting around 2003, she was homeschooled, allowing flexibility for professional commitments while fostering her interests in and acting from a young age. This approach enabled her to prioritize empirical skill-building in performance over traditional classroom structures, reflecting a pragmatic adaptation to child labor regulations and scheduling demands in the entertainment industry. During her high school years from 2007 to 2013, Murphy attended The Buckley School, a private K-12 institution in Sherman Oaks, California, earning her . In this phase, she intentionally paused professional acting to focus on academics and recreational theater, contemplating non-entertainment paths such as or , which honed her self-discipline and broadened her intellectual pursuits beyond performance. This deliberate shift underscored her commitment to formal education as a foundation for long-term autonomy, culminating in her preparation for competitive university admission despite the financial stability her prior voice work, notably as starting at age 10, had provided.

Yale University studies

Murphy enrolled at in 2013, initially as a student focused on and sciences with aspirations to become a cardiovascular , following a planned trajectory of in her youth before transitioning to medicine. Early in her studies, she switched to a double major in Theater Studies and , driven by the recognition that creative expression was essential for her personal functioning and that a medical career conflicted with her core values. Her curriculum emphasized and playwriting concentrations, aligning with her prior background and interests in narrative development. Murphy graduated in 2017 with degrees in both Theater Studies and . She later described her Yale experience positively overall, though it involved social challenges from adapting to a student body with varied socioeconomic backgrounds and the relational strains of changing majors.

Professional career

Entry into voice acting

Michaela Jill Murphy, professionally known as Jessie Flower during her early career, transitioned into following her initial forays into on-camera commercials after relocating to at age four in 1998. Her earliest credited voice work appeared in the 2003 animated film , where she provided additional voices as one of the school fish and baby turtles. This role marked her entry into animated feature voice performance, building on prior commercial advertisements for brands like and that may have included voice elements. Subsequent early voice credits included additional voices in (2006), reflecting her growing presence in ensemble voice casts for major productions. By 2005, Murphy secured her first named television voice role as Meng in the episode "The Fortuneteller" of , an audition process that familiarized her with the series' production before her more prominent casting. These initial roles established her in the competitive field of child , leveraging her youthful and versatility in studios during the mid-2000s. Murphy's entry was facilitated by persistent auditions amid a landscape dominated by established agencies and casting directors in , where she balanced voice work with occasional live-action guest spots. Her progression from uncredited additional voices to speaking parts underscored a deliberate shift toward , aligning with the era's expansion in children's programming and CGI features.

Breakthrough role in

Michaela Jill Murphy, performing under her stage name Jessie Flower at the time, secured the role of in at age 11 following an audition featuring the character's debut fight against the wrestler known as the . Her energetic delivery in this scene, recorded in 2005 ahead of the second season's production, aligned with the creators' vision for Toph as a brash, inventive earthbender unhindered by her blindness, marking Murphy's transition from minor child roles to a lead ensemble part. The series, which aired its first season premiere on February 21, 2005, introduced Toph in the episode "The Avatar State" on March 17, 2006, positioning her as the group's earthbending prodigy and comic foil. During recording sessions from approximately 2005 to 2007, , then 11 to 13 years old, voiced Toph across 36 episodes spanning all , delivering lines that emphasized the character's gravelly tone, , and inventive techniques like metalbending's precursor inventions. This role demanded vocal versatility to convey Toph's physicality—relying on seismic sense rather than sight—without visual cues, a challenge met through intuitive phrasing honed from prior small parts in projects like (2005). Her youth contributed to an authentic portrayal of Toph's preteen defiance, with sessions often involving to capture the earthbender's irreverent banter amid the series' 61-episode run ending July 19, 2008. The performance elevated Murphy to prominence in , as Toph's arc—from escaping her overprotective parents to mastering earthbending—resonated with audiences for its unapologetic toughness, earning praise in retrospective reviews for grounding the character's feats in raw determination over sentimentality. In later interviews, Murphy reflected on channeling her own non-conformist traits into Toph, noting the role's appeal to viewers identifying with unconventional strength, though she has distanced herself from recasting discussions due to voice maturation post-puberty. This breakthrough cemented her as synonymous with one of the series' most enduring figures, influencing fan conventions and merchandise into the .

Post-Avatar projects and diversification

Following the conclusion of in 2008, Murphy continued her in overlapping projects, including the role of Chaca in through its final season that year. She also voiced young Franny in the Disney animated film , released in 2007 but extending her early career momentum. A notable return to the Avatar franchise occurred in 2012, when Murphy provided the voice for young Suyin Beifong in The Legend of Korra, appearing in episodes across its run through 2014. This role marked one of her few post-childhood voice credits in animation, reflecting a deliberate shift amid fewer opportunities in the industry for her age group at the time. To diversify beyond voice work, Murphy attended Yale University, graduating in 2017 with dual degrees in theater and film studies. This education facilitated her transition into broader performance arts, including on-camera roles and production. In 2021, she starred as Kate—protagonist navigating post-pandemic nostalgia—and made her directorial debut in the short film Stalgia. Further broadening her portfolio, Murphy has engaged in music as a singer and writing, establishing herself in as a multifaceted performer, producer, and content creator under her membership. These pursuits emphasize live performance, original content, and independent projects over traditional , aligning with her post-education focus on theater, film, and personal creative output.

Creative pursuits beyond acting

Writing and music

Murphy majored in and at , reflecting her interest in narrative development and character-driven stories. She has not actively written scripts in approximately the year and a half preceding September 2025, citing travel and professional commitments as factors, but has expressed intent to develop a 10-episode limited series set in early 1900s New Orleans, drawing stylistic inspiration from productions such as The Queen's Gambit and . In music, Murphy initiated vocal performances as a child, engaging with shows including The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, and later dabbled in musical theater following her Yale graduation. She collaborated on and released at least one original track available on Spotify. As of 2025, she produces the "Singin' on the Steps" YouTube series, consisting of acoustic covers performed outdoors, such as Tate McRae's "You Broke Me First" (July 27, 2025), Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" (July 13, 2025), and Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved" (August 3, 2025). She has voiced ambitions to release a full EP and potentially establish a music label to support other artists, though convention appearances—numbering 26 in 2025—have constrained progress.

Social media and public engagements

Michaela Jill Murphy actively engages with audiences through , sharing content on her career, music performances, and personal reflections. Her account, @michaelamostly, features over 217,000 followers and includes posts such as reels on milestones, song covers, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her creative process. On , under @michaelajillmurphy, she has approximately 266,000 followers, posting short-form videos that often reference her role as , including humorous anecdotes and fan interactions. She supplements these with content, such as music covers and interview clips, and uses to connect directly with fans through updates and live engagements. Murphy's public engagements emphasize fan conventions and media appearances, where she participates in panels, autograph signings, and discussions about her work. In October 2025, she attended to celebrate the 20th anniversary of , joining fellow cast members like for events at the Javits Convention Center. Earlier that year, she appeared at CapeCon in , from August 15 to 17, offering meet-and-greets and Q&A sessions. Upcoming scheduled events include Fan Expo from November 28 to 30, 2025, and The Nostalgia Con in New Orleans from November 21 to 23, 2025, focusing on nostalgia-driven pop culture discussions. Beyond conventions, Murphy conducts interviews highlighting her professional journey and industry insights. In a July 3, 2025, YouTube interview, she discussed her transition from child voice acting to adult pursuits, including writing and singing. Another appearance on September 9, 2024, with Toon'd In! alongside Jim Cummings covered her early obsessions and experiences with Avatar director M. Night Shyamalan's involvement. These engagements underscore her role in fostering direct communication with fans and peers, often emphasizing resilience and creative diversification akin to her iconic character portrayals.

Reception and legacy

Critical and fan acclaim

Murphy's performance as in has elicited strong fan acclaim, with enthusiasts crediting her youthful delivery—provided at age 11—for capturing the character's raw toughness, , and underlying without visual cues. Toph's introduction in the second season marked a pivotal addition to the series, amplifying its appeal through her innovative metalbending and unyielding independence, traits fans attribute in large part to Murphy's vocal interpretation. This fan enthusiasm manifests in Murphy's frequent guest appearances at conventions like Anime Lubbock and , where attendees celebrate her role in voicing one of the show's most enduring figures. Her portrayal has been described as essential to Toph's iconic status, with commentators noting that "Toph wouldn't be Toph without Michaela's powerful performance." While formal critical reviews of the series praise Toph's development as a disabled , specific commendations for Murphy's contribution remain more prevalent in fan and industry discussions than in mainstream critiques.

Industry impact and challenges faced

Murphy's portrayal of Toph Beifong in Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008) helped define the series' appeal to broader audiences by infusing the character with a gritty, irreverent vocal style that contrasted with typical child protagonists in animation at the time. Voicing Toph across 36 episodes, she captured the earthbender's defiance and resourcefulness, contributing to the show's critical acclaim and its role in demonstrating that could achieve Emmy-winning narrative complexity akin to live-action drama. This performance influenced subsequent Western animations by showcasing how voice work could elevate underrepresented traits like into symbols of empowerment without softening the character's edges. Her career trajectory also highlighted pathways for child performers to sustain relevance through diversification, as seen in her transition to roles in (2006–2008) and later pursuits in writing and music, which expanded voice acting's perceived scope beyond episodic work. By attending after her early fame—enrolling around 2012 and balancing studies with occasional projects—Murphy exemplified resilience against industry volatility, inspiring peers to pursue education as a hedge against the feast-or-famine cycle common in . Challenges in her career included the inherent limitations of voice-only performance, where conveying nuanced emotions like Toph's and required precise intonation without facial cues, a hurdle she navigated from age 10 onward. Post-Avatar, she encountered pressures and a competitive landscape marked by declining traditional animation budgets, prompting her temporary step back from Hollywood to focus on academia amid fewer child-to-adult transitions for voice talents. Additionally, evolving industry trends toward and digital tools have intensified demands for adaptability, as Murphy has noted in discussions on the myths of steady voice work versus its sporadic realities.

Personal life

Relationships and privacy

Murphy has not publicly disclosed details of any romantic relationships, marriages, or partnerships, maintaining a high degree of in this aspect of her life. Celebrity dating databases report no recorded past or current relationships, describing her status as possibly single as of the latest updates. She has occasionally shared generalized commentary on dynamics through , such as videos exploring challenges in finding compatible partners and the influence of online platforms on , without referencing personal experiences. This approach to privacy aligns with her broader public persona, where professional achievements and creative output take precedence over personal disclosures. Residing in , Murphy engages actively on platforms like and for career-related content, fan interactions, and lifestyle vlogs, but avoids intimate revelations that could invite speculation. Her attendance at events like weddings appears limited to social or professional circles, with no indications of personal involvement in such ceremonies. This deliberate separation preserves focus on her voice acting legacy and ongoing projects amid public interest in her early fame from .

Personal achievements and mindset

Michaela Jill Murphy earned a dual B.A. in Theater and from in 2017, having initially pursued pre-med before shifting to . This academic achievement marked a significant personal milestone, reflecting her ability to balance rigorous education with ongoing professional commitments in and performance. Murphy's mindset emphasizes resilience and adaptability, qualities she credits for navigating the uncertainties of a post-childhood acting career. After , she relocated multiple times— to New York for theater and short films, back to , and later to —while attending conventions and auditioning persistently amid rejections. She has highlighted hard work and authenticity as essential, stating that perseverance, akin to an "earthbending spirit," enables overcoming obstacles. In reflections on her path, Murphy expresses gratitude for challenges that fostered growth, maintaining hopefulness despite fatigue and directional ambiguity at age 27. Her approach mirrors the determined ethos of , prioritizing self-reliance and goal-oriented action over external validation. As a member engaged in singing and writing, she continues to embody a proactive stance toward personal and .

Filmography

Animated voice roles

Michaela Jill Murphy, professionally known earlier as Jessie Flower, began her voice acting career providing additional voices in animated films such as Finding Nemo (2003), Curious George (2006), Over the Hedge (2006), The Ant Bully (2006), and Brother Bear 2 (2006). Her breakthrough role came as Toph Beifong, the blind earthbender, in the Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008), where she also voiced minor character Meng. This performance, delivered when Murphy was approximately 10–13 years old, established her as a prominent child voice actress for her distinctive gravelly tone and comedic timing. Murphy voiced Chaca, the younger sister of Kuzco's sidekick Kronk, in the direct-to-video film Kronk's New Groove (2005) and the subsequent Disney series The Emperor's New School (2006–2008). She provided the voice for young Franny Robinson in the Disney animated feature Meet the Robinsons (2007). In the sequel series The Legend of Korra (2012–2014), she reprised a role in the Avatar universe by voicing the young version of Suyin Beifong. Later contributions include English dubbing for anime, such as Nasse in Platinum End (2021) and Harika Aburame in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017–2023). Murphy has accumulated over 18 credited roles across animated titles, often specializing in youthful, spirited characters.
Year(s)TitleRole
2003Finding NemoAdditional Voices
2005–2008Avatar: The Last AirbenderToph Beifong / Meng
2005Kronk's New GrooveChaca
2006–2008The Emperor's New SchoolChaca
2006Over the HedgeAdditional Voices
2006The Ant BullyAdditional Voices
2006Brother Bear 2Additional Voices
2007Meet the RobinsonsYoung Franny
2012–2014The Legend of KorraYoung Suyin Beifong
2021Platinum EndNasse

Live-action and other media

Murphy has appeared in a limited number of live-action film and television roles, primarily during her early career and in independent shorts. In the 2009 political drama , she had a supporting role as a child actress. She followed this with a part in the 2011 coming-of-age film , directed by Glenn Greene, which drew from autobiographical elements of its screenwriter's experiences. In short films, Murphy portrayed Diane, a character involved in a proselytizing scenario on a college campus, in The Profit (2016), directed by Benjy Steinberg. That same year, she played Lily in the comedy short Happy Endings. Her most recent live-action credit is the role of Kate in the 2021 short Stalgia. Early television appearances include uncredited or minor guest spots on the soap opera and the medical drama , both predating her prominence in . These roles reflect her initial forays into on-camera work as a performer before shifting focus to . Murphy has also contributed as additional crew on live-action productions like (2006), assisting in non-acting capacities.

References

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