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Tara Strong
Tara Strong
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Tara Lyn Strong (née Charendoff; born February 12, 1973) is a Canadian and American actress.[1] She is known for her voice work in animation, websites, and video games. Strong's voice roles include animated series such as The Powerpuff Girls, The Fairly OddParents, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Teen Titans, Xiaolin Showdown, Ben 10, Drawn Together, The New Batman Adventures, Rugrats, The Proud Family, Chowder, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Unikitty!, and DC Super Hero Girls. She has also voiced characters in the video games Mortal Kombat X, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Jak and Daxter, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, Blue Dragon, and Batman: Arkham. Strong has earned Annie Award and Daytime Emmy nominations and won an award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

Key Information

Early life

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Strong was born as Tara Lyn Charendoff in Toronto, Ontario, on February 12, 1973,[2] the younger daughter of Syd and Lucy Charendoff.[3] Her parents are of Russian-Jewish ancestry, and her grandparents emigrated to Canada after fleeing pogroms in Russia.[4] Strong has called her Jewish background "a big part of her identity".[5] Her grandfather was a cantor, while her grandmother ran a catering business in Toronto's Beth Radom Congregation.[6] She has a sister.[7]

At age four, Strong became interested in acting and volunteered to be a soloist at a school production.[8] Strong worked in Yiddish Theatre in Toronto, where she memorized her lines phonetically because she did not know the Yiddish language. Strong also performed with the Toronto Jewish Theater, where she acted in A Night of Stars and was featured in an audiotape for "Lay Down Your Arms" with the Habonim Youth Choir, singing the lyrics in both English and Hebrew.[8]

Career

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Strong at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con

Strong's first professional role was Gracie in Limelight Theater's production of The Music Man at the age of 13.[8] She had a guest role in the action series T. and T. Her first major voice role, also at the age of 13, was the title role in Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater.[9] Strong starred in the short-lived CBC Television sitcom Mosquito Lake.[8] She took improv classes at The Second City in Toronto[9] and continued acting in both animated and live-action shows and films, before moving to Los Angeles in January 1994.[5][10]

Strong is the voice of numerous animated characters, including main roles in The New Batman Adventures as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go! as Raven; Fillmore! as Ingrid Third; The Fairly OddParents as Timmy Turner (Strong took over the role after the suicide of the original voice actress Mary Kay Bergman—the two were close friends[11]) and Poof; Rugrats and All Grown Up! as Dil Pickles; The Powerpuff Girls as Bubbles; Ben 10 as Ben Tennyson, Upgrade, Blitzwolfer, and Buzzshock; Chowder as Truffles; Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends as Terrence; the singing voice of Meg Griffin and additional voices on Family Guy; My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic as Twilight Sparkle, Unikitty! as the titular princess, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! as Daizy, and Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz as Joanni.

While recording lines for her role as Dil in Rugrats, one scene's script for Strong's character prompted her to make crying noises. During the taping, the producers suddenly paused and revealed to Strong that her voice acting of a child had been so realistic that she had inadvertently made a woman in the studio lactate. As the role was otherwise going to be offered to Madonna, Strong subsequently quipped that she was proud that the incident led to her keeping the role.[12][13]

She has also lent her voice to English-dubbed localizations of Japanese anime such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, as well as several video games, including her work as Elisa and Ursula in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops; Paz Ortega Andrade in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain; Rikku in Final Fantasy X, its sequel Final Fantasy X-2, and Kingdom Hearts II; Krista Sparks in Twisted Metal: Head-On; Talwyn Apogee in Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and its sequel, Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty; Keira in Jak and Daxter series; and Juliet Starling, the main character of Lollipop Chainsaw. She also has a minor voiceover for the teddy bear Ted in the motion picture Ted. In Blue Dragon, she is the voice actress for Kluke for the Xbox 360 game, but not in the anime series.[14]

Beginning with the video game Batman: Arkham City, Strong would also succeed Arleen Sorkin as the voice of Harley Quinn.

She has appeared in live roles in National Lampoon's Senior Trip, Sabrina Goes to Rome, Sabrina Down Under, and The Last White Dishwasher. She also made guest appearances on such shows as Forever Knight, Street Legal, Touched by an Angel, Take Home Chef, Party of Five, Comic Book: The Movie, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, 3rd Rock from the Sun and The Drew Carey Show.[15] In January 2013, she voiced the character Plum in Cartoon Hangover's Bravest Warriors, created by Pendleton Ward. She recurred as Miss Collins in Nickelodeon's live-action series Big Time Rush from 2010 to 2013.[16]

In 2004, she won an Interactive Achievement Award for her role as Rikku in Final Fantasy X-2.[17][18] She also served as the announcer for the 1999 Kids' Choice Awards, appeared as a guest panelist at several fan conventions (including BotCon, Jacon, Comic-Con International, and Anime Overdose), and was featured on the front cover of the July/August 2004 issue of Working Mother magazine, in which she said, "My son is now old enough to respond to my work. To me, that's what it is all about."[19] Strong has been nominated five times for Annie Awards.[20][21][22][23]

In 2013, Strong won the Shorty Award for "Best Actress" for her use of social media.[24] The Behind the Voice Actors website selected her for a BTVA Voice Acting Award for Voice Actress of the Year for 2013,[25] having nominated her for 2011 and 2012.[26][27]

Strong starred in the Canadian series Pretty Hard Cases as Tiggy Sullivan, the head of a drug trafficking gang. She also voices Miss Minutes in the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe series Loki.[28]

Personal life

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In 1999, Strong met American real estate agent and former actor Craig Strong.[2][29] The couple married on May 14, 2000, and have two sons named Sammy (b. February 2002) and Aden (b. August 2004).[30] They lived in Los Angeles and were formerly the owners of VoiceStarz, an online company that taught people how to get into the voice-over business.[31] On July 24, 2019, she filed for divorce,[32] which was finalized on January 5, 2022.[33] That same year, she started dating social media entrepreneur Willie Morris, who runs Happy Goat Farm, a farmland based in Yosemite.[34]

Activism

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In 2012, during the BronyCon event in New Jersey, she attended a lunch with fans from the military.[35] In 2013, she was involved with a charity group called Bronies for Good, helping them raise funds for a family whose daughter had a brain tumour.[5][36]

In July 2019, Strong participated in a Lights for Liberty demonstration in Los Angeles, which protested Donald Trump's immigration policy.[37]

Strong has been a vocal supporter of Israel since the 2023 October 7 attacks.[38][39][40] She was fired from the independent animated series Boxtown after she liked several anti-Palestinian tweets and a tweet that equated all Muslims to Hamas and ISIS, and shared a screenshot from the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), which claimed Hamas would take over the world.[41][42] Bandit Mill Animation, the studio behind Boxtown, issued a statement explaining that "This decision was due to a trend among Tara's recent online activity, including posts that promote controversial messages regarding the peoples of Palestine currently being affected by the ongoing Israel-Palestine crisis... This was not a difficult decision."[42]

In March 2024, Strong signed an open letter denouncing filmmaker Jonathan Glazer's Oscar speech for The Zone of Interest, in which he criticized Israel's actions in the Gaza war.[43]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

Tara Lyn Strong (née Charendoff; born February 12, 1973) is a Canadian-American actress specializing in voice-over work for animated television series, films, and video games.
Strong launched her professional career at age 13 in Toronto, securing roles in television, film, and musical theater, including her first lead in the Canadian series The Diary of Evelyn Lau, before relocating to Los Angeles amid seismic activity.
Renowned for her vocal range, she has portrayed over 500 characters, among the most prominent being Bubbles in The Powerpuff Girls, Timmy Turner in The Fairly OddParents, Raven in Teen Titans, and Twilight Sparkle in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
Her contributions have garnered recognition, including the 2004 Interactive Achievement Award for her performance as Rikku in Final Fantasy X-2 and the 2013 Shorty Award for excellence in social media engagement as an actress.
In recent years, Strong has encountered professional repercussions, such as recasting in an upcoming project, stemming from her outspoken support for Israel during the Israel-Hamas conflict, highlighting tensions in the entertainment industry over geopolitical stances.

Early life

Upbringing in Toronto

Tara Lyn Charendoff was born on February 12, 1973, in , , to Syd and Charendoff, who operated a convenience, toy, and candy store called , with Syd also working as a . She was the younger daughter, raised alongside her older sister Marla in a close-knit environment. Strong grew up in an observant Jewish household, attending and singing in the children's at her local , where family traditions included maintaining a kosher kitchen, lighting on Friday nights, and observing seders. Her grandfather served as a , while her grandmother and mother contributed to the catering operations at Toronto's Beth Radom Congregation. The family's Jewish heritage was shaped by historical traumas, including the loss of half its members in and her grandmother's efforts to rescue five sisters from Russian pogroms by facilitating their emigration to the . This upbringing instilled a strong sense of cultural identity and respect for tradition, reinforced by experiences such as participating in the at age 16, which involved touring in and singing at sites like Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Initial acting and education

Strong first demonstrated an interest in performing at age four by volunteering as a soloist in a school production, which ignited her passion for acting. Her professional career commenced at age 13, when she secured roles in -based , and musical theater productions. Her earliest professional voice roles began in the late 1980s, including voicing Bridget in the 1987–1988 animated series Sylvanian Families, one of her first recorded credits. In 1987, Strong obtained her first leading role in animation, voicing the title character in the Canadian-American-Japanese series , marking her entry into . This opportunity followed her acceptance into a performing arts school around the same age, where she honed her skills through formal training. Strong supplemented her early experience with classes in improv and sketch comedy at in , which she pursued alongside her burgeoning roles. Upon completing high school, she gained admission to multiple colleges offering programs, though she prioritized professional commitments over further formal enrollment. These foundational experiences in theater and voice work laid the groundwork for her transition to and expanded animation opportunities in the late and 1990s.

Professional career

Breakthrough in animation (1990s–2000s)

Strong's entry into American animation occurred in the early following her move to , where she secured guest and recurring voice roles in series such as (1989–1991), voicing characters like Claire Brewster, and Piggsburg Pigs! (1990), as Dotty. These early appearances built on her prior Canadian work, including the lead in (1987), but marked her initial forays into U.S. production. A pivotal role came in 1998 with Bubbles in , an original series created by that premiered on November 18, 1998, and ran until 2005. Strong's portrayal of the high-pitched, optimistic superpower trio member highlighted her for youthful, energetic characters, contributing to the show's critical and commercial success, including multiple Emmy nominations. This performance is widely regarded as her breakthrough, establishing her as a go-to talent for animated leads amid the era's boom in children's programming. Around the same time, she voiced Dil Pickles in starting with the 1998 feature film , expanding her presence in properties. Entering the 2000s, Strong landed the starring role of Timmy Turner in , a animated series that debuted on March 30, 2001, and continued through 2017, amassing over 150 episodes. Her depiction of the mischievous boy with fairy godparents further cemented her versatility in comedic, child-protagonist voices, aligning with the network's emphasis on long-running hits. Additional key credits included Barbara Gordon/ in The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999) and in (2003–2006), the latter introducing a more subdued, introspective tone to her portfolio within DC Comics adaptations. These roles, spanning , , and , underscored her rapid ascent during a decade of expanding demand driven by growth.

Major roles in television and film

Strong voiced the optimistic and bubbly character Bubbles, one of the three superhero sisters, in the Cartoon Network animated series , which aired from 1998 to 2005. She also originated the voice of Timmy Turner, the young protagonist who uses magical fairy godparents, in 's long-running series , spanning 2001 to 2017. Additional early television credits include Dil Pickles, the infant brother in the series , starting from the character's introduction in 2000. In the DC Comics animated adaptation Teen Titans (2003–2006), Strong provided the voice for Raven, the stoic, half-demon sorceress and team member dealing with emotional suppression and supernatural heritage. She reprised the role in the direct-to-video film Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006) and later in the theatrical release Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018). Strong further portrayed Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) in the R-rated animated feature Batman: The Killing Joke (2016), which adapts the graphic novel exploring the Joker's origin and Batgirl's paralysis. Strong delivered the voice of , the studious unicorn-turned-alicorn princess and central protagonist, in Hasbro's : Friendship is Magic television series from 2010 to 2019. She reprised the character in the animated film : The Movie (2017), where Twilight leads a quest to save her homeland from an ancient evil. Earlier, Strong returned as Bubbles for the theatrical adaptation (2002), depicting the origin of the superpowered girls created by Professor Utonium.

Video game and other media contributions

Tara Strong has voiced characters in over 180 video games, spanning major franchises in action, adventure, and fighting genres. Her performances often emphasize versatile emotional range, from manic energy to youthful determination, contributing to immersive storytelling in interactive media. Strong's breakthrough in video games came with roles in DC Comics adaptations, including Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) in Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (2003). She later portrayed Harley Quinn across the Batman: Arkham series, debuting as the character in Batman: Arkham City (2011), reprising the role in Batman: Arkham Origins (2013) and Batman: Arkham Knight (2015), where her delivery captured the antiheroine's chaotic psyche. In other franchises, she voiced in Final Fantasy X-2 (2003), providing the English dub for the agile thief character. Strong also lent her voice to in Ben 10: Protector of Earth (2007), Keira Hagai in Jak X: Combat Racing (2005), and Talwyn Apogee in Future: Tools of Destruction (2007) and subsequent entries. More recent contributions include in Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time (2020), in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (2019), and a reprisal of in : Kill the (2024). These roles demonstrate her ongoing demand in high-profile titles blending narrative depth with gameplay. Beyond video games, Strong has provided voices for web-based content and mobile apps tied to her animated series, such as interactive elements in digital media, though these remain secondary to her core portfolio.

Recent projects (2010s–present)

In the , Strong expanded her portfolio with lead roles in major animated franchises. She voiced , the studious unicorn-turned-alicorn protagonist, in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, which aired from October 2010 to October 2019 across nine seasons, totaling 221 episodes. This role contributed to the series' global popularity, including spin-offs like Equestria Girls. She also reprised Bubbles in the reboot, which ran for three seasons from 2016 to 2019, maintaining the character's high-pitched, optimistic persona amid updated storytelling. Strong continued voicing Raven in Teen Titans Go!, a comedic spin-off that premiered in 2013 and has produced over 300 episodes as of 2025, emphasizing the character's deadpan sarcasm and emotional depth. In DC Comics adaptations, she portrayed in video games such as Batman: Arkham City (released November 2011), where the character served as a key antagonist, and Batman: Arkham Knight (June 2015), voicing both Harley and Dr. Harleen Quinzel in narrative-driven sequences. She also voiced Batgirl/Barbara Gordon in the animated film Batman: The Killing Joke (July 2016), delivering a performance noted for its portrayal of the hero's vulnerability during a pivotal origin event. Into the 2020s, Strong diversified into live-action series voice work, providing the Southern-accented, clock-faced AI Miss Minutes in Marvel's Loki, appearing in season 1 (June 2021) and season 2 (October 2023), where the character exhibits obsessive loyalty to the Time Variance Authority. She contributed additional voices to video games including MultiVersus (May 2022), a platform fighter featuring DC and Warner Bros. characters, and The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle expansion (June 2022). Other credits include Unikitty in Unikitty! (2017–2019), a manic positive unicorn cat in 39 episodes.
Her recent output reflects sustained demand for her versatile range, with over 100 credits post-2010 across , gaming, and hybrid media, often involving chaotic or youthful female archetypes.

Controversies and public statements

Boxtown dismissal (2023)

In October 2023, shortly after the Hamas-led attacks on on , Tara Strong, who had voiced a character in the independent Boxtown produced by Bandit Mill Animation, shared multiple posts on X (formerly ) expressing strong support for , condemning as terrorists, and highlighting the attacks' brutality, including references to beheaded babies and calls to "stand with ." On October 16, 2023, Bandit Mill announced that Strong had been recast in her role, citing her recent comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict as the reason for the decision, emphasizing that the move was not due to her Jewish heritage but to maintain the project's creative direction amid public backlash to her statements. Strong responded publicly on X, stating she had learned of her dismissal through notifications and alleging it was "for being Jewish," framing the recasting as antisemitic rather than a response to her pro-Israel advocacy. The incident drew divided reactions, with some outlets and commentators portraying Strong's posts as inflammatory or one-sided on the conflict, potentially alienating collaborators sensitive to Palestinian perspectives, while others viewed the studio's action as yielding to ideological pressure against expressions of Jewish solidarity post-October 7. Bandit Mill did not specify further details on the recast process or replacement actor, and Boxtown remained in development as an indie project without a confirmed release date at the time. Following the terrorist attacks on on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages, Tara Strong publicly expressed solidarity with . On October 8, 2023, she posted on condemning the "barbaric terrorist attack" and mourning "innocent lives lost, Palestinian and Jewish," while praying for peace and an end to the violence. Strong, who is Jewish and has described her heritage as central to her identity, later elaborated in interviews that her statements stemmed from personal connections to and opposition to as a terrorist organization. Strong's posts drew significant backlash, including accusations of Islamophobia after she reportedly liked tweets equating Hamas and with broader Islamic threats, such as one stating " is a real, to the West." In response, Strong clarified on X (formerly ) that her criticism targeted "the terrorist org ," not generally, and emphasized that opposition to should be universal. Online criticism proliferated on platforms like , where users labeled her comments as equating with all and called for boycotts of her work. The backlash culminated in Strong's dismissal from the independent animated series Boxtown, a project she had helped develop, announced on October 17, 2023. The studio, Bandit Mill Animation, stated the decision was due to her "recent comments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict," citing concerns over the posts' impact on the production. Strong learned of the firing via social media and publicly claimed it was "for being Jewish," framing it as antisemitic retaliation for her pro-Israel stance. The incident drew support from pro-Israel and Jewish communities, who praised her resilience amid what they viewed as industry intolerance for outspoken defenses of Israel. In subsequent discussions, such as a May 2025 podcast appearance, Strong reiterated that her tweet—expressing grief over the attacks—triggered the professional fallout, attributing it to broader cultural pressures against Jewish voices supporting 's . No further professional repercussions were reported by late 2025, and Strong continued advocating for Israel, including statements that had "brainwashed the " into sympathizing with . Her experience highlighted tensions in the entertainment industry, where vocal pro-Israel positions post- often faced amplified scrutiny compared to opposing views.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Tara Strong married Craig Strong, a former and , on May 14, 2000, after meeting him in 1999. The couple had two sons together: , born in February 2002, and . Strong filed for divorce on July 24, 2019, with the dissolution finalized on January 5, 2022, after more than two decades of marriage. Neither party has publicly disclosed specific reasons for the separation. Post-divorce, Strong has maintained involvement in co-parenting her sons, as indicated by her social media references to family dynamics without detailing private arrangements.

Religious background and philanthropy

Tara Strong was raised in an observant Jewish family in , , where formed a central aspect of her upbringing. Her grandfather served as a , and her mother and grandmother operated a business that supported the local Jewish community. She attended Hebrew and participated in her synagogue's children's choir, performing monthly on the first of each month. Strong has described her as integral to her life, regularly observing traditions such as Chanukah and wearing a necklace as a public symbol of her faith. In her philanthropic efforts, Strong has focused on causes benefiting children, including those facing serious illnesses. In 2012, she organized the Kiki's Treatment Fund raffle to support six-year-old Kiki Havivy, who was battling a , resulting in global donations that funded her medical care before her passing later that year. She has also advocated for anti-bullying initiatives, , and , leveraging her presence to solicit contributions—such as urging her followers to donate one dollar each, potentially raising up to $500,000 for select charities. Additional donations include support for creative projects aiding young artists with health challenges, like a 2019 contribution to McKinley Haven's senior film production team at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Recognition and legacy

Awards and industry impact

Tara Strong has received multiple nominations for prestigious awards in and , including five Annie Awards for outstanding in television productions, such as for her role as Bubbles in (2001) and Timmy Turner in (2004). She has also earned Daytime Emmy nominations, notably in 2006 for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks. These recognitions highlight her versatility across childlike and adolescent character voices, though she has not secured wins in these categories. Among her wins, Strong received the 2004 D.I.C.E. Award (from the ) for Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance, recognizing her contributions to voice work. In 2011, she won Best Voice Actress at the for her portrayal of in Batman: Arkham City. Additional honors include the 2013 Shorty Award for Best Actress in social media for engaging fans online, and a 2019 NAVGTR Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a New Voice Game. She also shared in the 2013 Action on Film International Film Festival's Outstanding Cast Performance award for Police Guys. Strong's industry impact stems from her prolific output, amassing over 600 credits in , video games, and other media, which has elevated the visibility and demands of voice performance roles. Her iconic portrayals, such as in , in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, and across DC properties, have influenced character archetypes in Western and gaming by demonstrating a wide from innocent to manic. As a mentor through platforms like Voicelings, she has trained emerging actors in competitive casting and industry navigation, contributing to amid shifts like . Her advocacy for performers' rights, including payments for ongoing use of voices, underscores practical influences on labor standards in .

Cultural influence and fan reception

Tara Strong's voice work has significantly shaped animation fandoms, particularly through her portrayal of in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic from 2010 to 2019, which contributed to the emergence and growth of the "brony" —adult fans, predominantly male, who engaged with the series via fan conventions, art, and online communities starting around 2011. Her embodiment of the character's intellectual and earnest traits resonated with viewers, fostering a dedicated following that extended the franchise's appeal beyond its traditional child audience and influenced derivative media like fan animations and merchandise. Fans have received Strong's performances with widespread acclaim for her vocal versatility and emotional depth, as seen in her interactions at conventions where she describes the events as opportunities to "give back" to appreciative audiences, often surprising them with character impressions. Online communities, including discussions, frequently praise her as one of the most talented voice actors in the series, highlighting roles like alongside her broader portfolio in shows such as and . This reception underscores her status as a staple of nostalgic pop culture, with fans citing her contributions to childhood memories across multiple generations. Strong's direct engagement with fans, including playful provocations and appearances at like Comic-Con, has amplified her cultural footprint, encouraging and voice mimicry of her characters while building personal loyalty among enthusiasts. Her affinity for the brony community, expressed through endorsements of military fans and convention panels, further solidified her role as a bridge between creators and grassroots fandoms.

References

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