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2023 – Vivienne Rutherford

Vivienne Rutherford played an older Ariana on Days of Our Lives. She has done episodes of 9-1-1: Lone Star, Teachers and Seal Team. She is also the voice of many characters in popular shows including Lark on Eureka! and Eva on Eva the Owlet.

1. How did you keep busy during the strike?
I started high school this year, and am in a few honors classes, so that keeps me pretty busy, but I used the time to travel, visit with family, and focus on things I love doing like circus arts, plus pick up some new skills like playing guitar.

2. What did it mean to you to go down to the picket lines and protest among your colleagues?
It was a super unifying experience. It can get lonely sometimes – especially after covid, since I don’t get to see people at auditions anymore, walking the line helps you remember that there’s a community. I really appreciated my agents showing solidarity and marching with us – and it was great to meet new people!

3. What was your time on set like filming your episode of SEAL Team?
HOT. It was over one hundred degrees that week. I’d never worked on an action project before, and it was fun to see how they do all these crazy stunts. David Boreanaz was a great director to work with. I appreciated how he made sure everyone felt safe with all the weapons and always made sure I wasn’t overheating. Also, it was hilarious to see all these people playing dead bodies looking at their phones between takes. One guy was playing solitaire and one guy actually fell asleep!

4. How do you prepare for voice over auditions compared to on camera projects?
It’s a different way of looking at the script. For on camera, I have to mark action, but with VO I have to mark what I can do with my voice, it’s a different space and a different skill. Also, I make sure to have an apple and a bottle of water in the studio with me, because they keep your mouth clean, and help me from being “clicky.”

5. You have been doing a lot of voice over work recently, do you do anything special to make each character their own?
I pay attention to what my gut says when I first look at a script, and stick with my gut as much as I can. Then it’s just where the character lives in my head, but literally in my head – like this one is placed here behind my nose, this one is in my mask, this one is rounded in the back of my head. Taking singing lessons really helps with placement and I use it a lot in VO.

6. How did you react when you found out you booked the lead role of Eva in Eva the Owlet?
I was really thrilled, because it was my first lead in an animated series. It was an audition that I felt really excited about, and felt really proud of my work. My mom handed me her phone, which was super weird and I figured it was my grandmother wanting to talk to me, but it was my agent Abbie, and I remember how she was so happy to give me the news. I was 11 then, and it was still covid-times, so we celebrated by ordering a nice dinner!

7. What is your favorite thing about playing Eva?
She’s a tad bit crazy, so it takes a lot of energy. I loved making her my own, and working with the directors and producers to shape her. And I love that all I have to do is yell “DIARY!” and I snap right back into her voice.

8. Do you have a favorite project you have been a part of this year?
I loved being the Wolf Queen in Lonely Castle in the Mirror. She was so intense, and the movie had such a great twist. And it was nice because they did an in- person premiere and I got to hang out with the directors and cast of the movie – which, when you do voiceover, that’s often the first time you meet the people you’re acting with – and even the people who directed you!

9. What are your career goals for 2024?
Now that the strike is over, I’m just excited to get back to work and auditions. It was nice to see that the minute the contract was ratified, the auditions started rolling in again!! I’m feeling so good about 2024!

Follow Vivienne on social media:
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