Kristen DiMercurio

Last updated

Kristen DiMercurio, also known as Bluetooth Lady, is an American voice actress, writer and podcaster. [1] As of January 2025, she has contributed to over 8,000 voice spots for commercials, phone systems, video games and audiobooks. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

DiMercurio grew up in Hagerstown, Maryland, US. As a child, she performed in plays in converted garages and church basements. [3] She attended Emerson College in Boston, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).

Career

DiMercurio began her career on the science fiction podcast Ars Paradoxica . [4]

Since then, many people have compared her voice to virtual assistants such as Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. In a clarifying statement made upon joining TikTok on October 7, 2024, she posted a video update, disassociating herself from these technologies.[ citation needed ] She said her voice is best known with Bluetooth device messages. [5] These include the messages “Bluetooth connected", "your Bluetooth device is ready to connect”, [6] and "The Bluetooth device is connected successfully". [7] Some listeners assumed her voice was artificially generated, but in a 2024 interview she said that she and other voice-over actors are “just regular people who talk into microphones”. [2]

DiMercurio said in a 2024 interview that she likes to perform in a crew, [8] but has also said that finding the right creative troupe for many projects remains a challenge, despite social media making it easier to reach a wider audience. She contributes to both fiction and nonfiction work despite underpayments. [9]

Personal life

DiMercurio identifies as queer, a realization that came to her at a young age. [10] In a 2023 interview, she said that she has developed a sense of belonging and friends including TV hosts within the LGBTQ community. [11]

Projects

DiMercurio's work in audiobooks includes You Again, The Deja Glitch, Love Wager, Delilah Green Doesn't Care, The Savage & the Swan, Will They or Won't They?, Summer Romance, and What's in a Kiss. [12]

Her podcast work includes Ars Paradoxica , Archive 81 , Zero Hours, Greater Boston, Star Tripper, Meddling Adults, What's the Frequency?, Potterless, Join the Party, and Brimstone Valley Mall - the last of which she also wrote, produced, and directed. [13]

Awards

DiMercurio work on the audiobook Deliah Green Doesn't Care received an AudioFile Award in 2022, [14] and an Audie Award in 2023. [15]

References

  1. Vesty, Helena; Barry, Ben (2024-10-11). "Everyone recognises my voice, but nobody knows my face". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  2. 1 2 Life, Melissa Fleur Afshar; Reporter, Trends (2024-12-11). "Woman's voice keeps being mistaken for household devices: "I am not Alexa"". Newsweek. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  3. "Kristen DiMercurio". Kristen DiMercurio. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  4. "Kristen DiMercurio". The NoSleep Podcast. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  5. By Ben Barry, Laura Colgan (2024-10-12). "'I'm the voice of Bluetooth - strangers recognize my voice but not my face'". The Mirror US. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  6. "The most heard voice: Meet the woman who is the 'voice of Bluetooth'!". Vox News. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  7. Walyaula, Andrew (2024-09-29). "Who Did The Voice Of The Bluetooth Device?". KahawaTungu. Archived from the original on 2024-09-29. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  8. "Selling Your Voice on the Internet: An Interview with Kristen DiMercurio". blog.simplecast.com. 2024-10-24. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  9. "Professional Voice Actor Reveals How Much Money The Most Recognizable Voices In Their World Actually Get Paid — Including 'Siri'". YourTango. 2024-11-17. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  10. "Meet Kristen DiMercurio". canvasrebel.com. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  11. Stories, Local (2023-02-15). "Rising Stars: Meet Kristen DiMercurio". Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  12. "Audiobooks". Kristen DiMercurio. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  13. "Podcasts". Kristen DiMercurio. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  14. "AudioFile's Best Audiobooks of 2022". AudioFile Magazine.
  15. "The 2023 Audie Award winners are here". Audible Blog.