Tajja Isen

Last updated

Tajja Isen
Tajja Isen 2022 Texas Book Festival.jpg
Isen at the 2022 Texas Book Festival
Born
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Writer
  • editor
  • actor
Years active1997–present
Relatives Nissae Isen (sister)

Tajja Isen is a Canadian writer, editor, and actress. Her first book, the essay collection Some of My Best Friends: Essays on Lip Service, was published in April 2022. [1] As an actress, she is best known for voicing the title character Atomic Betty. She has several other voice credits, including Samantha in Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure , Sister Bear in the 2002 revival of The Berenstain Bears , Pipsqueak in The ZhuZhus , Princess Pea/Presto in the PBS Kids show Super Why! , Jane in Jane and the Dragon, Jodie in Time Warp Trio , Franny's singing voice in Franny's Feet , and Jazzi in The Save-Ums! .

Contents

Early life

Isen was born in Toronto, the oldest of five children to Karen, who is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and Jordie Isen. Her younger sister, Nissae is also a voice actress. [2]

Career

At 10 years old, she began her voice acting career with the 2002 revival of The Berenstain Bears , where she voiced Sister Bear. Before that, she was a huge fan of the books and watched videos of the 1985 series. [3] At the age of 9, she portrayed Young Nala in a Toronto stage production of Disney's The Lion King [3] and was nominated for an Equity Emerging Artist Award for that role. [4]

Her first book, Some of My Best Friends: Essays on Lip Service, was published in 2022 by Atria/One Signal and Doubleday Canada. [5] She was the editor-in-chief of Catapult magazine. [6]

Discography

Selected filmography

Animation

List of voice performances in animation

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002–03 The Berenstain Bears Sister Bear
2002–06 The Save-Ums! Jazzi
2003–07 JoJo's Circus Trina Tightrope/Princess JosephinaMain role (Trina)
2005–08 Franny's Feet Lacey/Franny (singing voice)2 episodes/singing voice in the theme song
2004–08 Atomic Betty Betty Barrett/Atomic Betty (title role)78 episodes
2005–06 Time Warp Trio Jodieepisodes 20–26, voiced by Sarah Gadon from 1–14 (earlier)
2005–06 Jane and the Dragon Jane (title role)26 episodes
2005–07 Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends Lil Sis4 episodes
2005–08 Miss BG BG (singing voice)Opening and closing songs
2006 Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks Pony52 episodes
2007–16 Super Why! Princess Pea/Presto
2010–2011 Pirates: Adventures in Art Princess CleoMain role
2011–2023 Mia and Me Yuko26 episodes
2011–12 My Big Big Friend NessaRecurring
2016–17 The ZhuZhus Pipsqueak26 episodes
2017–20 Top Wing Betty McBatAdditional voices
2019–21 Norman Picklestripes JuniperMain voice role
2021–23 Go, Dog. Go! Cheddar BiscuitVoice role

Live-action roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002 Doc MindyEpisode: "Complicated"
2009–2010 The Latest Buzz Zuzu Moon3 episodes

Movies

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 Heidi (2005 animated film) HeidiVoice
2006 Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure SamanthaVoice

Awards

References

  1. Isen, Tajja (April 19, 2022). Some of My Best Friends. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9781982178420.
  2. Fanfair, Ron. "Isen comfortable being cast in male voice-over roles" July 27, 2017. Retrieved on March 23, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Tajja Isen Interview". toonarific.com. December 11, 2005. Archived from the original on May 8, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  4. Fanfair, Ron (October 29, 2009). "Gemini Award for first-time nominee". sharenews.com. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  5. "About".
  6. "Catapult | Catapult Magazine". Catapult. February 8, 2022.
  7. "25th Annual Young Artist Awards – Winners and Nominations". youngartistawards.com. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  8. "28th Annual Young Artist Awards – Nominations / Special Awards". youngartistawards.org. March 10, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  9. "Gemini Awards Celebrate Comedy, Drama and Variety". broadcastermagazine.com. October 21, 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2012.