 | Hilary Haag, a famous voice actress and a veteran in the anime industry answered some questions from us about herself and her role as Sister Rosette Christopher in Chrono Crusade. |
ACTIVE ANIME: First let me thank you for giving us the opportunity to ask you a few questions about yourself and your role as Sister Rosette Christopher in Chrono Crusade. For our first question, when you answered the ADV Films ad in the newspaper for a voice audition, did you ever think that you would be doing voice acting for this long? What are your current thoughts about voice acting?
Hilary Haag: I had no idea what to expect when I answered that ad in the paper. I was so elated to have an opportunity to do what I loved to do. As far as my acting career, I have always taken it one job at a time. Maybe I’m a pessimist, but I always think this will probably be the last time they hire me. Thank goodness that is not the case. My current thoughts about voice acting??? I think that we are probably underappreciated. Everyone thinks that it is so easy to do what we do, and everyone thinks they can do it. It’s not as easy as it looks, but I love every minute of it. ACTIVE ANIME: You have voiced several comedy roles, like Milk-chan in the Super Milk-chan Show, Chihiro in Azumanga Daioh, and Menchi in Excel Saga. Does laughing while saying your lines ever become a problem?
Hilary Haag: You know, no, I don’t have that problem. I’m pretty serious about my lines in the booth. I’ll usually laugh about it when I read it or after the line is said, but not while I’m recording. I’m sure it has happened to me, but I can’t remember the instance or the line. ACTIVE ANIME: Super Milk-chan is very pretty wacky for an anime series, and you say in the DVD commentary that you don't usually use foul language. For someone that doesn't curse, how did you manage to bring all of your lines out during the recording? (I hope there was no emotional damage after the recording as well!)
Hilary Haag: Was that a staged commentary?? I have a potty mouth in real life…not as bad as Milk or Karinka, but I’ve been known to drop a few “F”Bombs. ACTIVE ANIME: What is the hardest thing about recording, and do the guys on the other side of the booth ever give you a hard time when you make a mistake?
Hilary Haag: For me the hardest part about recording is being patient and being locked in a box for hours at a time. I read magazines to stay calm. They are pretty good about not giving me too much of a hard time when I make a mistake….then again, I can’t hear what they’re saying behind the glass unless they push a button that allows me to hear them. Sometimes they will take an excerpt of a mistake and play it over and over again to antagonize me. ACTIVE ANIME: Do you have any embarrassing voice acting moments?
Hilary Haag: I’ve fallen off the chair in the booth…that is probably my favorite. ACTIVE ANIME: What are your thoughts about the anime Chrono Crusade, where you play the heroine Sister Rosette Christopher?
Hilary Haag: I loved playing Rosette! Physically/Vocally it was a very challenging role on my throat, but I loved that I got to play a range of emotions with her. ACTIVE ANIME: Sister Rosette is a bubbly, hotheaded, and sincere person - is there any resemblance to you?
Hilary Haag: Well, when you put it like that…that is me! Except of course, I’m not a 16 year old nun exorcist!! ACTIVE ANIME: Are there any anime characters that you've played that have special traits or characteristics that you've incorporated into yourself?
Hilary Haag: No, I’ve obviously incorporated me into characters, but never the other way around. ACTIVE ANIME: Did you have to audition for the role of Sister Rosette, or did Matt Greenfield already have you in mind for the part?
Hilary Haag: Yes, I did audition. He obviously had me in mind, but he probably had a few other people too then picked from the audition. That would be a question for him. ACTIVE ANIME: The series Chrono Crusade is mostly about a battle between heaven and hell - do you believe in that sort of thing?
Hilary Haag: I think so, but I have a lot of questions. And, I don’t think it is exactly like Chrono Crusade. ACTIVE ANIME:Trying not to give away too much plot information here - but since you don't get the script right before a recording session, were you surprised with the sudden turn of events in "Episode 21”? What was your initial reaction to it when you found out?
Hilary Haag: I was definitely surprised, and that is all I will say. ACTIVE ANIME: Is there anything that you miss about doing the series now that the final DVD has been released?
Hilary Haag: Yes and no. Great characters like Rosette don’t come around all the time for me, so I will miss that aspect. But, sometimes the best part of doing a show like Chrono Crusade is when it does come out and people start talking about it. You can’t help but enjoy when fans tell you they like the work you did in a show. When we were recording I loved the work that everyone was doing. Greg, Jessica, Tiffany….everyone did great work and they were really fun characters. ACTIVE ANIME: The character you play in Chrono Crusade lives in 1920s and you have also played characters set in the future. If given the ability to move through time, what time would you visit or live in, and why?
Hilary Haag: I may like to visit the future, so perhaps I could tell the older me the things to do differently. But, then again, that may take all the fun out of the journey! ACTIVE ANIME: Any relation to voice actor Quentin Haag who plays Toru in Gilgamesh?
Hilary Haag: Yes, Quentin is my brother! I was so proud of his performance in Gilgamesh! Quentin is a really good actor, and I'm glad that he has found an outlet for his talent. Like me, Quentin has a serious day job, so I think it is fun for both of us to have this somewhat alternative moon-lighting gig. ACTIVE ANIME: How does it feel having another Haag in the industry, and do the both of you plan on conquering the anime industry?
Hilary Haag: It is cool to have Quentin in anime as well! We'll see if I can keep my jealousy in check. He has a juicier roll than I do in Gilgamesh, and it is turning out to be such a hit that I'm a little jealous. We'll just have to see. As far as conquering the anime industry? I doubt that, but you never know!!!! Watch out GREG AND CHRIS (Ayres)...The Haag's on your tail! ACTIVE ANIME: This question is dedicated to the fan boys that requested me to do an interview with you. Do they, the fanboys, have a chance with you (i.e. are you single)?
Hilary Haag: Technically…not married, but I do have a boyfriend. He has only seen a couple of episodes of Milk Chan, so he has no idea what I do, and he just doesn’t get it. I guess that is good because I’m not one to bring my work home with me. ACTIVE ANIME: Final question, it there anything you want to say to the fans out there?
Hilary Haag: THANK YOU!! Thank you for continuing to support me and all the English voice actors. I feel very fortunate to get to do what I love, and that would not be possible without the fan’s support. YOU’RE AWESOME! BUY MORE ANIME!!! ACTIVE ANIME: Hilary, once again thank you for taking the time to answer some questions from us, and more power to you and your continuing voice acting career, and we look forward hearing your voice work soon. Active Anime.com loves you Hilary!
About Hilary Haag
Hilary broke into the anime industry in ADV Film' Master of Mosquiton in 1999. Since then she has appeared in over 50 anime, and has landed memorable leading roles such as Nene Romanova in Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040, Ryo Hayakawa in Princess Nine, Chloe in Noir, Teletha Testarossa in Full Metal Panic! and Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, and many others.
Active Anime.com would like to thank ADV Films more making this interview possible
Headshot photo courtesy of Ms. Hilary Haag
Visit the official website of Chrono Crusade at http://www.advfilms.com/titles/chronocrusade/
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