Tajja Isen

Tajja Isen
Isen at the 2022 Texas Book Festival.
Born
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Writer
  • editor
  • actor
Years active1997–present
RelativesNissae 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 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!

Biography

Isen was born in Toronto, Ontario. At 10 years old, she began her voice acting career with The Berenstain Bears, where she voiced Sister Bear.[2] In 2004, she portrayed Young Nala in a Toronto stage production of Disney's The Lion King[2] and was nominated for an Equity Emerging Artist Award for that role.[3]

Her first book, Some of My Best Friends: Essays on Lip Service, was published in 2022 by Atria/One Signal and Doubleday Canada.[4] She was the editor-in-chief of Catapult magazine.[5]

Personal life and family

Isen is of mixed Trinidadian descent. Her younger sister Nissae Isen is also a voice actress.[6]

Discography

Selected filmography

Animation

List of voice performances in animation

Year Title Role Notes
2002–03 The Berenstain Bears Sister Bear
2003–06 The Save-Ums! Jazzi
2003–07 JoJo's Circus Trina Tightrope/Princess Josephina Main 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 Jodie episodes 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 Sis 4 episodes
2005–08 Miss BG BG (singing voice) Opening and closing songs
2006 Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks Pony 52 episodes
2007–16 Super Why! Princess Pea/Presto
2010–2011 Pirates: Adventures in Art Princess Cleo Main role
2011–2023 Mia and Me Yuko 26 episodes
2011–12 My Big Big Friend Nessa Recurring
2016–17 The ZhuZhus Pipsqueak 26 episodes
2017–20 Top Wing Betty McBat Additional voices
2019–21 Norman Picklestripes Juniper Main voice role
2021–23 Go, Dog. Go! Cheddar Biscuit Voice role

Live-action roles

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Doc Mindy Episode: "Complicated"
2009–2010 The Latest Buzz Zuzu Moon 3 episodes

Movies

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure Samantha Voice

Awards

  • 2004 – Young Artist Awards- Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role – Nominated (Berenstain Bears)[7]
  • 2007 – Young Artist Awards- Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role – Won (Jane and the Dragon)[8]
  • 2009 – Gemini Awards- Best Individual or Ensemble Performance in an Animated Television Show or Series – Won (Atomic Betty)[9]

References

  1. ^ Isen, Tajja (April 19, 2022). Some of My Best Friends. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781982178420.
  2. ^ a b "Tajja Isen Interview". toonarific.com. December 11, 2005. Archived from the original on May 8, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  3. ^ Fanfair, Ron (October 29, 2009). "Gemini Award for first-time nominee". sharenews.com. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "About".
  5. ^ "Catapult | Catapult Magazine". Catapult. February 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Fanfair, Ron. "Isen comfortable being cast in male voice-over roles" July 27, 2017. Retrieved on March 23, 2018.
  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.