Hello and welcome back to the article that lets you take a peek behind the voices of all the characters in Steven Universe, it's time for "Hey, It's That Voice!" Today, we will be looking at the voice behind the Connie's mother, Dr. Priyanka Maheswaran!
Connie's mother, Priyanka (which is a common Hindu name meaning "beautiful" and "beloved"), is a very strict, no-nonsense kind of parent. But just because she's stern doesn't mean she's not a loving or caring parent. In fact, her overprotective nature is why she has the rules and guidelines for Connie. After all, while Priyanka does encounter gem fusion experiment monsters, she only becomes frightened after Connie appears and tries to fight them (after all, the Maheswarans are all about safety). But despite all her protectiveness, she is a great parent and even grows to like both Steven and Greg. But who is the voice of this caring but worrisome mother? Why, that would be MAry Elizabeth McGlynn!
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| If you're not careful, she'll break out the abacus to figure out exactly how much trouble you're in. |
Born in Short Hills, New Jersey on October 16, 1966, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn has an identical twin sister named Melissa. In 1992, McGlynn would get her very first voice over role for the English dubbing of Mobile Suit Gundam films as Matilda Ajan in 1981. She would also provide voices for minor characters in the English dub of Fist of the North Star anime.
McGlynn, using her sister's name to form the alias of Melissa Williamson, began to provide more and more English dubbing roles for Japanese anime. The anime included Giant Robo, Tokyo Revelation, Red Hawk: Weapon of Death, Street Fighter II V, Catnapped!, Black Jack, Rurouni Kenshin, Space Armageddon, Perfect Blue, Princess Mononoke (uncredited singer in the English version), Reign: The Conqueror, Battle Athletes Victory, Fushigi Yūgi, El-Hazard, Outlaw Star, Trigun, Serial Experiments Lain, Black Heaven, Wild Arms: Twilight Venom, Sol Bianca, Arc the Lad, éX-Driver, Gate Keepers, Digimon Adventure, Vampire Hunder D: Bloodlust, Vandread, Argento Soma, Oh My Goddess!, Metropolis, Bastard!!, Geneshaft, Digimon Tamers, Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School, Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door, X, Ai Yori Aoshi, A Little Snow Fairy Sugar, Witch Hunter Robin, Wolf's Rain, Planetes, Gungrave, Appleseed, Battle B-Daman, Karas: The Prophecy, Eureka Seven, Digimon Data Squad, Black God, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Iron Man: Anime, X-Men: Anime, Tekken: Blood Vengeance, Blade: Anime, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, Glitter Force, and God Eater. Along with this long list of dubbing roles, McGlynn does have a few stand out roles that many my recongize.
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| Top row, left to right: Julia from Cowboy Bebop, and Major Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Bottom row, left to right: Kurenai Yuhi from Naruto, and Queen Metalia from Sailor Moon Crystal. Far right: Cornelia li Britannia from Code Geass. |
Over the years, McGlynn has been able to voice many notable and well-known anime characters. In particular, she has provided the voice of Major Motoko Kusanagi of the Ghost In The Shell series. She lends her voice for the entire run of the Stand Alone Complex and the various incarnations of the Major during that series as well the film Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence and the upcoming game Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex - First Assault Online. In 2007, McGlynn won an American Anime Award for Best Actress for her work as the Major.
As for American animation, McGlynn has some starring roles, including voicing Abigail Brand in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, various voices as well as voice director for Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero, and Governor Arihnda Pryce in Star Wars Rebels.
Of course, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn has far more roles than just limited to animation. In fact, she is quite known for her contributions to the world of video games. She has lent her voice to Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption, The Bouncer, Digimon Rumble Arena, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, Rumble Roses XX, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, Xenosaga: Episode III, .hack//G.U. series, Devil May Cry 4, Afro Samurai, MagnaCarta 2, Final Fantasy XIII, Alpha Protocol, Darksiders II, Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Marvel Heroes, Killer Is Dead, Diablo III, Resident Evil: Revelations 2, Heroes of the Storm, StarCarft II: Legacy of the Void, Lego Marvel's Avengers, Hitman, and Gods Eater Burst.
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| Nina Williams, appearing in one of her alternate costumes, for Tekken 7: Fated Retribution. |
In the video gaming world, McGlynn is well-known now as the current voice for the character Nina Williams in the Tekken series (starting with Tekken 5 and onward).
Along with her work with Tekken, McGlynn has also had a long history with the Silent Hill series. Not only working as the voice director for Silent Hill 3 onwards, she contributed as the haunting singer heard throughout the games and provided the new voice of Maria for the re-release of Silent Hill 2 for the Silent Hill HD Collection. She even contributed her singing voice to the live-action film.
And would you believe me if I told you that still doesn't cover all of her work? Well, brace yourself because McGlynn doesn't just lend her own voice, but also voice directs for numerous of works, including ones that she doesn't star in (if she starred in the anime or video game, chances are she helped with the voice directing). She has done behind-the-scenes work for Flint the Time Detective, Phase Paradox, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, Tokobot, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, Soulcalibur Legends, Devil May Cry 4, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Firebreather, and Tangled: The Series.
Whew! That's quite a career! Well then, join me next week where we look at the voice of that lovable, flying canine!
