Leah Clark
Leah Clark (born December 24, 1979) is an American voice actress, ADR director, and scriptwriter of partial Korean descent, renowned for her contributions to English-language dubs of Japanese anime series and video games.[1][2] She has voiced hundreds of characters across major productions, including standout roles such as Himiko Toga in My Hero Academia, Mavis Vermillion in Fairy Tail, and Kobayashi in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.[3][4] Her work primarily aligns with Funimation Entertainment (now part of Crunchyroll), where she has also directed dubs and adapted scripts for series like School Rumble and Peach Girl.[1] Clark's career in the anime industry began in 2002, initially with studios such as Okratron 5000 and Gl33k International, before establishing a long-term association with Funimation.[5] Over more than two decades, she has earned recognition for her versatile performances, including a 2013 Behind The Voice Actors People's Choice Award for Best Female Vocal Performance in an Anime (Supporting Role).[1] In addition to anime, her credits extend to video games like Smite (voicing Bastet) and Borderlands 2 (voicing Lindy Archman), as well as occasional pseudonyms such as Lauryn Clarkson and Chloe Daniels in earlier projects.[2][3]Early life
Family and childhood
Leah Clark was born on December 24, 1979, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[2][6][4] She is of partial Korean descent.[1] Raised in Albuquerque, Clark spent her childhood and formative years in the city.[6][4] While specific details on her early family dynamics remain private, her upbringing in the region provided the backdrop for her later pursuits in performance. This foundation contributed to her transition to a professional career in voice acting in her early twenties.[5]Education
Clark grew up in Albuquerque and attended local schools during her childhood and adolescence.[2] She pursued formal training in the performing arts by studying acting and music theatre at the Circle in the Square Theatre School, a renowned conservatory in New York City.[7] This program provided her with foundational skills in performance, vocal techniques, and stagecraft essential for her future career.[8] No additional details on specific workshops, voice-specific classes, or college degrees beyond this conservatory training are publicly documented in available sources.Personal life
Residence and relationships
Leah Clark resides in the Dallas area of Texas, a location that aligns with the Funimation production hub and allows her proximity to industry activities. She has been based there for many years, occasionally referencing local events such as community gatherings in nearby Plano.[9][8] Clark is married and shares her home with her husband, a stepdaughter, and three dogs, forming a close-knit family unit that she has publicly described with affection. In bios from various conventions, she highlights her love for this family dynamic, noting the joy brought by her pets and blended household. Variations in accounts mention either one stepdaughter or two children, reflecting possible family growth over time, though details remain private.[8][10][11] Outside her professional commitments, Clark maintains interests rooted in her educational background in music theatre, which she pursued at the Circle in the Square conservatory in New York City. This foundation informs her personal engagement with performance arts, though she keeps non-work pursuits relatively low-profile. Her involvement in Texas-based community events underscores a commitment to local engagement beyond the anime industry.[8][10]Mental health and advocacy
Leah Clark has publicly shared her diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, highlighting her personal experiences with these conditions during Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2024. In an Instagram post on May 4, 2024, she reflected on the significance of the month, emphasizing the need for open conversations about mental health to reduce stigma.[9] On May 29, 2024, Clark provided a more detailed disclosure in another Instagram post, discussing the challenges of managing ADHD and dyslexia in her daily life and career as a voice actress, including how these conditions affect her recording sessions and overall resilience. She described strategies for coping, such as medication for self-awareness, breathing techniques, asking for breaks, and grounding techniques to clear and calm her mind.[12] Through her advocacy efforts, Clark uses social media and convention appearances to promote mental health awareness, encouraging fans to seek professional help and validate their experiences with neurodivergence. Her openness has fostered a supportive community, demonstrating the impact of personal storytelling on professional perseverance in the entertainment industry. She strives to normalize mental health practices online, with a particular focus on supporting survivors of emotional and narcissistic abuse by educating on healing and recovery.[13]Career
Beginnings in the industry
Leah Clark entered the anime dubbing industry in the early 2000s, initially focusing on script adaptation and voice work. Her professional career as a voice actress began in 2002, when she started collaborating with studios including Okratron 5000, Gl33k, Funimation, and DuArt Films.[5] A pivotal moment came with her affiliation to Funimation Entertainment, where she served as both a voice actress and script adapter, contributing to the adaptation of anime episodes and laying the groundwork for her dual expertise in performance and writing. This role allowed her to participate in early dubbing projects, building experience through auditions and minor roles in anime series. Her background in performing arts from education provided essential training for these formative gigs.[14] By the mid-2000s, Clark had established a consistent workflow, handling script adaptations for upcoming dubs and securing initial voice credits that honed her skills in the competitive field of ADR.[3]Voice acting achievements
Leah Clark rose to prominence in the anime dubbing industry through her extensive work with Funimation and its predecessor studio OkraTron 5000, where she began contributing voices in the early 2000s.[5] By 2025, she had amassed over 278 roles across 245 titles, showcasing her versatility in portraying a wide range of characters from supporting ensembles to lead protagonists in both anime series and video games.[4] Her affiliation with these studios allowed her to collaborate on high-profile English dubs, establishing her as a key figure in bringing Japanese media to Western audiences.[15] Early breakthroughs in Clark's career included her portrayal of the playful witch Blair in the 2008 Funimation dub of Soul Eater, a role that highlighted her ability to infuse humor and whimsy into supernatural narratives.[4] This was followed by her iconic performance as Mavis Vermillion in the long-running Fairy Tail series (2009–2019), where she voiced the ethereal first master of the Fairy Tail guild, contributing to the character's enduring popularity among fans through her delicate yet determined delivery.[4] These roles marked significant milestones, solidifying Clark's reputation for capturing the emotional depth of complex anime heroines. In more recent years, Clark has continued to achieve acclaim with dynamic performances in contemporary hits. Her voicing of the chaotic and obsessive villain Himiko Toga in My Hero Academia (2018–present) has been praised for embodying the character's unhinged energy and psychological layers, resonating with viewers across multiple seasons.[4] Similarly, as the pragmatic dragon-enthusiast Kobayashi in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid (2017), Clark brought a relatable sarcasm and warmth to the titular office worker, enhancing the series' blend of slice-of-life comedy and fantasy elements.[4] In 2024, she provided voices for Delico's Nursery and Zenshu, and is credited in the video game Borderlands 4 (2025).[2] These achievements underscore her adaptability to evolving anime trends, maintaining her relevance in the industry. Clark's talent was formally recognized with the 2013 Behind The Voice Actors (BTVA) People's Choice Voice Acting Award for Best Female Vocal Performance in a Supporting Role in an Anime Television Series/OVA, awarded for her portrayal of the tragic and fierce Minatsuki Takami in Deadman Wonderland.[1] This win, voted by fans, affirmed her impact on the dubbing community and highlighted her skill in delivering nuanced supporting characters that drive narrative tension.[16]ADR direction and script writing
Leah Clark has served as an ADR director for several Funimation anime dubs, overseeing the recording sessions and guiding voice performances to align with the original Japanese intent while adapting for English audiences.[17] Her directing credits include Sasami: Magical Girls Club (both seasons), where she managed the ensemble cast for the magical girl narrative, and specific Case Closed episodes and films such as "Captured in Her Eyes," "Countdown to Heaven," and "The Phantom of Baker Street."[18] She also directed dubs for The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk - the Sword of Uruk and Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry, contributing to Funimation's early 2000s output during her tenure from 2007 to 2010.[17] With over 15 years in the industry, Clark's directing emphasized pacing and emotional delivery to maintain narrative flow in English.[19] In addition to directing, Clark has extensive experience as a script writer and adapter, crafting English dubs that preserve cultural nuances and enhance emotional resonance for Western viewers.[3] She has adapted over 875 episodes across Funimation and Crunchyroll titles, delivering scripts at a rate of two per week during her peak years.[19] Notable script credits include Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Peach Girl, Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts, B Gata H Kei: Yamada's First Time, Strike Witches, Baccano!, Chio's School Road, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord, My Dress-Up Darling, Nabari no Ō, One Piece, and Sasami: Magical Girls Club.[18][20] Her work often overlaps with her voice acting, where script insights informed performances in shared projects.[21] Clark's specialization lies in narrative adaptation that balances fidelity to the source material with idiomatic English phrasing, ensuring accessibility without losing thematic depth.[22]Filmography
Anime
Leah Clark has provided English dubbing voices for a wide array of anime television series and original video animations, primarily through Funimation (now Crunchyroll) and other studios. Her roles span from early 2000s dubs to ongoing series as of 2025. Below is a chronological selection of her key anime credits, focusing on prominent and representative roles.| Year(s) | Title | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Suzuka | Suzuka Asahina[23] |
| 2005–2008 | School Rumble | Eri Sawachika[24] |
| 2007–2011 | Sgt. Frog | Fuyuki Hinata |
| 2008 | Soul Eater | Blair[25] |
| 2009–2019 | Fairy Tail | Mavis Vermillion[26] |
| 2010 | Baka and Test | Minami Shimada |
| 2011 | Nichijou | Mio Naganohara[27] |
| 2011 | Deadman Wonderland | Minatsuki Takami |
| 2015 | Assassination Classroom | Yukiko Kanzaki[28] |
| 2016–present | My Hero Academia | Himiko Toga[29] |
| 2017 | Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid | Kobayashi[30] |
| 2019 | Fruits Basket (2019) | Megumi Hanajima[31] |
| 2020 | Kaguya-sama: Love is War | Kobachi Osaragi[32] |
| 2024 | Delico's Nursery | Lucia Lorca[33] |
| 2024 | Natsume's Book of Friends (Season 6) | Aiko[34] |
| 2024–present | Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest | Mavis Vermillion[35] |
Film
Leah Clark has provided English dubbing voices for numerous animated feature films, particularly Japanese anime movies distributed by companies like Funimation and Crunchyroll. Her contributions span both theatrical releases and direct-to-video features, often featuring young or supporting characters that complement her versatile vocal range.[3]| Year | Title | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Case Closed: Captured in Her Eyes | Sara Santos[3] |
| 2005 | Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa | Noah[3] |
| 2005 | xxxHOLiC: A Midsummer Night's Dream | Maru[3] |
| 2007 | Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone | Hikari Horaki[3] |
| 2009 | Eden of the East: The King of Eden | Saki Morimi[3] |
| 2009 | Eden of the East: Paradise Lost | Saki Morimi[3] |
| 2009 | Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance | Hikari Horaki[3] |
| 2009 | Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike | Chastel Aiheap[3] |
| 2010 | Fafner: Heaven and Earth | Sakura Kaname[3] |
| 2011 | Pokémon the Movie: Black - Victini and Reshiram | Carlita[3] |
| 2011 | Pokémon the Movie: White - Victini and Zekrom | Carlita[3] |
| 2012 | Wolf Children | Shino[3] |
| 2019 | My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising | Himiko Toga[3] |
| 2023 | SPY×FAMILY Code: White | Sharon[3] |