Interviews/Samantha Newark

This is a navigation hub for official and fan-run interviews for Samantha Newark.

## Fan-run

As 2010 approaches, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the pretty pink pop princess. As such, Jem's text is in pink to match her hair! Here she is, Ms. Samantha Newark:

**1. For those that haven't seen your interview on the Jem DVDs, could you please introduce yourself including where you were born, how/why you came to the United States, and how you secured Jem's voice?**

I’m Samantha Newark and I am the Voice-Over Artist that played the roles of JEM and JERRICA . I was born and raised just outside London, England and at age 7 moved to Africa where I started my music career. I made a record and toured all over Africa and then moved to America to continue with my music when I was about 10 years old. “JEM” was a the series I auditioned for when I lived in Burbank, California.
**2. Were voices recorded individually, your lines all written out, or were all you talented voiceover actors together in one area relaying the script as teleplayed?**

For the most part, the voice-over actors were all recorded Ensemble. I would come in sometimes by myself for the PSA spots we did for “JEM” and some pickup lines occasionally but mostly we all recorded in one big long room together and worked from the JEM script.
**3. When episode 65, "A Father Should Be," marked the end of the series, how did you feel? Were you shocked, saddened? Mixed feelings knowing you would all go your separate ways?**

I think I was disappointed that it was ending but I was a young girl and looking forward to new adventures and to working on new projects.
**4. It seems you have kept in touch with Patricia Albrecht/Pizazz since the series. How did you keep in touch all these years?**

Patricia and I were both invited to be guests at JEMCON 2006 in Orlando Florida and that was the first time we had connected since working on the series. It was really fun to see each other after all these years and also to find out that we both lived in Nashville TN. We have since become fast friends, but don’t tell anyone that JEM and PIZZAZZ hang out.
**5. Judging by pictures of various conventions, we don't see Jem and Pizazz bickering, but rather a bond of friendship. How was it formed?**

Well she has to behave when she has her picture taken :-) We actually have a lot of fun meeting the fans together. Some JEM fans really loved the Misfits so it’s cool to be there together the sugar and the salt.
**6. These conventions aren't titled Jem (all the time.) Could you please explain what else happens at these conventions?**

Fan conventions are where you can buy your favorite merch and meet celebrities from your favorite shows and get autographs and photos with them and many people dress up in wild costumes as their favorite characters. There are many different genre’s that are represented at the Conventions I’ve been invited to. It runs the gamet of Horror, Sci Fi, Pop Culture, Comic books, Animation, Animi, gaming etc...I would say Pop Culture and animation is where “JEM” fits in but it’s always surprising to see the people that are fans of the show, young and old. It’s fun to meet JEM fans that also are big fans of the play-station games I’ve worked on love the TV shows that use my original music. The Conventions are really a lot of fun to be a part of. I’ve met so many wonderful and interesting people.
**7. What is the ratio to Jem fans vs. other (music) fans at these conventions? Does everyone recognize you as Jem?**

Most people come out to meet me because of JEM but I have a board set up at my meet and greet tables with a lot of other projects I’ve worked on and peope are often surprised to find themselves fans of my other work, especially the game stuff I’ve sung on.
**8. If someone walked up to you and asked you to speak like Jem, could you still sound like her even after all these years?**

People ask me to do that very often and I do still sound like JEM, even after all this time. I am asked a lot to leave voice messages for people on their phones or call their friends from my table as JEM, it’s a blast and honestly never gets old. I really enjoy being able to have fun with the JEM fans.
**9. You have picked up a guitar since Jem. Could you sing/sound like Jem?**

I’ve done a lot of Pop Rock vocals for tons of MTV shows where I have sung in a higher range and it’s more of a JEM vibe but my own artist thing is in a slightly deeper range. Britta Phillips is the awesome singing voice of JEM. They matched us really well vocally but at the end of the day we both have our own vibe and are different singers.
**10. If your agent called and said a reunion Jem movie or television episodes were upcoming for production, would you accept your role as Jerrica Benton once again?**

I would absolutely accept my role again on the show. It would be so much fun to be able to work with all those crazy wonderful cast mates again, it would be “Truly Outrageous”
**11. Would you want to sing now that you play guitar or would you leave the honors to Britta Phillips?**

Fans ask me that a lot, I think it only fair that Britta would do the singing as she rocked it as the singing voice of “JEM” and has a fan base for her work on the show. Maybe I could sing backups or do the singing voice for another role. It would be great to be involved somehow in the music end of it as that such a huge part of what I do as an artist.
**12. Presuming you've seen the series you so proudly voiced, does it feel weird to know you only speak Jem and Jerrica while Britta sings?**

No not weird at all, often that is the way things are done in the business. It’s funny that either of us could have done each others job but I’m so happy that I was hired to do the speaking roles of JEM and JERRICA.
**13. Considering she is your character's "twin", have you met Britta Phillips before? Can you compliment her singing?**

I have not met Britta on the music highway but I did email her once to say hi and initially break the ice as we had never spoken before then. She wrote back and was very sweet. I think she is a talented artist and has done a lot of cool work over the years with different projects.
**14. One of the voiceovers, Samantha Paris/Roxy, has formed a voice training academy and some of the Jem cast still utilize Voicetrax. Are you one of them?**

No I’m not currently one of them
**15. Do you still keep in touch with Samantha Paris?**

I reunited with Samantha / Bobbie Block as I knew her, at last years JEMCON held in Los Angeles, CA. It was really fun to see her and talk with her again, she still looks exactly the same, and is still lovely and gracious.
**16. Who else do you keep in touch with?**

I am friends with Louise Dorsey the voice of Jetta who also lives in Nashville.
**17. So let's talk about JemCon. I've never attended one, but it's a convention dedicated to Jem. How does it feel to be reunited not just with fans, but the staff you once worked with?**

It was pretty wonderful last year as I reunited with the voice of Roxy and Wally Burr our director and the voice of Dance and the voice of Rio and and met Christy Marx for the first time and also one of the shows producers.
**18. Christy Marx has attended. Considering she wrote this animated series, please compliment Ms. Marx.**

Christy was just really lovely. We did a panel together for the fans at JEMCON and it was wonderful to finally get to meet the genius behind the series and hear her experience and stories about her time during “JEM” . She is such a special person and I really was excited to finally meet her.
**19. The three 80's toylines that seem to have kept going are G.I. Joe, Transformers, and My Little Pony. Do you mind sharing your own thoughts as to why Jem didn't keep up in that race?**

I heard that the dolls were just a little too big and that may have killed it. But I sure meet a lot of fans that have every doll and the sleeping bags and the lunch boxes and Starlight mansions and the Rockin’ Roadster etc...It’s really wild at conventions when people bring in the JEM merch for me to sign. I had no idea that there was so much JEM everything back in the day like Hannah Montana stuff you can buy today.
**20. Are you saddened that Jem was discontinued? And on that note, I'd also ask if you have any Jem toys or not.**

Everything has to come to an end but i see the impact the show has had on so many people by meeting all the fans at conventions to letters from people all over the world who are keeping the show alive and still a part of their lives. There are “JEM” youtube video’s galore and there is also an awesome fan site for everything “JEM” on myspace called www.myspace.com/jemsspace and it really gives you an idea of how JEM has crossed over into the nostalgia, pop/culture arena and is not going anywhere anytime soon. I do have a few dolls, all JEM dolls.
**21. What do you think of all the Jem community created websites on the internet?**

It’s “Truly OUtrageous” and such a fun way for everyone to stay connected to the show.
**22. Shout Factory has taken serious interest in rereleasing Jem on DVD due to comments from the fans. Some of them have actually received personal responses from Shout! staff themselves. Are you excited that Jem may be available for the children of the original generation?**

“JEM” really has stood the test of time because it had a moral compass and a real heart and it has evidently really touched a lot of people for many many years. I would love to see it continue to reach out to more and more people and hopefully a brand new generation of JEM Girls and JEM Boys, so that is fun news.
**23. What are you doing for a career now and what are your current hobbies?**
i currently am promoting my self titled debut CD, available on my website [deadlink] and I-Tunes, Rhapsody all those usual places - I even have a song on my record called “JEMBOY” a shout out and thankyou to all the boys that write to me and are fans of the show.

I’m playing live shows here and out of town and I am also working with a great new partner on brand new material for my next record. I’m continuing to place my original music in film and TV projects so keep your ears peeled, especially on MTV and the CW and am in talks right now regarding a possible brand new “JEM” comic book, more details to come. I co-wrote and sang 5 songs and performed live in a new documentary film that should be released next summer http:www.saraviafilm.com I’m dating someone wonderful and I’m just enjoying living in the beauty of Nashville and being creative.
**24. Have you completely moved on, or do you sometimes hope a Jem animated reunion will happen one day?**

I think most all of the cast would love to work on “JEM” again. It was a really great time, a great job and i am always open to working on anything “JEM”.
**25. Any final words to say to fans, either Jem, your music, or otherwise?**

I just want to thank the fans for going out of their way to write to me and connect with me over the years. It means a lot as an artist that your work means something to people. I hope to meet more or you in person at conventions and my live shows. I’m pretty good at writing back to everyone, so don’t be shy, come visit me at [deadlink]­ or [deadlink] and say hi.
P.S. “Do What You Love and Be Kind to Each other!!!”