American Voice Actor in France: From My First Booth to a Pro Studio, Seven Years Later
Stephanie Matard in 30 seconds:
Accent | General American, no regional accent. Raised in Ohio, living in France since 2010 |
What I do | Voice actress, voiceover, & dubbing in English with an American accent, since 2018 |
Studio | Professional home studio, remote directed sessions or in-studio recording in Paris |
In the Press | Two articles by journalist Gilles Motteau: Le Courrier de l'Eure (2019) and Le Parisien (2026) |
Community | Co-organizer of VO Social Paris |
"Welcome!" That's how I greeted journalist Gilles Motteau when he came to my home in February 2019. He was writing for Le Courrier de l'Eure, a local newspaper in Normandy, and wanted to meet the American who had just launched a voice over business in the French countryside.
Seven years later, in September 2026, he knocked on my door again, this time for Le Parisien, one of France's national daily papers. Same journalist, same voice, but a job that has changed a lot.
Two profiles, seven years apart. It felt like the perfect moment to look back at my studio, my work, artificial intelligence and the voice over community. And to tell you that I'm still here, going strong.
2018–2019: A Laundry Room, a Homemade Booth and a Lot of Heart
I was born in Texas and grew up in Ohio. I took theater and film classes all through school. I wanted to be an actress.
My "aha" moment with voice work came from somewhere unexpected: an audiobook. Listening to it, I realized that the person behind the microphone was an actor, and that this would be an avenue for me to act with my voice alone, no camera needed.
I'd been living in France since 2010 when, in the summer of 2018, I finally took the leap. I registered my business and set up shop… in a laundry room. I had very little equipment and a recording booth I'd built myself.
That's the booth Gilles Motteau photographed in 2019.
Gilles Motteau, Le Courrier de l'Eure (actu.fr), February 5, 2019.
2026: A Professional Home Studio for American English Voice Over
Today I still record from home, but in a soundproofed, acoustically treated Studiobricks booth built for broadcast-quality recordings. The laundry room is back to being a laundry room!
What has really changed is the way I work:
A clear specialty: since day one, I've recorded in English with a General American accent, no regional accent. That's exactly what my clients come to me for.
Remote directed sessions: agencies, producers and directors listen in and direct me live, wherever they are, in France or anywhere in the world.
Studio sessions in Paris: when a project calls for it, I travel to recording studios in Paris.
What AI Is Changing in Voice Over
Gilles asked me the question I hear most often these days: will artificial intelligence replace voice actors?
I won't sugarcoat it: AI has changed my job. I see it clearly in advertising. For some projects, advertisers now settle for an AI voice simply because it's cheaper. Part of that market has shrunk, and I feel it.
But there are projects where a synthetic voice just isn't enough. When you need to move people, make them smile, bring a character to life or tell a story, clients come to me for my performance. In a directed session, we can work together on a breath, a nuance, an intention, until we find exactly the right tone. That's the kind of work I'm focusing on more and more.
So I've made some choices. I focus on projects where performance makes the difference: dubbing, character work and premium brands that don't want to sound like everyone else. An AI voice can read a script. My job is to perform it, and to respond in real time to what a director asks for.
VO Social Paris: The Power of Community
Voice over is a lonely job: we spend our days alone in a booth. That's exactly why The Voiceover Social was created, a community that started in Manchester in 2015 and is now run by Rob and Helen Bee. I asked them if I could open a Paris chapter, and that's how VO Social Paris was born.
The first edition took place on September 27, 2025, at La Felicità in Station F, Paris. Voice professionals came from Paris, from all over France and even from abroad. And nobody wanted to go home!
The second edition was held on Saturday, September 26, 2026. This year, we were delighted to welcome representatives from Light Fader, Voxing Pro and Agence Vokal (all the way from Canada), as well as the French voice actors' association Les Voix. Proof that these gatherings bring the whole industry together, well beyond borders!
And I don't do it alone: Estelle Hubert, a French voice actress and my "voice sister," helps me enormously with communication. She's also in charge of the pre-social, the sparkly Friday-night get-together that welcomes everyone traveling in from farther away.
Entry is free and open to everyone: new and experienced voice actors, French entertainment freelancers (intermittents du spectacle), sound engineers, producers… With AI reshaping our industry, I believe in this community more than ever. We share advice, contacts and a good dose of courage.
Two Profiles, Seven Years Apart
In 2019, I was an actress starting out in a homemade booth. In 2026, I run my own business with a professional studio, a clear specialty, my native American accent and a community I'm proud to help grow. The job is harder than it used to be, but I'm still here, and I love what I do as much as ever.
Thank you to Gilles Motteau for following my journey twice. You can read both profiles (in French) here:
2019 : « Le Neubourg : elle prête sa voix aux doux accents anglais et américain », Gilles Motteau, Le Courrier de l'Eure, published on actu.fr on February 5, 2019.
2026 : « "Ça devient difficile" : depuis l'Eure, cette Américaine exerce un métier de plus en plus concurrencé par l'IA », Gilles Motteau, Le Parisien, September 22, 2026. (A subscription may be required.)
Looking for a native American English voice for a commercial, a film, dubbing or an e-learning project? Listen to my demos or get in touch. I'm happy to work in English or French.
Estelle Hubert & Stephanie Matard at the voiceover social paris 2026 
Group Photo at the vo social paris 2026 
Michael Ashtiany & Stephanie Matard at the voiceover social paris 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you record?
In my professional studio in Le Neubourg, Normandy (Studiobricks booth, Neumann U87 microphone). I work with clients all over France and around the world through remote directed sessions, and I also travel to studios in Paris.
How does a remote directed session work?
You connect live to my studio. You hear me in real time, direct me just as if you were in the booth, and receive ready-to-use audio files right after the session.
Do you only work in English?
My specialty is English, with a General American accent. I can also record in French, with a noticeable English-speaking accent… a charming one, I'm told! It's a real plus for a character, a commercial or a brand looking for an American touch. Either way, we can handle emails, briefs and direction in English or French.
Do you work with clients outside France?
Yes. Thanks to remote directed sessions, I work with agencies and brands in France, across Europe, in the United States and internationally.
Why choose a human voice over an AI voice?
For the performance: rhythm, emotion, nuance and the ability to adjust a take live based on your direction. That's what makes a message truly connect with your audience.
How long have you been a voice actor?
Since 2018! My journey has been featured in two profiles by Gilles Motteau, in 2019 (Le Courrier de l'Eure) and 2026 (Le Parisien).
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