Tajja Isen

Tajja Isen
Isen at the 2022 Texas Book Festival
Born
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
Years active1997–present
RelativesNissae Isen (sister)

Tajja Isen is a Canadian actress and writer. 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 2002 revival of 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!.

Early life

Isen was born in Toronto, the oldest of five children to Karen, who is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and Jordie Isen, who is of Eastern European heritage. Her younger sister, Nissae is also an actress.[2]

Career

At 10 years old, she began her voice acting career with Nelvana's 2002 version of The Berenstain Bears, where she voiced Sister Bear. Before that, she was a huge fan of the books and watched videos of the 1985 series.[3] At the age of 9, she portrayed Young Nala in a Toronto stage production of Disney's The Lion King[3] and was nominated for an Equity Emerging Artist Award for that role.[4]

Her first book, Some of My Best Friends: Essays on Lip Service, was published in 2022 by Atria/One Signal and Doubleday Canada.[5] She was the editor-in-chief of Catapult magazine.[6]

Selected filmography

Animation

List of voice performances in animation

Year Title Role Notes
2002–03 The Berenstain Bears Sister Bear
2002–06 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 Borte/Jodie episodes 3, 20–26, voiced by Sarah Gadon from 1–14 (earlier) Credited as Tajja Eisen.
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 Main role
2010–11 Pirates: Adventures in Art Princess Cleo Main role
2011–23 Mia and Me Yuko 26 episodes
2011–12 My Big Big Friend Nessa Main role
2016–17 The ZhuZhus Pipsqueak 26 episodes
2017–20 Top Wing Additional voices
2019–21 Norman Picklestripes Juniper Main role
2021–23 Go, Dog. Go! Cheddar Biscuit Voice role

Live-action roles

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Doc Mindy Episode: "Complicated"
2009–10 The Latest Buzz Zuzu Moon Voice, 3 episodes

Movies

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Heidi Heidi Voice
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 (19 April 2022). Some of My Best Friends. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781982178420.
  2. ^ Fanfair, Ron. "Isen comfortable being cast in male voice-over roles" July 27, 2017. Retrieved on March 23, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Tajja Isen Interview". toonarific.com. 11 December 2005. Archived from the original on 8 May 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  4. ^ Fanfair, Ron (29 October 2009). "Gemini Award for first-time nominee". sharenews.com. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  5. ^ "About".
  6. ^ "Catapult | Catapult Magazine". Catapult. 8 February 2022.
  7. ^ "25th Annual Young Artist Awards – Winners and Nominations". youngartistawards.com. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  8. ^ "28th Annual Young Artist Awards – Nominations / Special Awards". youngartistawards.org. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Gemini Awards Celebrate Comedy, Drama and Variety". broadcastermagazine.com. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
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