Interview with Petrea Burchard (2003)

                      This is actress Petrea Burchard. Petrea has been in such shows as “How I met your Mother” and the movie “Four Friends”. But my favorite performance of hers is that of Ryoko in the Japanese anime Tenchi Muyo. I was able to do a small interview with Petrea on February 14, 2003. I hope you enjoy. I can’t believe it’s been almost fifteen years since then. 

Riley: Hello Petrea, how are you?

Petrea: Doing great, thanks.

Riley: How did you decide to be a voice actress?

Petrea: I didn’t “decide”. It happened. I’ve been a stage and screen actor all my life, and I also do commercial voice-over. When the “Tenchi” auditions came along, Matt Miller told me about them and I made a tape and sent it in.

Riley: What is/was your favorite character to perform?

Petrea: So far, I had the most fun playing Shakespeare’s Cleopatra- although I’ve got to say I enjoyed being Julius Caesar, too. Not many women can say they’ve played that role.

Riley: What one person has given you the most inspiration in life?

Petrea: So many great people inspire me! But I get the most inspiration from my husband. He inspires me every day.

Riley: Who are your heroes?

Petrea: My heroes are the actors who create and produce their own work: Bonnie Hunt and Emma Thompson are tops on my list. I admire people like Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Goldie Hawn—people who create the work, rather than waiting for acting jobs to happen.

Riley: Do you have a favorite celebrity?

Petrea: Nope, I like lots of them.

Riley: If there is one person living or dead that you could meet, who would it be and why?

Petrea: William Shakespeare. I just want to understand what his life was like, and what made his brilliance possible.

Riley: What do you think about the hobby of autograph collecting?

Petrea: I’m honored when someone wants my autograph.

Riley: Do you sign autographs when asked in person?

Petrea: I’ve only been asked at the one anime convention I’ve attended, and I was happy to do it.

Riley: Are there any upcoming events/conventions where a fan could meet you?

Petrea: So far I haven’t been invited to any new anime events.

Riley: Do you have an address where a fan could write to you and possibly ask for your autograph?

Petrea: I love to hear from fans via my website petreaburchard.com or you can find me on Facebook

Riley: When asked in person, do you limit the number of items to be signed?

Petrea: It depends. If there are a lot of people waiting, I try to be as fair as possible and make sure I get a chance to meet and sign things for everyone.

Riley: After completing this interview, what is the first thing that popped into your head?

Petrea: I’ve been to only one anime convention, and I signed a lot of autographs. One girl I met there sent me an email, and I lost her email address! I never got to write back to her and I still feel bad about it.

Riley: Thank you so much Mrs. Burchard for your time. I hope to speak with you again in the future.

Petrea: My pleasure