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Jen Taylor

{{Short description|American actress}}

{{About|the voice actress|others|Jennifer Taylor (disambiguation){{!}}Jennifer Taylor}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jen Taylor

| image = Jen Taylor (52263395059) (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Taylor at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2022

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S.

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1993–present

}}

Jen Taylor is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Cortana in Halo games and the intelligent personal assistant, the voice of Zoey in the Left 4 Dead franchise and formerly as Princess Peach, Toad and other characters in the Mario franchise from 1999 to 2007.

Career

Jen Taylor taught herself how to do voice work by recording the radio and imitating what she heard.{{cite web |url=https://www.seattlemag.com/article/voice-behind-cortana-halos-dr-halsey |last=Kindel |first=Ryan |title=The Voice Behind Cortana, Halo's Dr. Halsey |publisher=Tiger Oak Media |website=Seattle Magazine |date=October 2015 |access-date=January 15, 2017}} She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in theater.{{cite web |url=https://us.macmillan.com/author/dbtmp16216/ |title=Jennifer Taylor |website=Macmillan Publishers |access-date=October 28, 2020}} Before starting in voice work, she worked as a radio DJ for KNDD.{{cite news |last=Brodeur |first=Nicole |date=December 12, 2014 |title=The voice of Halo's Cortana is a Jane Austen type at heart |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-voice-of-halorsquos-cortana-is-a-jane-austen-type-at-heart/ |website=The Seattle Times |access-date=January 15, 2017}}

Taylor has voiced characters in video games, Princess Peach, Toad, and Toadette in Mario games between 1999 and 2006.{{Cite news|url=http://southtexasgamersexpo.com/jen-taylor/|title=Jen Taylor - South Texas Gamers Expo|date=August 19, 2016|newspaper=South Texas Gamers Expo|language=en-US|access-date=January 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116170458/http://southtexasgamersexpo.com/jen-taylor/|archive-date=January 16, 2017|url-status=dead}} She voiced the character Cortana in Halo games since the first game in the series, Halo: Combat Evolved (2001).{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/heart-halo-actress-talks-decade-spent-playing-cortana-flna1B6732259 |title=The heart of Halo: Actress talks a decade spent playing Cortana |date=October 29, 2012 |last=Benedetti |first=Winda |website=NBC News |access-date=January 15, 2017}} Two decades following the original game, Taylor reprised the role of Cortana by voice acting and performance capture in the Paramount+ TV series.{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/seattle-actor-jen-taylor-reprises-role-of-the-ai-cortana-on-paramount-halo-series/|title=Seattle actor Jen Taylor reprises role of the AI Cortana on Paramount+ 'Halo' series |website=The Seattle Times |last=Owen |first=Rob |date=April 12, 2022 |access-date=April 19, 2022}} At GalaxyCon Columbus in December 2023, Taylor stated her favorite line as Cortana is "Welcome home, John" from Halo 4.{{Citation |title=Master Chief and Cortana's Favorite Lines From Halo |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0pkqNOzQuI |access-date=2023-12-05 |language=en}}

Taylor has played Salem in the web series RWBY, since 2013. She voiced an episode of the radio series The Classic Adventures of Sherlock Holmes{{cite web |url=https://mailchi.mp/4e681ca8808f/video-games-and-audio-dramas-meet-at-imagination-theater |title=Video Games and Audio Dramas Meet at Imagination Theater |date=January 23, 2020 |access-date=October 26, 2020 |website=Imagination Theatre}}{{cite web |url=https://www.old-time.com/otrlogs2/classicsh_sw.log.pdf |website=Old-Time Radio |title=The Classic Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Broadcast Log |last=Wright |first=Stewart |date=April 30, 2019 |access-date=October 27, 2020}}

Taylor has narrated nearly 30 audiobooks, and has received several AudioFile Earphones Awards.{{cite web |url=https://cedarhouseaudio.com/audiobooks/narrators/jen-taylor/ |website=Cedar House Audio Productions |title=Jen Taylor |access-date=January 15, 2017}} Her narration of Tami Hoag's Mismatch was nominated for an Audie Award in 2009.{{cite web |url=https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2009-audies |title=2009 Audie Awards |publisher=Audio Publishers Association |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030154954/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2009-audies |url-status=dead }}

As a stage actress, Taylor has played Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Eliza Doolittle in a Seattle Shakespeare Company production of Pygmalion.{{cite web |url=https://www.seattleshakespeare.org/seattle-actor-profile-jennifer-lee-taylor/ |title=Seattle Actor Profile – Jennifer Lee Taylor |website=Seattle Shakespeare Company |date=February 11, 2012 |access-date=January 15, 2017}}

Filmography

=Live-action=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of acting performances in television and film

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"| Notes

! class="unsortable"| Source

2004InheritanceAbbey{{cite web|url=http://www.inheritancefilm.com/press/inttaylor.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030613050722/http://www.inheritancefilm.com/press/inttaylor.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2003|title=Inheritance - Press: Interview with Jen Taylor|date=June 13, 2003|access-date=September 14, 2017}}
2018Everything Sucks!Miss Stock2 episodes{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcauthority.com.au/feature/hyper-chat-jen-taylor-469916 |title=Hyper Chat: Jen Taylor |access-date=April 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829124603/https://www.pcauthority.com.au/feature/hyper-chat-jen-taylor-469916 |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |url-status=dead }}
2022–2024

| Halo

| Cortana

|

| {{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/halo-tv-series-recasts-cortana-with-original-voice-actor |title=Halo TV Series Recasts Cortana With Original Voice Actress |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=November 11, 2020 |work=IGN |access-date=November 13, 2020}}

=Animation=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of voice performances in animation

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"| Notes

! class="unsortable"| Source

2013–presentRWBYMysterious Narrator / Salem{{cite episode | series=RWBY | series-link=RWBY | season=1 | time=Closing credits }}{{cite episode | series=RWBY | series-link=RWBY | season=3 | number=12 | time=Closing credits }}
2015Halo: The Fall of ReachDr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey
2022RWBY: Ice QueendomMysterious Narrator / SalemEnglish dub

=Video games=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of voice performances in video games

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"| Notes

! class="unsortable"| Source

1997Backyard BaseballSunny Day
rowspan="2" | 1998Thinkin' Things: Sky Island MysteriesGlove
Backyard Soccerrowspan="2" | Sunny Day
1999Backyard Football
1999–2007Mario franchisePrincess Peach, Toad, Birdo, Princess Daisy, Toadette
rowspan="2" | 2000Backyard Baseball 2001rowspan="3" | Sunny Day
Backyard Soccer MLS Edition
rowspan="6" | 2001Backyard Football 2002
Aliens versus Predator 2Tomiko / Johnson{{cite video game | title=Aliens Versus Predator 2| developer= Monolith Productions | publisher=Sierra Entertainment | date=October 22, 2001 | platform=Windows | scene=Credits}}
Halo: Combat EvolvedCortana / Life Pod Pilot
Super Smash Bros. MeleePrincess Peach{{cite video game | developer=HAL Laboratory | title=Super Smash Bros. Melee | publisher=Nintendo | scene=Ending credits, 0:26 | year=2001}}
Luigi's MansionToad
Backyard BasketballSunny Day{{cite video game | developer=Humongous Entertainment | title=Backyard Basketball | publisher=Infogrames | scene=Ending credits, 1:33 in, Featuring Voices of | year=2001}}
rowspan="2" | 2002No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s WayCate Archer / Isako / Ninja Girls
Kakuto Chojin: Back Alley BrutalRoxy{{cite video game | developer=Dream Publishing | title=Kakuto Chojin: Back Alley Brutal | publisher=Microsoft Game Studios | scene=Ending credits, 16:28 in, Voice Talent | year=2002}}
2004Halo 2Cortana
2006SiN EpisodesJessica Cannon
2007Halo 3Cortana
2008Left 4 DeadZoey
rowspan="2" | 2009F.E.A.R. 2: Project OriginLt. Keira Stokes
1 vs. 100 LiveHerself
rowspan="2" | 2010Left 4 Dead 2Zoey
Halo: ReachDr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, Cortana (Firefight)
rowspan="2" | 2012Guild Wars 2Demmi Beetlestone{{Cite web |title=Jen Taylor - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W) |url=https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Jen_Taylor |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=wiki.guildwars2.com |language=en}}
Halo 4Cortana, Dr. Catherine Elizabeth HalseyAlso motion-capture performance for Halsey
2013| Dota 2Lina, Puck, Windranger, Medusa
2014DestinyCity Civil Frame, Archive Security A.I., City P.A.{{cite video| title = Destiny – End Credits – IGN Video| url=http://www.ign.com/videos/2014/09/11/destiny-end-credits| work=IGN Video| date=September 11, 2014| access-date=December 4, 2014| at=4:30 (Voice and Motion Performers)}}
rowspan="2" | 2015Infinite CrisisAtomic Wonder Woman{{cite video game | developer=Turbine, Inc. | publisher=Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | scene=Credits, Voice Over Talent | title=Infinite Crisis | year=2015}}{{cite web|title=Infinite Crisis Credits |url=https://game.infinitecrisis.com/en/infinite-crisis-credits |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011230201/http://game.infinitecrisis.com/en/infinite-crisis-credits |archive-date=October 11, 2014 }}
Halo 5: GuardiansCortana, Dr. Catherine Elizabeth HalseyAlso motion-capture performance for Dr. Halsey{{cite video game | developer=((343 Industries)) | publisher=Microsoft Studios | title=Halo 5: Guardians | scene=Closing credits, 7 minutes in, Main Voice and Performance Cast | access-date=October 28, 2017 }}
2018Forza Horizon 4Cortana{{cite web|title = Forza Horizon 4's Halo In-Game Event Is Real, Amazing - Gamescom 2018|url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/21/forza-horizon-4s-halo-in-game-event-is-real-amazing|date = August 21, 2018|access-date = September 6, 2018|publisher = IGN|first = Joe|last = Skrebels|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180821180111/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/21/forza-horizon-4s-halo-in-game-event-is-real-amazing|archive-date = August 21, 2018|df = mdy-all}}
2021Halo InfiniteCortana, Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey, "The Weapon"

=Other works=

class="wikitable"
style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes !! Source

2014–2017Windows Phone 8.1Cortana{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5570866/cortana-windows-phone-8-1-digital-assistant |title=The story of Cortana, Microsoft's Siri killer |author=tomwarren |publisher=Vox Media |work=The Verge |date=April 2, 2014 |access-date=April 4, 2014}}{{cite news |last=Blair |first=Nancy |date=April 3, 2014 |title=Who is Cortana? It's Halo's Jen Taylor |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/04/02/voice-of-cortana-jen-taylor/7223357/ |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=May 2, 2016}}
2015–2023Windows 10Cortana{{cite web |url=http://guardianlv.com/2015/05/microsoft-corporation-lets-cortana-open-apps-in-windows-10/ |title=Microsoft Corporation Lets Cortana Open Apps in Windows 10 |last=Aparri |first=Judith |date=May 17, 2015 |work=Guardian Liberty Voice |access-date=May 17, 2015}}
2021–2023Windows 11Cortana{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Peter |date=September 4, 2021 |title=How to Install Cortana in Windows 11 |url=https://itechbrand.com/how-to-install-cortana-in-windows-11/ |access-date=April 9, 2022 |website=ITechBrand |language=en-US}}

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Jen-Taylor/|title=Jen Taylor (visual voices guide)|website=Behind The Voice Actors|access-date=September 14, 2017|type= A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information}}

}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|id=1071768|name=Jen Taylor}}
  • {{Twitter}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200634/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=10 Bungie's 2002 interview with Jen Taylor]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Jen}}

Category:Living people

Category:American film actresses

Category:American television actresses

Category:American video game actresses

Category:American voice actresses

Category:American web series actresses

Category:Actresses from Seattle

Category:Nintendo people

Category:Northwestern University alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:21st-century American actresses