Thérèse Plummer - Actor, Storyteller and Award-Winning Audiobook Narrator
Thérèse Plummer
Thérèse Plummer is an actor and award-winning audiobook narrator working in New York City. She has recorded over 350 audio books for various publishers. Most recently she won the 2020 Audie Award for her work on the multicast, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 (which also won Audiobook of the year!) She won the 2019 Audie Award for her work on the multicast, Sadie by Courtney Summers for Macmillan Audio, was nominated for the Mutlicast Any Man by Amber Tamblyn for Harper Audio and her solo narration for The Rogue Planets Shaken by Lee W. Brainard for Podium Publishing. The American Library Association (ALA) awarded her work on Sourdough by Robin Sloan as part of the 2018 Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration for Adult Listeners.
Thérèse is the voice of Maya Hansen in the Marvel Graphic Motion Comic Ironman Extremis, Dr. Fennel in Pokemon and for various Yu-Gi-Oh characters. Television Guest Star Roles on The Good Wife, Law and Order SVU and the upcoming series Virgin River for Netflix.
I’m so excited for you to connect with Thérèse, check out her work, and follow along as she continues to share her incredible journey - from starting out as an adolescent counselor/therapist, to breaking into the business of acting, voiceovers, and audiobooks. Her story will inspire you, and remind you of what’s possible in your life too.
I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.
My name is Therese Plummer and I am a professional Actor and Audiobook Narrator. I just finished recording a six book series called The Vampire World Sagaby P.T. Hylton and Jonathan Benecke for Podium Audio. I am also working on a title for Irene Hannon called Starfish Pierfor Recorded Books and a couple fun day records at Audible with different projects.
How did you get started?
I was auditioning and taking classes in NYC about 18 years ago and my mom kept encouraging me to get into audiobooks. As a daughter is wont to do, I ignored her and kept on my path, but when an audiobook class popped up I was intrigued and took it and the rest is history. Robin Miles was teaching that class and told me I should be doing this professionally. She taught me the skills needed to go into the booth and bring a story to life and amazingly it is ALL about acting. It is acting. I began auditioning and the journey has been evolving for the last 15 years. So, I had to go back to my mom, who is my number one fan today, and tell her, again, she was right!
What inspired the work that you're doing?
I am the fifth of eight kids: four brothers and three sisters. If you wanted to get heard in that tribe you better have your story and characters and performance top notch because it was a rough crowd! My dad is a brilliant storyteller and used to perform A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens as a one-man show for us growing up. He started the gig as a way to make extra money for Christmas presents for his tribe but it became a hit and soon a Christmas tradition for so many families. Today my brother and I tell the story at Grey Towers in Milford PA., as my father retired, and it is a complete honor and joy. Also, I have been fascinated by life and other human beings since I have been born.
I am a natural student and observer of the human experience. I studied psychology and theatre at King’s College, in PA. Working with kids and adults in crises and dealing with substance abuse and mental illness was the greatest acting school I could have gone too. I began naturally utilizing my creative sides in therapy, with the kids especially, and watched them flourish and come alive in a way talking therapies couldn’t bring out. Having my own struggles and recovery growing up I also brought an understanding to the table that most clinical workers don’t have. Again, the human experience. So, no matter who I am voicing in a story I have so much research in my mental and physical database to draw from that it is amazing. I never knew being alive and fully immersed in life in all its colors could provide me with so much to give back to others.
What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?
My biggest passion in this lifetime is to utilize my creativity and gifts and be of service to others. I don’t always know what that is going to look like but some of the emails I receive from listeners going through health issues or depression or PTSD and telling me that listening to my voice perform the stories has made their days brighter is the greatest feeling in the world. Mom’s emailing me that they listened to a story I performed on a family vacation and the kids were laughing and enjoying it is pure gold for my heart. My passion is to continue reaching as many people as I can (TED Talks, The Moth…) with my story and where I ended up to help maybe one person in the room not give up and keep going.
What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?
Hearing my nephews and nieces shriek with giggles when crazy Aunt Rez is around. My mom and dad trying to figure out FaceTime and have the best talks about their days as retirees. My husband and stepson and big chubby orange cat on the couch watching a movie and having no idea how it all happened but it did, and I am loved, and love, and am at peace. I am happiest when others around me are smiling so my actions and intentions are to bring light and love and laughter wherever I go.
How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?
I wake up each morning and listen to my app where Sarah Blondin guides me through her meditations before I even get out of bed. I then feed the cat and make coffee and go upstairs and set my timer for 20 minutes of writing. I do all of this before looking at emails, social media or anything that will encourage the crazy. I do a gratitude list. And I try to stay on my team throughout the day. My sense of humor is key to my sanity.
What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?
I think she would freaking love it. As a survival strategy growing up in my house I would often go into the attic and there was a room I claimed as my own where I would practice monologues and dance and write lyrics and jam out with my little brother who played amazing guitar. I got to escape everyone and everything and go into my fantasy world. It was my creative cave. I am pretty sure it saved my life. The fact that as an adult I get to be creative for a living is fantastic and amazing. I perform stories and act out all the crazy characters in these stories and it is hard work but incredibly fulfilling.
Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?
**Move a muscle change a thought
**one word at a time
**let it go
What is your biggest dream?
I would LOVE to be on a bigger platform to utilize my gifts of acting and storytelling and helping others. I come from a really crazy beautiful talented and dysfunctional upbringing that has shaped me into the actor and storyteller I am today. I almost gave up when I was younger and if it wasn’t for my innate creativity and the help of teachers, mentors and guides along the way I wouldn’t be here. I would LOVE to share that story on a TED Talk or other platforms so others will have hope.
To learn more about Therese and her work visit her website www.thereseplummer.com and on Instagram @plummertherese Facebook @therese.plummer & @tplumdog Twitter @tplummer76 and on LinkedIn here
Joy Corner is an interview-style blog series brought to you by Seek The Joy Podcast. Our mission continues to be a desire to share your stories, truths, joys and inspiration in your words. We invite you to join our corner, and share your joys, passions, and moments of inspiration as we continue to seek the joy, together. Join this series here