Whether as River Tam in Joss Whedons cult classic series and follow-up film, Firefly and Serenity, or as the indestructible android-from-the-future Cameron in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Glau has cornered the market on playing attractive, demure young females with the controlled homicidal power to destroy an opposing legion of trained warriors.

So it was only natural that as her first-ever animated voiceover role, Glau would fit neatly into the role of an uber-powered Kryptonian who falls under the spell of one of Supermans greatest foes. Glau finds the perfect mix of youthful curiosity, teen angst and alien-turned-Earth-girl aggression as the voice of Kara, cousin of Superman (and ultimately destined to become Supergirl) in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies arriving today, September 28 from Warner Home Video.

Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel Superman/Batman: Supergirl by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation legend Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist). Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is now available as a Blu-ray Combo Pack, Special Edition DVD, On Demand and for Download.

Glaus career has been populated with frequent visits to the fanboy realm, adding regular roles on The 4400 and Dollhouse to her featured gigs on Firefly/Serenity and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The professionally trained ballerina had a seven-episode run on The Unit, and will appear in the upcoming NBC series, The Cape, as well as in the film Knights of Badassdom.

Following her recording session, Glau freely discussed a number of subjects from the acting strengths of the Whedon alumni association to her consistent on-set nerves to a strong desire to land more adult roles. Heres how that conversation went

QUESTION: Was it easy to find a way to relate to Kara?

SUMMER GLAU: Kara was a really comfortable fit for me because she’s sort of a girl coming into her own. A girl becoming a woman and finding out who she is, and so I felt like there were moments when it reminded me of River because she is so powerful, but also young and nave and a little bit lost. She has this underlying strength that comes from out of nowhere.

QUESTION: Whats special about voicing Supergirl?

SUMMER GLAU: I think everything about being Supergirl is special. When I saw the graphics for her, I thought I don’t think I’m ever gonna look that good again, so I’m going to soak it up and enjoy it. I feel like animated characters always have longer calves than they have thighs. They have these tiny little thighs and these big, wonderful calves and then these big hips, and this tiny little waist. I feel like it’d be hard to keep your balance, but it looks good. Plus I loved this script, and I loved the character. Who wouldn’t love to be Supergirl? So I had a great time.

QUESTION: As this was your first foray in voiceover for an animated character, what did you have in your head while you were recording to stay focused on your character?

SUMMER GLAU: Ive found that I do my best when I’m not afraid of being embarrassed in front of everyone. You have to just go there in your imagination. I tried to picture everything around me, seeing these other characters, and then I just put it out there and hoped that you all didn’t laugh at me. And you might have because I couldn’t hear you (she laughs) , but I just went for it.

QUESTION: Without any spoilers, do you have a favorite scene or a favorite line in the film?

SUMMER GLAU: I love that first scene when Superman comes to rescue Kara and she’s putting on this completely different persona. Playing that change was really fun. And I also really loved when Kara meets the Kents. I thought that was really funny.

As an actress, it’s very gratifying to have a character that has such a strong arc, so that you can do so many different things in one script with one character. She starts out speaking a different language and being very scared and not relating to anybody, and then realizing that she’s reconnected with a family member. Then she goes to school and learns how to hone her skills. She just goes through so many changes good, evil, scared, confidant and that variety in one script is fun to play.

QUESTION: You did have an added degree of difficulty for your first voiceover session speaking Kryptonian. How easy or difficult was that task?

SUMMER GLAU: I still don’t know how that all turned out. It’s kind of a blur right now. I’m trying to remember what we actually ended up with because we tried a lot of different things. You can make it up because not many people know Kryptonian, so I don’t know exactly what I ended up saying. I am surprised that I’m not still working on my Kryptonian lines right now. I thought I was going to be doing the Kryptonian for a few hours (she laughs).

QUESTION: Youve played a lot of strong, powerful, quiet women. Are there similarities to Summer Glaus real-life persona?

SUMMER GLAU: Well, as far as my actual fighting abilities, I haven’t tried it out in real life. I don’t know what would happen. I did learn how to do some martial arts, but I can’t throw cars. I can’t bend metal like Cameron, and, I dont know if I’m as psychic as River. I’m definitely not as powerful as Supergirl but, you know, here I just have to use my imagination.

I was always very shy growing up, and I wasn’t really good at expressing myself in real life. And I don’t know why it is but when I’m playing someone else, it’s a really therapeutic thing for me. Being an actress has really opened up a lot of opportunity for me to see different sides of who I am. I think I’m still pretty shy in real life, but I just have to let go of that when I’m playing these characters. There were moments when I felt really scared to just let it out today, but it felt so good.

QUESTION: DC Universe films have been populated with Whedon alums. What is it about Joss Whedons actors that makes them so good with this material as well?

SUMMER GLAU: One thing that I recognized about the Firefly cast is that that group of people loves what they do and there’s an innocence and an excitement about just diving into a character and being part of this make-believe world. Some actors, I think, don’t like doing such fantastical characters. You have to just dive in and have that open heart to play these characters that are bigger than life, And that’s what Joss’ actors do pretty well.

I think that Joss writes characters that are so specific and rich and complicated. We had an ensemble cast for Firefly. It was a very big cast and we had to share story lines between a lot of people. But I felt like each person was so distinct that you found ways to relate to each. Joss does that so well. He has a way of writing characters that really fills them out and, as an actress, reading the material, you just lock into it right away. It’s so specific. It’s very inspiring.

QUESTION: So how did you find your very first voiceover/animation experience?

SUMMER GLAU: I’m very relieved today that everybody was nice to me at the end. I was very scared. I’ve never done any kind of straight voiceover work before. I’ve never done anything animated. I wasnt sure what the process was going to be. So I was worried about how I would do, but everyone was very accepting and I felt like it was a really creative environment. I felt very safe.

I felt a lot of freedom about trying different thing, and we got to try a lot of different things. And it surprised me that we were able to jump in and out of the scenes so easily, and I felt like I could stay focused. It helped me a lot to get the coaching and get ideas. And I was surprised that it went by so fast, too. We got through a whole script in a few hours. Amazing.

QUESTION: When was the last time you were this nervous on a set?

SUMMER GLAU: I was nervous this morning. But I get nervous every take. Every take, I feel butterflies. It never gets to the point where I feel like it’s easy. Not that it feels like I can’t do it, but there’s this thing about acting I feel like a little bit of magic always has to happen because you have to kind of leave yourself. You have to leave your reality and I think that it takes a little bit of magic to do that.

QUESTION: Why did it take so long for you to voice an animated character?

SUMMER GLAU: I never thought about doing animation before and this was the first time that anybody asked me to do it. I couldn’t think of an animated character that I would like to do more. Supergirl is amazing.

QUESTION: So youd like to do more?

SUMMER GLAU: Yes, please. More. (she giggles)

QUESTION: Do you stay mostly in the science fiction genre by choice?

SUMMER GLAU: I’m not going to question it because it’s been fantastic doing so much sci-fi. I think that maybe the reason why I have been able to do a lot of sci-fi is because I think that fans of science fiction are very loyal and they’re very nurturing and dedicated. They like to see their actors in other projects and they’ll follow you and support you and I think that’s why I’ve moved from one sci-fi job to the next. I’ve really enjoyed it. I think that science fiction gives actors some of the best opportunities thats where you find some of the most challenging, well written roles in TV and film.

QUESTION: Its obvious that you respect your fans. Do you have any unique fan experiences or antidotes?

SUMMER GLAU: I always keep my fan experiences very, very close to my heart. My favorite Comic-Con memory is the first one because I had no idea there’s no way to picture what it’s going to be like until you’re there. And being one of Joss’ actors is really special, because it’s like being part of a special family. Comic-Con was just beyond what I could’ve imagined. It’s an amazing experience for you to say thank you in person to the people that make it possible for you to do what you love.

I feel that our fans are so positive and so loving that I like to hear what they have to say. On Terminator, one thing that our cast liked to do was read if the fans noticed little things that we would put into the show. It became sort of a game. We loved to hear what they had to say and what they noticed or what they didn’t notice or if they liked choices that we made. It’s like a little love letter. You send it out and then you see what they say and it happens every week. I think they’re very thoughtful and so smart and, ultimately, we do it for them, so it’s great to hear what they think.

QUESTION: If you could wish for your next role, what would you want to play?

SUMMER GLAU: I think what I’m focusing on the most right now is just growing as an actress, and really being around actors that push me to be better. I’d like to grow and as I grow up, I’d like to play more adult roles. I’d like to play a woman. I’ve played a lot of girls and teenagers, but I’m not a teenager anymore. So I’d like to try to push myself in that direction. I want to keep doing TV; I love to do film; I should try to do comedy, even though I’m terrified of trying to be funny. I’ve always wanted to do a western and Id love to do a period film. Besides that, I just want to keep pushing myself.

Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will be available as a Blu-ray Combo Pack, Special Edition DVD, On Demand and for Download.

Daly was the voice behind the worlds ultimate super hero for 52 episodes of Superman: The Animated Series and several animated movies, all the while starring in one primetime television series after another from eight seasons on Wings to memorable roles on HBOs The Sopranos and From The Earth To The Moon to his current ABC hit, Private Practice. The Emmy nominated actor made his feature film debut in Barry Levinsons 1982 classic Diner.

Daly joins forces with Batman voice Kevin Conway to lead a Superman/Batman: Apocalypse cast that boasts two-time Emmy Award winner Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the evil lord Darkseid, sci-fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly; Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), and multi-Emmy winner Ed Asner (Up) as Granny Goodness. Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel Superman/Batman: Supergirl by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation guru Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist).

Amongst the many activities surrounding the films upcoming release is “Destination Apocalypse,” an interactive online promotion that allows fans to get even deeper into the mythology of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. Fans can access “Destination Apocalypse” at http://DestinationApocalypse.com and explore the many sections including games, quizzes and information about film. Fans can even send Kryptonian messages to their Facebook friends. In each section, participants virtually “check in” and earn badges to unlock an exclusive video clip from the movie. In addition, earning badges for participating in the various activities in each section help to unlock exclusive movie poster downloads.

Daly joined the festivities at the World Premiere of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse in Los Angeles on September 21 at The Paley Center for Media. The Metropolis, er, New York City-born actor offered his thoughts on a number of subjects ranging from the Superman/Batman dynamic and the importance of a great villain to his love of farming in a playful interview. And heres what he had to say

QUESTION: What did you find unique and/or fresh about this latest Superman-Batman vehicle?

TIM DALY: What’s interesting about the relationships in this film is that Superman and Batman are really on the same page. They are united and they only give each other a very modest amount of grief, whereas at other times they’ve been a little more at each other’s throats, and more dubious about the other one’s methods. And Kara is, perhaps, Superman’s last surviving relative. So he feels very protective of her, and sort of glad to have someone who has had or is about to have a similar experience as he’s had coming to a different planet. So it’s kind of touching, really. He’s very paternal towards her. He really wants her to do well and to stick around.

It’s nice to see his powers used in connection with something personal. He’s not saving the planet, he’s not saving Metropolis. He’s not saving Lois. He’s saving a blood relative. So it’s that kind of deeply personal feeling. I do enjoy that in the script.

QUESTION: If Batman is a loner, how would you classify Superman?

TIM DALY: I think Superman’s a loner. Without a doubt. I think he recognizes that he has this responsibility, because of the power that he has, and that he has to bear it by himself. And to make sure that he is using it for good and not for evil. He has to keep in check his human emotions, though he’s not really a human because those are the things about living on Earth that can get us in trouble. Greed, power, love — all those things that take us off the tracks. In this script, Kara asks him if he’s ever regretted having his power, and he has a one word answer: no. We actually spent quite a bit of time trying to find the right level of no to play, because I don’t think Superman is 100 percent sure about that answer. Or he hasn’t always been. He’s been through a lot, finding out how different he was from everyone else, and having to essentially live a double life.

QUESTION: As different as they are, what is it that you think creates the dynamic for Batman and Superman to essentially be each others best friend?

TIM DALY: I think part of it is that they’re both super heroes, so they share that in common. They understand and forgive the other one for living a double life, because they both essentially have to do it. And more often than not they’re on the same side. Batman, despite his darkness, is essentially a power of good. It’s interesting — it’s kind of like sometimes you wonder why big movie stars are best friends with huge movie stars. I think the answer is that they live such a specific life that’s so odd and so difficult that they tend to gravitate toward people who have an understanding of that, and forgive the fact that they have to be private or have to wear disguises, or come in the back door of the place so there’s not a big fuss made over them. I think that’s sort of the same kind of relationship for Batman and Superman.

QUESTION: So when you and Kevin Conroy to go dinner in Manhattan …

TIM DALY: No one gives a damn. No one could care less (he laughs).

QUESTION: Do you see these Superman-Batman pair-ups as buddy films?

TIM DALY: I think maybe in a bizarre way. I mean, when you think about great buddy films, like Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, these guys are willing to die for each other, and yet they’re constantly giving each other a hard time. And they frustrate each other to no end. Think about a movie like 48 HRS. Ultimately that’s a buddy film, but it starts out with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy beating each other up and abusing each other in all kinds of different ways. I think these Superman-Batman films are part of that genre. The oil and water who become inseparable.

QUESTION: How do you interpret Superman’s perception of Batman?

TIM DALY: I think Superman likes Batman. In his own private way, he gets a kick out of the fact that he can count on Batman being cynical and pessimistic, and that he sort of relies on that probably in the way you rely on certain friends or family members to do certain things that you shake your head and go, Oh, jeez. It’s sort of comforting. And in this script, he’s come to trust Batman to have his back. And he has a genuine concern for him. So I think he likes him fine.

QUESTION: Do you now feel some sense of ownership of Superman?

TIM DALY: I think I feel a greater sense of ownership now than I ever have. I think it’s because I’ve embraced the fact that it’s so important to so many people. People take Superman very, very seriously. I think that when I first started doing the series, I took it seriously when I recorded the role, but I maybe judged the audience a little bit. I wondered Why are people getting all excited about Superman? It’s just a cartoon. But I’ve realized that it’s not my place to judge. People love this character and take him seriously, and follow his every movie, and if that’s their thing, then they have every right to that. And I should serve that with all my might. So I understand that now, and I try to respect the characters importance to the fans.

What really surprises me is when I’m talking to someone, and someone else standing close by will say, Tim Daly? Superman! And I’ll say, How did you know? And they say, Your voice. And then I realize, oh yeah, that makes sense. But clearly they’ve become attuned to my voice, and the fact that my name is attached to Superman. But still, it always surprises me.

QUESTION: Is Darkseid a perfect example of the bigger the villain, the better the story adage?

TIM DALY: Villains are really what give comic stories their flavor. Honestly, I think Superman would be quite dull without a really great villain. Batman, maybe not so much, because he’s such a twisted character himself. He’s struggling with a lot of inner demons. But Superman is the kind of guy who’s impossible to hate, because he’s a guy’s guy, and he’s straightforward. He can be a little sarcastic and he has a wryness about him. But he doesn’t have a lot of dark corners. So I think that contrasting him with someone like Darkseid, who’s a real badass villain, absolutely makes the script more interesting.

QUESTION: Do you have a favorite villains?

TIM DALY: I guess my favorite would have to be, and I say this very selfishly, but its Bizarro. He’s sort of a hapless villain, a sort of demented Superman replicant that Lex Luthor wants to use for his own evil purposes. He’s kind of almost innocent in a weird way. He has no idea what it is he’s doing, but he’s doing a lot of damage. And I guess I like him the best because I got to play him.

QUESTION: What entertained you as a kid?

TIM DALY: I had two sources of entertainment. One was television and the other was my own imagination. I was a kind of a lonely kid I spent a lot of time by myself, and I spent a lot of time outside. So I would wander around in nature with this huge imaginary world. And I had three imaginary friends. And there was a whole lot going on in there that no one else really knew about. But that entertained me. I wasn’t sad, I was just a loner. And then there was television especially cartoons like Bugs Bunny.

QUESTION: And what entertains you now?

TIM DALY: I haven’t been bored since 1970. I play the guitar, which entertains me a lot. I play golf. I watch a little bit of TV with great relish. I go to the theatre. I play around with my kids. I am not very good at sitting still, so having activity entertains me. I futz with stuff. I build things and fix things. I like to garden.

QUESTION: Another thing you and Batman, er, Kevin Conroy have in common. Working in the garden. Whats the foundation of your attraction to gardening?

TIM DALY: Oh my God, if you’ve ever grown your own food, youd know. I had a moment about 15 years ago when I first harvested my own potatoes. I had some primordial Irish experience. It was a cold fall day, and it was kind of misty, and I was muddy. I reached into the ground and I took the potatoes out of the ground and sort of held them to the sky. Like, Food, my food, my people. (he laughs) It’s great.

I farm in Vermont. A lot of people tell me I shouldn’t talk about this because it makes me sound too much like Mr. Green Jeans, but I have a garden with lettuce, broccoli, peas, beans, tomatoes, carrots, lots of herbs, parsley, basil. Cauliflower, which never grows. Eggplant is a disaster for some reason. Corn, squash — stuff like that.

Maybe it’s because it’s just a little miracle. You take some little seed, you plant it, and it becomes this beautiful thing, and you can pick it and eat it, and it sustains you. Just a little miracle. I love it.

Warner Home Video, UGO.com and The Paley Center for Media will present bi-coastal World Premieres of the film in Los Angeles on September 21 and New York on September 23. Filmmakers and members of the voice cast will attend both events for red carpet media interviews and post-screening panel discussions.

The animated clip depicts the arrival of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Barda in Apokalips … and the not-so-welcoming committee that greets the quartet of heroes.

In Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, a spaceship splashes down in Gotham City Harbor — leading Batman and Superman to encounter a mysterious Kryptonian with powers as great as those of the Man of Steel. The Kryptonian is soon revealed to be Kara, cousin of Superman, who takes her under his wing to educate her about the ways of Earth. However, the villainous Darkseid has other plans. Seeing an opportunity to finally defeat Superman, Darkseid abducts and gains control of Kara, utilizing the powerful Kryptonian to do his bidding. Its up to Batman and Superman to save Kara, but theyll have to take the fight to Darkseid within his hostile world where unknown, deadly threats lurk around every corner, including a brainwashed Kryptonian able to match Superman blow-for-blow.

Conroy, the voice behind the title character of the landmark Batman: The Animated Series, set a standard that has yet to be contested over the past 20 years. Conroy had already been seen on soap operas and television series like Dynasty and Tour of Duty when he aced his first audition for an animated voiceover role in 1991 earning the title character role for Batman: The Animated Series. It was a casting decision that sounds as good today as it did back then.

Conroy will share that voice in person as the featured guest when Warner Home Video, UGO.com and The Paley Center for Media proudly present the East Coast premiere of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse in New York on September 23. The West Coast premiere will be hosted in Los Angeles on September 21.

The bi-coastal premieres are just part of the ongoing festivities in conjunction with the release of the film. Included in the activities is “Destination Apocalypse,” an interactive online promotion that allows fans to get even deeper into the mythology of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. Fans can access “Destination Apocalypse” at http://DestinationApocalypse.com and explore the many sections including games, quizzes and information about film. Fans can even send Kryptonian messages to their Facebook friends. In each section, participants virtually “check in” and earn badges to unlock an exclusive video clip from the movie. In addition, earning badges for participating in the various activities in each section help to unlock exclusive movie poster downloads.

Conway helps lead a Superman/Batman: Apocalypse cast that includes fan favorite Tim Daly (Private Practice) as Superman, as well as Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the daunting Darkseid, sci-fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly; Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), and multi-Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) as Granny Goodness.

Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel Superman/Batman: Supergirl by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation legend Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist).

Conroy will speak quite a bit during pre-premiere interviews and a post-premiere panel discussion on September 23. But for those fans who cant attend the sold-out event, heres some thoughts the actor offered after a recent recording session.

QUESTION: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse features a foe powerful enough to require more than just one super hero to step to the plate. Can you speak to the importance of a great villain?

KEVIN CONROY: Well, the major villain is Darkseid, and he is very apocalyptic. You know, its in the title (he laughs). The bigger the villain, the greater the conflict so as Darkseid is this epic-sized villain, it gives a lot of dynamic for Batman and Superman to work off, and creates that much more drama. Which means lots of action. And, of course, Batman saves the world as usual. What would you expect? (he laughs)

QUESTION: Do you have a preference for the type of story that goes with Batman?

KEVIN CONROY: What makes Batman interesting to audiences isn’t just the fact of the personal drama, or the darkness of his having a secret identity, or his avenging his parents’ death. All of that personal drama makes him appealing to people. But I think of all the super heroes, what sets him apart is that he’s the only one that doesn’t have any superpowers. He is the great detective. So in every story, it always comes down to his using his wits. I think everyone relates to that and loves that about him. I really admire that aspect of his character I wish I was wittier. That’s why I think audiences get into him so much, and that character trait is very important to this story.

QUESTION: Batman is a basically a loner. What are your thoughts about his lone wolf approach, and how that works in a buddy adventure like the Superman/Batman films?

KEVIN CONROY: Batmans isolation and his singularity, his inability to really let other people into his personal world, is really essential to the character. It’s part of what audiences expect. Even in a series like Justice League, where he was one of seven super heroes, Batman was always the odd man out. The others would go off as a group to do something you know, they might go have pizza and Batman was always the guy left back in the cave.

So in these Superman stories, I think it’s the closest Batman gets to having a brother, a kindred spirit. Superman understands Batman. He understands his need to be alone and his isolation. Hes probably the only one of all the super heroes who can balance Batman in terms of wit and power, so they’re a very good balance for each other.

QUESTION: How does Batman see Superman?

KEVIN CONROY: I think Batman thinks of Superman as the Dudley Do-Right of super heroes. He admires his strength and his character, but he also he thinks he’s incredibly nave and very unsophisticated about the world. Remember, Batman is also Bruce Wayne, so he’s very urbane. He’s very versed in the way of the world. And Superman is Clark Kent, and he’s such a goof (he laughs). So it’s almost all about the alter-ego the darkness of Batmans Bruce Wayne is balanced out by the sunny demeanor of Supermans Clark Kent. That’s where I think the distinction is. Batman just thinks that Superman is kind of a very, very nave guy who always sees the goodness in everybody. And Batman tends to see the darkness.

QUESTION: You attended Comic-Con International in San Diego last year for the first time in six years. How did that experience impact you?

KEVIN CONROY: The experience with the fans always re-energizes me for Batman. I’ve always been really into meeting and interacting with the fans. I understand why a lot of actors don’t like to do that because it can be very invasive of your private life. But I’m just so appreciative because I figure I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for them. Also, my background is the theatre, and the fun of doing theatre is the interaction with the audience, the feedback you get every night. You just don’t get that in Hollywood. You don’t get that with television or film, and you certainly don’t get it working in animation. So the only place you get it is to go to places like the Cons.

Plus, you get funny perks. I went to a Starbucks in downtown San Diego, and they said, Oh, Mr. Conroy, you don’t pay for coffee today. (he laughs) I thought, well, that hasn’t happened in a long time.

QUESTION: Away from the Cons, how often are you recognized?

KEVIN CONROY: It happens in some unusual places. A number of years ago, I was in the Hollywood Post Office parking lot. I left everything in the car, because I was just going straight to the mail drop with the envelope. This guy, who was sitting on the curb, obviously homeless, says to me Hey, buddy, have you got a quarter? And I said, I’m so sorry. I literally don’t. I have nothing. He said, You’re Kevin Conroy! I got really nervous you just assume that your job is anonymous working on animation, so I asked him how he knew that and he said, Oh, everybody knows who’s Batman. I said, No, believe me, everyone doesn’t know who’s Batman. He said, Oh, please–please–please–please do the voice. He said, Just say it I am vengeance. He knew the lines. I said, I am vengeance. He said, Oh, my God. Batman’s here! Batman’s here! He said, Say it: I am the night. I said, I am the night. He said, Go! Go! Finish! Finish! And I said I am Batman! So the two of us are there screaming I am Batman! in the parking lot, and he started clapping and clapping, yelling I can’t believe I have Batman in the parking lot.

He went on to explain to me that all television monitors at the Circuit City on Hollywood Blvd. showed Batman every day, and he would stand outside and watch the show. So I said, Wait, just a second, and I went running back to the car for some cash. He said, Oh, I can’t take Batman’s money. I told him he was going to take Batman’s money so he wouldnt tell anyone that Batman is cheap (he laughs). That whole scene was wild, though the last place you’d expect for someone to recognize a voice actor is in the parking lot of the post office.

QUESTION: Youre a classically trained actor and a graduate of Juilliard. Did you receive any instruction at Julliard that prepared you for voiceover work?

KEVIN CONROY: At that time, Juilliard was the new hot place to go if you wanted to be an actor, My classmates were people like Robin Williams, Kelsey Grammer, Frannie Conroy. We were all kids. Robin and I were roommates for two years, stealing food from each other when the other wasnt looking. We were starving students.

Robin was brilliant at the one thing that is perhaps what best prepared me for what I do now, voicework. There was a famous teacher named Pierre LeFevre who ran the mask program at Juilliard. French masks conceal just the upper part of the face. This is classical French theatre, and it’s all part of a very classical education. You put on these masks and they completely neutralize who you are. You become a different person. You can’t use the expressions on your face you can only use your body and your voice. Robin lived in those mask classes he would put on these masks and just become these unbelievable characters. Pierre practically adopted Robin. There was some really inspired stuff going on. The point is that in that class, all you could use was your voice. It really made you focus on that especially on characterization in your voice.

QUESTION: Did you have any clue that would lead you somewhere?

KEVIN CONROY: Its like that old expression life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. I made all these plans to be a classical actor, and you can’t make a living in the theatre anymore. There are no more classical actors. Everyone who survives in the theatre does it by doing TV and film or voice work.

I had no idea that this is what I would end up doing, but it certainly prepared me for it. I get that question a lot from people. How do you get into this business? How do I get into voice work? And I always say, Well, you go to Juilliard for four years (he laughs) Thats the thing everyone’s route is unique.

QUESTION: Did you have much voiceover success before Batman?

KEVIN CONROY: Actually, I started doing voice work in the early ’80s, and the very first voice job I did was the first commercial I auditioned for. Remember Paco Rabanne cologne? The hook line was What is remembered is up to you. That was me. And over the next couple years, it paid me $25,000 for those few words. It paid for a lot of theatre acting.

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Kevin Conroy reprises his Batman: The Animated Series role as the Dark Knight in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the ninth entry in the popular series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming September 28, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video. (Photo courtesy of Gary Miereanu)

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Batman is forced to deal with Darkseid’s enormous robotic watchdogs in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. The DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movie will be distributed by Warner Home Video on September 28, 2010. Kevin Conroy provides the voice of Batman.

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“Destination Apocalypse,” an interactive promotion that allows fans to get even deeper into the mythology of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.
Fans can access “Destination Apocalypse” at http://DestinationApocalypse.com and explore the many sections including games, quizzes and information about film. Fans can even send Kryptonian message to their Facebook friends.