Jim Dale visits Washington D.C.
Jim Dale, the voice behind the Harry Potter audio books, was at a Washington D.C. bookstore earlier tonight to read from the books and share with fans how he invented the various characters’ voices. The place was packed and standing room only, but definitely worth it.
It was fun to learn that the voice of Marge Dursley is of a guy he’d met at a bar. I was even more excited when the first thing he chose to read was the passage on bubotuber pus! Yeah!
He only read for half an hour, and with the remaining time, he gave the children in the audience an opportunity to imitate him doing the different voices, including one of Molly Weasley’s howler and one of the Sorting Hat’s song. The audience had to vote on which kid did the voice best and the winners each received three of the Harry Potter audio books. Jim Dale stayed for a few minutes afterwards to autograph items, but had to leave to catch a plane.
I’m on such a Harry Potter high now.