Maile Flanagan
The versatile actress who gave a generation of anime fans the definitive English voice of the spirited ninja Naruto Uzumaki.
Born 1965 (age 61)·American actress·Birthday: May 19·Generation X
Biography
Maile Flanagan's career is a testament to the power of a distinctive voice—both literally and figuratively. With a background in improv and comedy, she brought a sharp, energetic presence to live-action roles, often in sitcoms and children's television. But her defining role came from another dimension entirely. Cast as the voice of the hyperactive, determined ninja Naruto Uzumaki, Flanagan didn't just read lines; she embodied the character's boundless optimism, frustration, and grit for over 700 episodes and films. This performance made her a pivotal figure for millions of fans who grew up with the English dub. Alongside this iconic work, she maintained a steady stream of voice and on-camera roles, from animated pigs to school principals, proving her range extends far beyond the Hidden Leaf Village.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Maile was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maile Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Maile's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Voiced the titular character Naruto Uzumaki for the entire English-dubbed run of the 'Naruto' and 'Naruto: Shippuden' anime series and films.
- Won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for her role as Piggley Winks in 'Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks'.
- Played a series regular role as Principal Perry on the Disney XD series 'Lab Rats' and its spinoff 'Lab Rats: Elite Force'.
Did You Know?
She is a trained improviser and performed with the famed Groundlings comedy troupe in Los Angeles.
Before acting full-time, she worked as a bartender and a substitute teacher.
She is of Irish and Thai descent.
“The voice is an instrument for telling stories, whether you're seen or not.”
