I am Amber Nash, voice of Pam Poovey on Archer. Ask Me Anything.

Pam has evolved over time, how much of her evolution has your own personality contributed?

I'd like to think a lot but probably just a bit. I think as Adam Reed has gotten to know us all he's started writing the characters for us a bit more, I have a really dirty mouth and have always kinda been one of the guys oh and I LOVE to fart.

What would be your dream genre for the next Archer reboot?

I'd love a period British something, like Downton Abbey or Poldark or a Viking season, Pam would make a badass Viking Queen.

I'd love a period British something like Downton Abbey or Poldark or a Viking season. Pam would make a badass Viking Queen!

I only know you as Pam, and you're excellent! Is she the most fun to voice or do you have a favorite?

She is the most fun character and I love her so much. It really has been a gift to play Pam for so many years, she is so incredible and wonderful and can do anything and doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks.

Besides the obvious benefit of being able to work sans pants, what do you enjoy about voice work? Are there particular tricks you use to find a character's voice when you play them? Thanks for some awesome work!

I love the challenge of trying to get all the "acting" out through just your voice (my voice is acting so hard right now, is often what I'm thinking in the booth) I usually have one word that helps me click in to a character's sound and for Pam it's "really?"

What's it like working with H. Jon Benjamin, is he as dry as he appears on screen? And when will Pam Poovey get her own spin-off series? I desperately need that in my life.

Pam Poovey Spin-off Series petition

H. Jon Benjamin is exactly what you'd imagine, he's like having a jackass older brother that gives you no end of shit, but you still just want to hang out in his room and listen to records with him.

Pam spin-off? I desperately need that in my life too, let's start a letter writing campaign!

Don't tempt me, I have an account on Change.org, the one that brought back McDonald's Szechuan Sauce. We can make it happen!

Yessssss!!!

When you first started voicing Pam, did you know the different directions that the character would end up going? Was it always the plan to make her a coke addicted, Yakuza employed, ass kicking, Beej fiend? I'm curious as to who was most responsible for her character development because she is awesome.

I had no idea what Pam would become, I don't think anyone did. Except for beej fiend, we all saw that coming a mile away. In the pilot episode, Pam is introduced as the mousy Director of HR and now look at her. She was originally just there to be the butt of the jokes but then I think Adam was like we need someone that can do blank, have Pam do it and that just happened a bunch until Adam looked up and was like "shit, Pam is awesome"

Who would you cast as Archer and Pam in a live action? By the way big fan

I think Jon Hamm is a safe bet for Archer and John Goodman would make a great Pam!

And that’s why you are officially my favorite!! 😂😂. Any ideas for the others?

I think most everyone else could be played by the actual person that plays them except Gillette. Gillette could be played by Jimmi Simpson or Ellen DeGeneres.

Is it wrong that I am sexually attracted to cocaine Pam?

No, I mean it's weird but I get it.

How much improv do you get to do in an episode?

Is there anything that maybe you guys did in the studio that you thought was brilliant but didn't make the cut?

We don't actually do that much, the scripts are usually pretty tightly written, the improv usually comes in the everybody reacts to something lines.

Be honest. Have you ever told a lover in real life that they made you wet enough to drown a toddler in your panties?

I never have. But maybe I've said, come on you were pushing rope.

What’re you drinking?

I’m jealous, I have to go to work in a few hours.

That's still plenty of time to have a few drinks, take a booze snooze and be fresh as a daisy.

Is this the same Dad's Garage in Atlanta that, years and years ago, did The Zurich Plays: A brief history of DaDa done in a DaDaist style play?

Holy Bananos yes, that's the very same.

Have you found yourself using any of Pam's sayings in your daily life?

I haven't, but if I did "shut your dick holster" would be at the top of my list.

Pam's back piece is epic. Do you have any tattoos?

I have 2 but not nearly as epic. I have a star on my shoulder and and a snowflake on my arm.

What are you drinking?

Prosecco, I mean it is day drinking after all.

Is Pam's weird-ass backstory something that is constantly evolving or was it developed early on? I love the random Yakuza references!!!

I think it's constantly evolving, if Adam knew all of that in the beginning I think it might have driven him insane. I really want some more Poovey Farms episodes.

Do you have any real-life inspiration for Pam’s character and if so, anyone we know?

Not really, her voice in the beginning when I was first finding it was kind of the voice I do when I'm doing my mom. Otherwise, all the inspiration comes from the writing of the character and just trying to play her to the top of what such an awesome character deserves.

What will you be doing for Halloween?

A few friends are coming over and we are handing out Halloween candy to the neighborhood goblins! We are the weird old people that don't have kids but love trick or treaters.

Hey, Amber! Love the stuff you do, and not just on Archer! Seeing how Archer's ending next season, what variant of Pam would you say is your personal favorite to voice/act as/watch being awesome?

I really loved giant Pam from Danger Island. I love it when Archer and Pam are teamed up, it's really fun and it was a nice fun/dumb season!

If you were given complete creative freedom over Pam (no strings attached), are there any fundamental changes you would make to her personality/writing?

I don't think so, I really have loved watching her develop in the way that she has and don't think if I had been in charge of it, it would have been so great. I also really like that at the end of the day lots of times Pam is the real heart of the show.

If Pam could bang any historical figure, who do you think she'd choose?

Baberaham Lincoln

I was going to be Pam for Halloween this year but I feel like I’m not in fight club shape so i wouldnt have been doing it justice. Anyway, do you have a costume this year, and would Pam have a go to costume?

Well the great thing about Pam is she comes in so many different shapes and sizes, so next time if you aren't feeling fight club Pam have another Pam lined up, Pam lives inside us all.

I don't have a costume, I dressed up a bunch last weekend for shows. I played an old prospector for a burlesque show. I think Pam would love to wear a skimpy American Gladiators costume. Remember that show?

Have u farted while recording ?

No but I wish I had. I have burped, or tried at least, there have been burps in the script and I always want to try and record them but I think they usually use a canned burp that's better than my meager attempt.

Who's your favorite voice actor to work alongside?

We actually work in a pretty solitary environment. We just go in and do our own lines and then leave so we rarely get to work with anyone else on the show. I do get to see other people work on occasion, if I get there early sometimes Lucky will still be in the booth or Dave Willis and that's always fun to watch. And I love all the cast members, we see each other for SDCC or other panels and events and we have so much fun together, everyone really is hilarious.

For some scenes, to fully capture the more subtle scene noises you're made to incorporate props - like with the bear claw scene.

What are some other scenes where this has happened? Like maybe something from season 5?

Literally every episode in season 5 I had something in my mouth. Cheese puffs, napkins, water, the engineer's granola bar. It really got ridiculous and kinda gross. It's the ultimate talking with your mouth full, there was food everywhere, the mic, my script!

Does your opinion on Bear Claws match Pam's?

Sadly, no. I've never been a fan or maybe just never had a really good bear claw, I don't like donuts in general. I love sweets but not of the donut variety.

Holy shit snacks, can't believe you are Pam!

Toffee apple or Chocolate apple? Which do you prefer in your dick holster?

I'd say toffee apple, it's tastier but stickier so it depends on the kind of situation you'd be going for.

How much influence do you have over Pam's growth throughout the series? Thanks so much for being such an awesome person! Archer would not be the same without you!

Thanks! I bet you're awesome too!

I don't have any direct influence but I think that as the seasons went on Adam Reed (the creator and writer) got to know all the actors better and some of their traits started to creep in to the characters. Like calling people dingdongs is one of my favorite things in real life so Pam picked it up. I also think Adam was a little like, I think Amber could pull this off as Pam, let's try it.

Will you please call me something awful?

Could I get a little bit of information about you?

Do you ever get recognized on the streets? Is it from people recognizing your voice or face?

Stupid question but we can't just post

"Oh My God! Pam is the Best ever!!"

in these things without preceding it with a question.

I don't think so, maybe if it's like at SDCC and I'm with Aisha. Mainly if I tell people my name, they'll ask or people in Atlanta recognize me from my stage work. But sometimes, I'll be on stage and people recognize my voice then google me to see what I look like and then realize it's me.

Getting a little serious for a moment - you're a GA resident, is that right? If so, do you have any thoughts on your state being in the spotlight at the moment due to what seems to be pretty troubling levels of voter suppression?

I am a GA resident, I think it's terrible and scary that this is happening in 2018. I think it's good that it's in the public eye so that hopefully things will change.

What's up Amber, It was dope doing improv with you at Yellow City Comic Con! Do you have any more cool projects coming up with dad's garage?

Oh cool, thanks. Always doing improv, pretty much every weekend I'm in town and we just released this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR3qF7XlyC8&t=5s

Amber! I love your work! If you had advice to start a career in voice over what would you give as advice?

Record and listen to yourself a lot. Take some classes, get a demo put together, find an agent. It takes a lot of people saying no to you, it is very competitive so be prepared and don't get discouraged. Improv classes are also always a great place to develop character.

What makes you sploosh?

That's a little personal but in a general makes me exceedingly happy kind of sploosh way... Golden Girls reruns, murder shows and puppies.

Are you Deadpool?

Nice!

Wow, that's exactly what my wife would say. We're single by the way.

This seems like a trick.

What about murder shows featuring puppies as crime-solving investigators?

What!?! Could they all have cheesecake at the end of their hard days and talk about what a slut Blanche is?

I think this would need to be the over-the-credits sequence every week.

Ooh. But the dessert changes on special dates. Like pumpkin pie for the Thanksgiving episode, or human flesh for Easter.

Can someone please set us up a meeting at ID we have a million dollar idea on our hands!

I have a Yellow Lab mix (aka "Meth Lab") named Bea Arthur that enjoys supervising the evisceration of stoats and weasels - you are gonna love her.

Please contact my office for a viewing.

We will be fast friends!

So, the Golden Girls murdering puppies would be ideal, then.

No no no, we can't have puppies getting murdered.

AMBER! I love you so much, huge fan. Thanks for bringing a super awesome presence to all your characters.

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My question: as a female comedian, do you feel that the VO community and the comedy in-person scene are harder for you? How can aspiring female VO actors and comics battle the weird environment of the "boys club"?

I think it's changing. I think comedy can be tough for women but I think now we have so many incredible female comedians in the spotlight that the idea that women aren't funny just can't hold water anymore. I think the more women there are the more supported women feel and that helps a lot. I haven't felt it as much in the vo community but I've only really worked on Archer. I think battling the boys club takes not giving it any power and being strong skinned and just doing your thing no matter if people give you a hard time.

Hi Amber! Love your work. What was your favorite episode of Archer to work on?

I loved Southbound and Down, that was the first time we saw Archer and Pam teamed up on a mission and I loved it. They all are so fun though. I loved the quick sand stuff in Danger Island too!

Is it weird to see your voice coming from the mouth of a character that doesn't at all look like you? Is that a pretty normal reaction in voice acting?

I've gotten really used to it now. It's fun to see your voice coming out of different things. I don't think my mom likes it though.

Holy shit snacks!

Do you want some cocaine?

No thanks, I'm quitting.

Are you mainly a beer, hard liquor or mixed drink kind of person?

I used to be all about the mixed drinks but know I'm more of a wine person.

If you could pick either a shark or dinosaur onesie which one would you choose and why?

Shark because they are scarier in my opinion.

Would Pam be offended if she was compared to George on Seinfeld?

I don't think so...

Is/was there any great moment on Archer that you or someone else ad-libbed?

There for sure have been some, I'm not for sure what they all are but everyone on the show is hilarious and just jackasses around in the booth but mostly it's what's in the script.

You were the first famous person I ever met who made me flip out— I saw you at Dad’s Garage ages ago. How did you get from improv to the most awesome character on television?

Cool! The guys that make Archer knew Dad's Garage and would come see shows, they asked me to audition for something and I was all wrong for it and didn't get it, but they brought me back later for something and I've been working for them ever since.

Hello Amber! A little introductory "thank you" - I'm a performer working around Texas now, but as I was moving out of LA a few years ago, I caught Archer Live and briefly met you and Lucky Yates after the show. You complimented my Cyril cosplay very nicely, and I really want to say thank you - the involvement and enthusiasm with which the Archer cast has embraced their community is singular and wonderful. It's inspiring!

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Was there any point when you found yourself struggling to grasp a new development for Pam? Every layer that gets peeled off of her personality, there's something deeper and potentially darker - from bum fights to coke habits to whatever the future holds. Was there any particular new quirk that made you think "Wait, what? And you want me to sell that?"

Awesome, thanks for that, it really has been such a joy to get to meet so many people that love what we do and there really are a lot of great people out there.

I've never struggled with it, I'm more amused than anything, it's kind of that "what's this rascal gonna get up to next?" kinda feeling.

Which episode of Archer is your favourite?

I love so many. Southbound and Down, The Papal Chase, The Honeymooners are just a few of my favs.

What's your favorite TV show?

There are so many!!! I just finished Maniac on Netflix and it was awesome so was Haunting of Hill House and I love Westworld and Preacher.

How much time do you normally spend in the booth per each episode of Archer? How many biscuits have you consumed pretending they were bear claws?

I'm usually only in the booth 45 minutes to an hour. I recorded 1004 today and it only took 30 minutes, it's a dream job.

I'm pretty sure I at 6 biscuits that day.

Not talking about Archer for a bit:

What is your favorite type of music /favorite bands?

I like all kinds of music. I've been digging War on Drugs lately. Some classics I love are Radiohead, Band of Horses, Deathcab for Cutie, Built to Spill, TMBG. I also love jazz and bluegrass.

Do you have any plans for other shows that you will be on in the future?

Not yet, but like any actor, I'm always auditioning for roles. The dream is to have my own show.

I've also started making a bunch of stuff, instead of waiting around for people to give me exciting roles. Like our new Halloween video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR3qF7XlyC8&t=5s

Thank you for doing the AMA, Amber! Pam is hands down my favorite character on Archer.

In the spirit of Halloween, what‘s the best costume you’ve ever had?

I went to a party with my college boyfriend as Ricky and Lucy in black and white. It was pretty sweet.

From Spies in the jungle to undercover dreams, where would you like to see Archer go for a season?

I'd love a Viking Season, I'd love a season set on Poovey Farms, A Downton Abbey style season

Amber, love you and love Pam, you bring so much to Archer. My daughter has always been fascinated with voice acting, how did you get into voice acting?

Thanks so much! I started in improv and through meeting people through that got some gigs doing radio commercials and then eventually auditioned for Frisky Dingo and got a role on that show and did several characters then those guys went on to make Archer and brought me along.

First of all, you are f***ing awesome and Pam is my favourite character by a distance. I'm a guy and sometimes I find myself saying 'splash' in your voice in my head when I see a nice girl 😂😂😂

Couple of questions if that's okay?

Do you watch any adult cartoons yourself (Southpark,Bob's Burgers etc)?

What is some other stuff I can see/hear you in?

P.S Follow up request- Please ask Archer/Bob/ H Jon Benjamin do another episode of Nathan for you- that segment was soo good!

Thanks for answering if you have time!

"Splash"? That's a whole different ballgame and please don't ever say that or Sploosh out loud to said nice girls.

I'm not a big animated show watcher, I know I'm terrible.

You can see me in this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR3qF7XlyC8&t=5s

Or a whole web series at www.hartofamerica.com

Thanks!

Do you sploosh like Pam?

No

I love Pam Poovey, but when the first time I saw you recording for it, I felt cognitive dissonance, because I didn't imagine Pam Poovey looking as cute as you do in the real life. So I just want to say you are amazing.

For the question, how has your journey been in Archer? Do you feel it should have continued?

Thanks!

I have loved being on Archer and to be honest, I'd do it forever. I love playing Pam. I do like that it has continued for 10 seasons and I know that not everyone agrees but I think genre hopping has helped keep the show fresh for so many seasons, it's more about the characters and their relationships at this point, no matter where they end up and for an actor that's really fun.

Is Archer going to wake up?! Would that be a good thing? Like good storytelling? Or do you reckon his story is done.

TIDDIES.

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That was to get your attention!

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Thanks for doing this AMA.

TIDDIES to you my friend.

I don't know, I think he might to eventually wrap it all up, but who know they don't tell me tiddies.

I just want to say that all of Pam's lines make me snort with laughter.

Are you as funny as Pam in real life?

I don't know if I'm as funny as Pam. I'd like to think I'm pretty funny but who knows.

Why did you feel the need to say you’re bisexual in your first full sentence ?

Pam has been described as a sturdy bisexual since the beginning of the show.

What is a “sturdy” bisexual ? Sounds offensive

I think it's more like Pam is a sturdy gal that just happens to also be bisexual.