By RON FANFAIR
The effervescent glow on her face, the excited sparkle in her eyes and the confident manner in which she approaches her artistic career clearly demonstrate that Tajja Isen is on the right track in her quest for stardom.
Just 14, Isen has already landed several significant voice-acting credits, film and television and theatrical roles, and secured the prestigious Young Artists award for Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role in the hit cartoon network nominated series Atomic Betty that premiered in North America in August 2004.
Kevin Gillis, the executive director of Atomic Betty, said Isen is an extremely gifted performer whose talents shine through in her role in the series.
"We are extremely pleased that the Young Artists Foundation has recognized Tajja with this significant honour and we are incredibly proud to work with this rising young talent," said Gillis who is also the managing partner of the Toronto-based Breakthrough Animation.
Atomic Betty follows the adventures of Betty - portrayed by Isen - who is a little girl with a big secret. She's the sweet and brainy girl to her friends, but sheds her "humdrum persona" and becomes Atomic Betty, Galactic Guardian and Defender of the Cosmos when the galaxy beckons.
Last year, Isen played the role of Young Nala in the Toronto production of Disney's The Lion King. She was the longest running Nala on the show, performing for 11 straight months and was nominated for the Equity Emerging Artist award.
"I really enjoyed my part in The Lion King even though it was very demanding," said Isen. "I had a good time and I did not want it to finish. I love to be on stage and I certainly got the opportunity to do just that in a major production." Dr. Jordie Isen and his Trinidadian-born wife Karen are proud of their daughter's accomplishments.
"I figured we each saw The Lion King about 35 times because we had to be there with our daughter for every performance," said Dr. Isen, the president of Chiro-Ped Inc. which specializes in custom foot orthotics and biochemical assessment.
"Even if we were not in the theatre, we were not far away, waiting in coffee shops, nearby parks or just driving around until the show each day. It was a bit tough, but very rewarding in that we know that we have to be there to support our daughter in a field that she's doing exceeding well in. We are both very proud of what she has done so far."
Isen recently returned from England where she went to promote the Nelvana/Weta animated production Jane and the Dragon. Set in medieval times, the series follows the comedic adventures of the outspoken young Knight Jane and her best friend Dragon.
"It was my first trip to England and I really enjoyed it," she said.
She has also voiced other lead characters, including Sister Bear in the Nelvana/PBS animated series The Berenstain Bears which earned her a Young Artist award nomination, Heidi in the Nelvana-nominated feature Heidi in which she co-starred with Christopher Plummer, Jazzi in The Save-Ums and Trina in the Cuppa Coffee/Disney Playhouse series JoJo's Circus.
With the summer winding down, Isen is preparing to enter high school at Westmount Collegiate in Thornhill after attending Ventura Park Public School.
"In spite of my hectic artistic career, I still find the time to keep up with my school work," she said. "That's important."
An accomplished pianist, Isen sang the American and Canadian anthems at three Toronto Raptors home games last season and also made an appearance with renowned tenor Michael Burgess last June at Mt. Sinai Hospital's Unicorn Ball fundraiser.
"I am enjoying every minute of it because this is what I want to do," said Isen, whose great-grandfather Morris Isen played the trumpet with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s. Her grand-father Mel Isen is a piano teacher.
When she's not performing, Isen enjoys spending time with younger sister Nissae, who aspires to follow in her older sister's footsteps, and brothers Koebe and Joshua who has a black belt in tae-kwan-do.
She also loves traveling and has visited Trinidad & Tobago to reunite with relatives, and to Jamaica on several occasions.
Last year, Dr. Isen played a key role in helping Lluidas Vale Rehabilitation Foundation (Toronto chapter) obtain 30,000 pairs of shoes from the Markham-based The Orthotic Group. The footwear was shipped to the Jamaican communities devastated by Hurricane Ivan.