Nancy Cartwright: Bart Simpson, Fellini, and Finding the Artist Inside [From the Archive]

Episode Description:

Nancy Cartwright is best known as the voice of Bart Simpson. But in this archive conversation, James is interested in the artist behind the voice.

Nancy joins the show to talk about In Search of Fellini, the film she co-wrote with Peter Kjenaas based on her own trip to Italy in the 1980s. At the time, Nancy was already working as an actress and voiceover performer, but she became obsessed with Federico Fellini’s La Strada. She studied scenes from the film in acting class, felt deeply connected to Giulietta Masina’s performance, and eventually decided she wanted to get the rights to adapt La Strada for the stage.

So she wrote Fellini letters. When she finally got a response telling her not to come because Fellini would be working, Nancy heard something else: he would be there.

She went anyway.

That decision becomes the central metaphor of the episode. Nancy describes the trip not as a business errand, but as an immersion into life, art, culture, language, risk, chance encounters, and personal transformation. The film’s line—sometimes you have to travel far, far away to find what is closest to you—comes from one of those real encounters.

James and Nancy also talk about her earlier career. Nancy explains how she found her way from speech competitions in Ohio to radio work, to studying with Daws Butler, to acting classes with Milton Katselas. She shares stories about auditioning for Cheers, getting a part after walking straight out of the casting room, and learning that if you surprise yourself, you can surprise everyone else.

That lesson also applies to The Simpsons. Nancy originally went in to audition for Lisa, but when she saw Bart’s description—“a 10-year-old school-hating underachiever and proud of it”—she knew instantly that was the part. She trusted the instinct.

The conversation becomes a meditation on creativity. Mentorship matters. Preparation matters. But at some point, the artist has to do the work, throw it away, walk into the room, and trust what happens.

Nancy’s story is about voice acting, Fellini, and Bart Simpson. But it is also about making the leap from talent to authorship, from performing other people’s words to finding the story only you can tell.

Editorial Note:

This is a From the Archive episode. References to In Search of Fellini as a new or limited-release film, The Simpsons at that point in its run, Nancy’s projects, and release timing reflect the original recording period.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why Nancy Cartwright calls herself one of the most recognizable voices attached to an unrecognizable face.
• How Bart Simpson’s voice fits into Nancy’s own personality and childhood mischief.
• Why La Strada affected Nancy so deeply as a young actress.
• How Nancy’s trip to Italy became the foundation for In Search of Fellini.
• Why “sometimes you have to travel far, far away to find what is closest to you” became the emotional center of the film.
• How Nancy learned voice acting from Daws Butler.
• What Milton Katselas taught her about surprising herself.
• Why walking out of a Cheers audition helped her get the role.
• How to create an effect without making it feel calculated.
• Why auditions are not just competitions, but opportunities to fulfill a decision.
• How Nancy knew Bart was the right role even though she had been called in for Lisa.
• Why artists need preparation, mentorship, instinct, immersion, and commitment.
• How The Simpsons has lasted through writing, love, improv, and a giant universe of relatable characters.
• Why Nancy believes artists have a responsibility to connect with people on a deeper wavelength.
• How making In Sea