Helen Francesca Leahey (born 4 October 1987) is a Welsh musician and voice over artist who is notable for her deep voice. [1] She is the first Guinness World Record holder (2018) for 'Lowest Vocal Note by a Female'. [2] In 2017 she appeared on The Voice of Germany [3] and in 2022 The Voice UK. [4] In 2023, Leahey was the primary source for the demon in the movie The Exorcist: Believer. [5]
Leahey owns her own music label 'Deintra' [6] and has recorded three albums to date. Train Tracks, Auf Wiedersehen and Spirits. [7]
Supervising sound editor Rich Bologna explained the sculpting of the supernatural sound for the movie The Exorcist: Believer and Leahey's part in it:
"The demon in the film is a woman, so David (Gordon Green) found this great voice actor, a Welsh woman named Helen Leahey, who lives in Cologne, Germany. So we did a preliminary recording session with her even before there was a working cut of the film. She recorded some amazing stuff. Because she speaks Welsh, she did a version of the Welsh National Anthem backward. She transcribed it backward phonetically, and then performed it. We were all blown away. What a first impression! We used most of her performance for the demon voice, and David also hired an additional voice actor J. Moliere. But her voice is the primary source." [8]
The original demon voice for the 1973 horror film The Exorcist was recorded by Oscar winner Mercedes McCambridge. [9]
Leahey was born in St. Asaph, Wales, [10] UK to Liverpudlian Charles Joseph Leahey and Dr. Christiane Ulmer-Leahey (née Ulmer) from Mainz, Germany. She is of English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Sardinian, Scandinavian and German descent. Her father was a musician and her mother is a retired school director and published author. [11]
Leahey completed her Bachelor in History and Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool (2010) [12] and her Master in International Journalism at Falmouth University (2012). [13] During her studies and afterwards, Leahey became a member of various Irish folk bands [14] and finally founded the music project DILLIGARA where she collaborates with various artists. [15] Before going into higher education Leahey studied a BTEC in Performing Arts at the former Yale College, Wrexham, Wales. [16]
Helen Francesca Leahey (born 4 October 1987) is a Welsh musician and voice over artist who is notable for her deep voice. [1] She is the first Guinness World Record holder (2018) for 'Lowest Vocal Note by a Female'. [2] In 2017 she appeared on The Voice of Germany [3] and in 2022 The Voice UK. [4] In 2023, Leahey was the primary source for the demon in the movie The Exorcist: Believer. [5]
Leahey owns her own music label 'Deintra' [6] and has recorded three albums to date. Train Tracks, Auf Wiedersehen and Spirits. [7]
Supervising sound editor Rich Bologna explained the sculpting of the supernatural sound for the movie The Exorcist: Believer and Leahey's part in it:
"The demon in the film is a woman, so David (Gordon Green) found this great voice actor, a Welsh woman named Helen Leahey, who lives in Cologne, Germany. So we did a preliminary recording session with her even before there was a working cut of the film. She recorded some amazing stuff. Because she speaks Welsh, she did a version of the Welsh National Anthem backward. She transcribed it backward phonetically, and then performed it. We were all blown away. What a first impression! We used most of her performance for the demon voice, and David also hired an additional voice actor J. Moliere. But her voice is the primary source." [8]
The original demon voice for the 1973 horror film The Exorcist was recorded by Oscar winner Mercedes McCambridge. [9]
Leahey was born in St. Asaph, Wales, [10] UK to Liverpudlian Charles Joseph Leahey and Dr. Christiane Ulmer-Leahey (née Ulmer) from Mainz, Germany. She is of English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Sardinian, Scandinavian and German descent. Her father was a musician and her mother is a retired school director and published author. [11]
Leahey completed her Bachelor in History and Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool (2010) [12] and her Master in International Journalism at Falmouth University (2012). [13] During her studies and afterwards, Leahey became a member of various Irish folk bands [14] and finally founded the music project DILLIGARA where she collaborates with various artists. [15] Before going into higher education Leahey studied a BTEC in Performing Arts at the former Yale College, Wrexham, Wales. [16]