Maile Flanagan is an American actress, comedian, and voice actress best known for voicing Naruto Uzumaki in the English dub of the iconic anime franchise Naruto.
She began her career in stand-up comedy and improv theater before transitioning into voice acting, where she became one of the most recognizable voices in anime dubbing.
Who is Maile Flanagan?
Maile Flanagan is an American actress and comedian whose voice acting career spans more than two decades.
She voiced the character Naruto Uzumaki across the original Naruto series, Naruto: Shippuden, and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, making her a constant presence in the franchise’s English adaptations.
Her career also extends well beyond Naruto. Flanagan voiced young Piggley Winks in Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, a role that earned her a Daytime Emmy Award.
On screen, she played the recurring role of Principal Terry Perry in the Disney XD series Lab Rats.
She has appeared as a guest in several well-known television series over the years, including Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Shameless, Bad Teacher, and ER.
Her live-action film credits include Phone Booth (2002), Evan Almighty (2007), 500 Days of Summer (2009), and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011).
Flanagan is openly lesbian and has been married to her wife, Lesa Hammett, since 2008.
Early Life of Maile Flanagan
Maile Flanagan was born on May 19, 1965, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father, William Hurbert Neal Jr., worked for U.S. military intelligence, which meant the family moved frequently throughout her childhood.
In 1969, her family relocated to Bangkok, Thailand, where her father was stationed. When Maile was ten years old, they moved again, this time to Germany.
She attended the Department of Defense school system while overseas, first at Nürnberg American High School and later at Munich American High School, where she graduated in 1983.
That international upbringing exposed her to many cultures before she even started college.
Maile Flanagan Age / Birthday
Maile Flanagan is 61 years old as of 2026, born on May 19, 1965. Her zodiac sign is Taurus, a sign linked to persistence and a strong work ethic.
She remains active in both voice acting and on-screen roles well into her sixth decade in the industry.
Maile Flanagan Ethnicity and Nationality
Maile Flanagan is American by nationality, born and raised in Hawaii. Her ethnic background is not publicly specified, though her upbringing across Thailand, Germany, and the United States shaped much of her early worldview.
Her Hawaiian birthplace is a frequent point of interest for fans who know her primarily through her voice work.
Maile Flanagan Height and Weight
Maile Flanagan’s exact height and weight figures have not been publicly disclosed. Sources estimate her height in the range of 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 6 inches, though no confirmed measurement exists.
She has short hair and a warm, energetic physical presence that translates well to both stage performance and on-screen work.
Maile Flanagan Education
After graduating from Munich American High School in 1983, Flanagan returned to the United States and enrolled at Boston College.
She graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, concentrating in political science, history, and mathematics.
That academic background in the humanities gave her a broad foundation before she pursued a career in performing arts.
Maile Flanagan Career
Comedy and Theater (1987–1997)
After graduating from Boston College, Flanagan moved to Minneapolis to pursue her interest in comedy.
She joined the improv troupe Every Mother’s Nightmare, working alongside Wayne Wilderson, Tom McCarthy, Andrea Beutner, Kevin Kappock, Peter Civetta, and Nancy Walls, who later became known as Nancy Carell.
During her time in Minneapolis, she performed stand-up and improv at venues including the Comedy Gallery, Knuckleheads, and Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop.
That decade of live performance work gave her the comedic timing and audience awareness that later informed her voice acting.
Flanagan eventually moved to Los Angeles, where she performed on the LA stage in productions including Pot Mom, Oklahomo, and The Strip.
She also appeared in Theatre 911’s production of The Bad Seed, which earned her and the cast the LA Weekly Theatre Award for Best Comedy Ensemble.
Film and Television Debut (1998–2010)
Flanagan made her film and television debut in 1998. Her early television appearances included MADtv, Gideons’ Crossing, and Citizen Baines.
She also landed recurring roles in Grey’s Anatomy from 2005 to 2007 and in The Class from 2006 to 2007.
Those years of consistent on-screen work helped build her reputation as a character actress.
Her film work during this period included Phone Booth (2002), Evan Almighty (2007), The Number 23 (2007), 500 Days of Summer (2009), and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011).
Alongside those live-action credits, her voice career was gaining momentum through the same stretch of years.
She received an Annie Award nomination for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Program at the 32nd Annual Annie Awards in 2005.
Voice Acting and Rise to Prominence (2003–Present)
Flanagan’s voice acting breakthrough came with the animated series Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, in which she voiced young Piggley Winks.
Her performance earned her the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program in 2006, and she received a second Emmy nomination for the same role.
Her most iconic role began in 2005 when she started voicing Naruto Uzumaki in the English dub of the Naruto anime series.
She has voiced the character across the original Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, as well as in numerous anime films including The Last: Naruto the Movie, Road to Ninja, and Boruto: Naruto the Movie.
Flanagan continued her on-screen work alongside her voice career.
She joined the Disney XD series Lab Rats as the recurring character Principal Terry Perry, a role that brought her to a new generation of viewers.
She also appeared in Shameless, Bad Teacher, and The Office during this period.
Recent Work (2021–Present)
In 2023, Flanagan joined the animated adult comedy series Royal Crackers on Adult Swim, voicing the character Matt across its run through 2024.
That same year, she appeared as Tina in Not Dead Yet on ABC, a role she continued into 2024.
Her most recent film credit is Crashing Christmas (2024), a television movie in which she played Mrs. Meddleson.
She also has upcoming projects in post-production as of 2026, including Creepy AF and a short film called Bitch Club (2025).
Flanagan continues to voice Naruto Uzumaki in video game adaptations of the franchise, including Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (2023).
Maile Flanagan Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Phone Booth | N/A | Film |
| 2003 | Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks | Piggley Winks | Animated Series |
| 2005 | Naruto | Naruto Uzumaki | Anime Series |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty | N/A | Film |
| 2007 | The Number 23 | N/A | Film |
| 2007 | Naruto: Shippuden | Naruto Uzumaki | Anime Series |
| 2009 | 500 Days of Summer | N/A | Film |
| 2011 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | N/A | Film |
| 2012 | Lab Rats | Principal Terry Perry | TV Series |
| 2023 | Royal Crackers | Matt (voice) | Animated Series |
| 2023 | Not Dead Yet | Tina | TV Series |
| 2024 | Crashing Christmas | Mrs. Meddleson | TV Movie |
Maile Flanagan Awards and Recognition
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (2006, Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks)
- Annie Award nomination for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Program, 32nd Annual Annie Awards (2005)
- LA Weekly Theatre Award for Best Comedy Ensemble (The Bad Seed)
Maile Flanagan Wife
Maile Flanagan married Lesa Hammett in 2008. Flanagan is openly lesbian and has spoken publicly about her identity over the years.
Lesa Hammett keeps a low profile and has not pursued public attention, so detailed information about her background has not been widely published.
The couple appears to have been together for some time before their 2008 marriage.
Flanagan has occasionally shared photos of her wife on social media, though both prefer to keep the relationship relatively private.
Maile Flanagan Net Worth
Maile Flanagan’s estimated net worth is $8 million as of 2026. Her wealth comes primarily from her long-running voice acting career, particularly her role as Naruto Uzumaki, a character she has voiced across hundreds of episodes, multiple film entries, and numerous video game titles since 2005.
Her on-screen acting work across series like Lab Rats, Grey’s Anatomy, Shameless, and Not Dead Yet has also contributed to her earnings over more than two decades of work.
Voice acting in anime and animation, particularly for long-running franchises, generates residual income across multiple formats, including home video releases, streaming licenses, and video game adaptations.
Her stage work in Los Angeles and her earlier years in Minneapolis also helped her build the professional foundation that led to her most lucrative roles.
Maile Flanagan Social Media
Maile Flanagan is active on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @maileflanagan, where she regularly engages with her fanbase.
Her IMDb page lists her complete acting credits and is updated regularly with her recent projects.
Conclusion
Maile Flanagan spent more than a decade in stand-up and stage comedy before landing the role of Naruto Uzumaki, a character she has voiced across three series, a dozen films, and numerous video games.
Her Daytime Emmy win for Jakers! and her decades-long run with the Naruto franchise place her among the most prolific and recognized voice actresses working in English-language anime dubbing.