Alexander Gould, best known as the voice of Nemo in the 2003 Pixar blockbuster. Finding NemoShe is back in the spotlight after years away from acting.
In a candid conversation with PeopleGould shared how his early experiences as a child actor shaped him and what’s next as he reconnects with fans and the industry.
At only six years old, Gould was chosen from among thousands of children who auditioned to voice the curious clownfish.
“I was one of, I think they told me two or 3,000 kids who auditioned,” he recalled.
What he didn’t know at the time was that he had landed the lead role in a film that would become a cultural phenomenon, grossing more than $940 million worldwide and establishing itself as a Pixar classic.
Talking about a year after the audition, he waited.
“That year was kind of a wait. And then I went in, I booked the role, and they hired me to do some initial recordings. I still didn’t really know what role I was going to be in the movie,” Gould recalled.
“I knew it was a big Pixar movie, so it was already exciting. And we asked them, ‘What role are you playing?’ And they said, ‘Oh, this is Nemo, the main character.’ “
Recording the role took three years, followed by promotional tours that introduced Gould to the whirlwind of fame.
“I didn’t know I was going to be recording for the next three years and voicing the main character in this movie,” he said.
He also reflected on the surreal experience of growing up in “very adult spaces” while still a child.
After Finding NemoGould moved on to live action.
Most notably, he starred as Shane Botwin in the Showtime black comedy. Weeds. The shift from family animation to avant-garde television was marked.
“I always joke about that because it’s funny, I went from being the most family-friendly movie of all time, probably, to the least family-friendly show,” Gould laughed.
“This is the first time I’ve opened up and talked about my experience growing up in Hollywood,” he explained.
For Gould, being Nemo remains a defining moment.
“I got to be a part of a movie that, honestly, is a great classic. I got to tour the country and talk to fans and I still do that today. It’s something very special to be a part of that project,” he said.
Her upcoming podcast will feature conversations with other former child actors, aiming to shed light on the challenges and lessons of growing up in the entertainment industry.
