Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Sarah Natochenny about Marvel’s Black Widow: Bad Blood

Following the trail across the globe, Natasha Romanova is a woman on a mission to find those responsible for stealing her blood. Now available on Serial Box, Marvel’s Black Widow: Bad Blood is a fourteen-episode series you can read or listen to whenever you want.

Actress Sarah Natochenny is the voice behind the scenes bringing this story to life. Pop Culturalist caught up with her to chat all things Marvel’s Black Widow: Bad Blood.

PC: You’ve been a part of the Pokémon franchise since 2006. What is it like jumping into this Marvel Universe?
Sarah: I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was. It feels great to be a part of two huge things. I’m very fortunate. What can I say?

PC: How did you get involved with Marvel’s Black Widow: Bad Blood?
Sarah: It’s a funny story. I worked with Amanda Rose Smith [director] on Dead Air like two or three years ago, which is another Serial Box audio drama.

She randomly was like, “Guys, what’s everyone up to tonight?” I was like, “A bunch of us are going to see 1917,” that wonderful Sam Mendes movie. She was like, “Oh, I’ll come along. Great. Awesome.” So we watched this very heavy movie, and I said to everyone, “All right, let’s go back to my place and hang out.”

She came over, and we had a few. It was me and a couple of actors and an animator. I was like, “I have a great idea for a series.” I can’t tell you what it is because it might actually happen. But we all started drawing families of butts. They were just butts with eyes, arms, and legs. We gave them dialogue and had a great time. As we were doing this, she looked at me and she was like, “You know what? I have something for you. I’m working on this Marvel project, and I think you’d be perfect for it.” I was like, “You’re kidding. Let’s do it.”

She auditioned me. I have never done an audiobook. I’ve done a podcast, but it was more like what I was used to: lines of dialogue and character work. I wasn’t the narrator of it. She called me and she was like, “You’re really quite good at this.” I really enjoyed it. She called me back and told me I got the part.

Then the coronavirus came along. I wasn’t able to go to her studio. I happened to move in with my mom at the time because I was in the middle of moving apartments. I built a booth in my mom’s closet. I evicted her from her closet. [laughs] Amanda texted me everything that I needed to buy. She was a godsend and an amazing human being. She taught me how to soundproof this whole closet and make it sound professional. I’ve been recording out of my mom’s closet for this whole project.

PC: This is a unique project where you’re not only voicing the characters, but you’re also the narrator who gets to set the tone. Did that change your preparation?
Sarah: I read each script three times. I read it once as if it’s a story that I’m reading for pleasure, and man, am I reading this for pleasure! It’s so good. Then I read it again and notate all of the characters and write down any questions that I have. Before we record, I’ll go through it one more time so I can remember all the transitions.

At one point, Natasha is talking about the Chicago sky and describing all the beauty around her while all this horrible stuff is happening around her. She’s thrown into the action. She’s getting beat up. She’s fighting someone and trying to kill them. So I’m locating all those transitions and making notes on what’s about to happen so I can prepare for it as I’m reading.

When I’m reading the story, I go into full Zen mode. I go into a state of flow. Amanda’s amazing. She very rarely interrupts, and if she interrupts, it’s for good reason. I don’t stop often. If I screw up a sentence, I go back and I redo it. I keep going as if nothing happened. It’s very relaxing while also very intense. I thought I wouldn’t have the attention span for it. But once you get into it, that goes out the window. You don’t need the attention span. You are the attention span.

PC: You’re still recording this series now. What is the process like recording a typical episode? How far ahead do you get the scripts/episodes?
Sarah: I actually just stepped out of the booth. We just finished episode 5. So I guess we’re five weeks ahead. We might get even further ahead. I like doing it. I’m always like, “Let’s do another!”

As far as the process, we schedule a week in advance. I do all the prep work, and then I step into the booth. I’ll tell my mom and tell the neighbors upstairs that I’m doing it. They have a kid upstairs, so he stomps around a lot, so I have to coordinate with them to make sure that it’s a good quiet time. I’ll stay in the booth for two or three hours. Amanda will be on Skype, and I’ll record myself on my computer.

PC: We’ve seen Black Widow and these Marvel characters depicted in various forms. Was it a challenge not to be influenced by other interpretations?
Sarah: I’m actually pretty lucky. I haven’t seen a Marvel movie in several months. I watch a lot of movies, so it’s so down in my memory already. So it wasn’t too much of a struggle to make this my own. Also, the writing is so specific, and it’s so good. I felt like I was reading a story totally fresh like I’d never read it before and I’d never heard of these characters before.

PC: Each week, we’re going to get a new episode. Why do you think the story lends itself to that format? What can you tease about Natasha’s arc?
Sarah: What Serial Box is doing is revolutionary. I wish that more audio production companies were doing this. I wish more audiobooks were done this way, especially with suspenseful stories like Marvel’s Black Widow: Bad Blood. It’s just fantastic.

What can I tease about Natasha? Well, the bad guys took something from her, and she wants to find out why they took it. That’s all I can say. [laughs]

PC: Which has been your favorite character to voice?
Sarah: It’s the new character, but Bucky Barnes is also incredible. He’s an interesting character because he has these two sides to him. He’s got the Winter Soldier and Bucky Barnes. So that’s been fun to play.

PC: With this being your first audiobook project, has anything surprised you about the experience? What’s been the biggest takeaway?
Sarah: How much I enjoyed it. I don’t know if I would enjoy the typical audiobook as much as I’m enjoying this. This is to my ear more natural sounding. I have the permission to be more dramatic. I’m not enunciating quite as much as a professional audiobook narrator would. I’m speaking more casually, so I really enjoyed that.

I didn’t think I’d be allowed to do that. The further along we’re getting in the story, the more Amanda is telling me, “You’re getting more and more comfortable. This is great.” Again, I didn’t think I’d be allowed to do this. I have a hard time listening to audiobooks. I’ve never really been able to get into them. My attention span goes out the window. But this—I’m listening to my own narration and I’m like, “This is riveting!”

To keep up with Sarah, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Start listening to Marvel’s Black Widow: Bad Blood on Serial Box today.

Photo Credit: Marvel/Serial Box