Alexander Gould, best known as the voice of Nemo in Pixar’s 2003 blockbuster Finding Nemostepping back into the limelight after years away from acting.
In an honest 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 just six years old, Gould was chosen from among thousands of auditioning children to voice the curious clownfish.
“I was one out of, I think, they told me two or 3,000 kids that they auditioned,” he recalled.
What he didn’t realize at the time was that he had landed the title role in a film that would become a cultural phenomenon, grossing over $940 million worldwide and cementing itself as a Pixar classic.
Spoke about a year after the audition, he waited.
“That year was just a bit of a wait. And then I came in and I booked the part and they brought me in to do some initial shots. I still didn’t really know what role it 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 is he playing?’ And they said, ‘Oh, he’s Nemo, the main character.’ “
Filming the role took three years, followed by promotional tours that introduced Gould to the whirlwind of fame.
“I didn’t know that I was going to spend the next three years voicing the title character on this film,” he said.
He also reflected on the surreal experience of growing up in “very grown-up spaces” while still a child.
After Finding NemoGould moved on to live-action.
Most notably playing Shane Botwin in Showtime’s dark comedy Weed. The shift from family-friendly animation to edgy TV was significant.
“I always joke about it because it’s funny, I went from being the most family-friendly movie ever to the least family-friendly show,” Gould laughed.
“This is the first time I’m opening up and talking about my experience growing up in Hollywood,” he explained.
For Gould, being Nemo is still a defining moment.
“I got to be a part of a movie that’s honestly a huge classic. I got to tour the country and talk to fans, and I still do today. It’s just such a special thing to be a part of that project,” he said.
His upcoming podcast will feature conversations with other former child actors to shed light on the challenges and lessons of growing up in the entertainment industry.
