Barbara Goodson is an American voice actress with a prolific career spanning several decades, particularly noted for her extensive work in English-language dubs of anime. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she began her voice-over career in the mid-1960s and became one of the first actresses to regularly secure work dubbing anime, gaining prominence throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Her work has been instrumental in introducing many classic anime titles to English-speaking audiences.

Goodson's anime filmography is exceptionally broad, showcasing her versatility in portraying a wide range of characters. She is frequently cast as older women, matriarchs, and villains, but has also voiced young boys and girls, demonstrating a capacity for both dramatic depth and comedic ham. This range is evident in the variety of roles she has played, from the maternal figure of Nobita's Grandmother in Stand By Me Doraemon 2 and the wise Torogai in Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit, to the powerful antagonist Zirconia in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal. She has also taken on leading roles for younger characters, such as the titular lamb in the dark fable Ringing Bell and the unicorn Unico in The Fantastic Adventures of Unico.

Her voice is heard in numerous acclaimed films and series. In the fantasy romance Weathering With You, she voiced Fumi Tachibana. Her other notable film credits include roles in In This Corner of the World, Miss Hokusai, and the Streamline Pictures dub of the seminal film Barefoot Gen. Her television anime work is equally vast, with appearances in long-running and popular series such as Reiko Tsuruyama in Detective Conan: Zero's Tea Time, Mrs. Ando in Goodbye, Don Glees!, Shiraishi in Forest of Piano, and Akane Sanada in Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure. She has also had significant roles in classic and cult-favorite OVAs and series from the 80s and 90s, including Megazone 23, Zillion, and Space Pirate Captain Harlock.

Goodson has worked consistently with various dubbing studios over the years, including Streamline Pictures, where she lent her voice to early English versions of films like Castle in the Sky (as Pazu) and Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. Her work continues into the modern era of anime dubbing, with roles in productions for streaming platforms and new adaptations, such as her portrayal of Chiyo in Naruto Shippuden and Enya Geil in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders.

While she is widely recognized by broader audiences for her live-action voice roles, particularly as Rita Repulsa in the Power Rangers franchise, her contributions to anime have earned her recognition within the voice acting community. For her performance as Mother Talzin in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, she received a Best Actress award from the website Behind The Voice Actors. Her work in the children's series CloudBread, where she voiced multiple characters, was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Children's Programming in 2011. Beyond animation, she has also been honored with an Earphones Award for her narration of an audiobook. Goodson's long-standing career and her ability to move between cute creatures, young heroes, and terrifying villains have cemented her status as a foundational and highly respected figure in English-language anime dubbing.