Rie Kugimiya is a Japanese voice actress and singer born on May 30, 1979, in Osaka, Japan, and raised in Kumamoto. She is affiliated with the talent agency I'm Enterprise. Her career began in 1998 after she won a special award at a voice actor training school sponsored by Japan Narration Institute, which led to her joining I'm Enterprise. Her debut role was in the video game étude prologue -Shaking heart-.

Kugimiaya is widely recognized for her extensive voice work in anime, with several roles spanning many years. She is known for voicing a wide range of characters, from young boys to strong-willed heroines. One of her most acclaimed character archetypes is the "tsundere," a term for characters who are initially cold or hostile but gradually reveal a warmer, kinder side. Her portrayals of characters like Shana in Shakugan no Shana, Louise in The Familiar of Zero, Nagi Sanzenin in Hayate the Combat Butler, Taiga Aisaka in Toradora!, and Aria Holmes Kanzaki in Aria the Scarlet Ammo have earned her the affectionate nickname "Queen of Tsundere" from her fans. In China, her four iconic roles from Shakugan no Shana, Zero no Tsukaima, Hayate no Gotoku!, and Toradora! are collectively known as the "Kugimiya Four Moe" characters.

Beyond these tsundere roles, her filmography includes many other notable and long-running characters. She voices the alchemist Alphonse Elric in the Fullmetal Alchemist series, the alien girl Kagura in Gintama, and the blue cat Happy in both Fairy Tail and Edens Zero. She is also the voice of Mametchi in the Tamagotchi anime and films. In video games, her prominent roles include Haruka Sawamura in the Yakuza series, Kiana Kaslana in Honkai Impact 3rd, and Rise Kujikawa in Persona 4.

Kugimiya's talent has been recognized with multiple awards. At the 2nd Seiyu Awards in 2008, she jointly won the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performances in Hayate the Combat Butler and Shakugan no Shana. The following year, at the 3rd Seiyu Awards, she won the award for Best Lead Actress for her roles as Taiga Aisaka in Toradora! and Miharu Rokujo in Nabari no Ou. She had also been nominated for Best Lead Actress at the inaugural Seiyu Awards.

In addition to her voice acting, Kugimiya has pursued a singing career, releasing her first mini-album, Kokohadoko, in 2012 under the Lantis record label. She has also contributed her voice to merchandise, such as the Mugen Puchipuchi Moe, a virtual bubble-wrap popping toy.