Sitcom icons Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Chris O’Dowd discuss their earliest film memories – and voicing The Sheep Detectives

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Later this year, audiences can look forward to many big-budget films like The Odyssey and Dune Part Three. However, a surprisingly star-packed movie aimed at families, The Sheep Detectives, is also set to hit theaters.

This animated mystery, which we gave three stars and called “fun for the whole flock,” boasts a fantastic cast including Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Bryan Cranston. Some voice the animal detectives, while others play human characters.

The animated movie features Julia Louis-Dreyfus, known for her roles in Seinfeld and Veep, and Chris O’Dowd (The IT Crowd), who both voice the lead detectives – a pair of very determined sheep.

In celebration of the release, TopMob interviewed the duo for our Film Flashbacks series, where they shared stories ranging from their earliest movie experiences to what they love most about doing voiceovers.

You can check out the full interview below.

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What are your earliest memories of going to the cinema and watching films when you were younger?

Chris O’Dowd didn’t grow up going to the movies much – the local cinema actually burned down when he was a child! He does remember seeing the first Jurassic Park films as a teenager and being amazed by the size of the dinosaurs, especially on the big screen. He really appreciated the grand scale of those movies.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus grew up in New York City and remembers going to see musicals like Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music repeatedly as a child. She loved them so much she had to see them over and over! She also fondly remembers watching Funny Girl, recalling a time when musicals were constantly being made.

You started your career on Saturday Night Live. How did the experience of moving from that fast-paced, chaotic environment to working on more traditional TV shows and films feel?

It was definitely an adjustment, moving from film to live television. The way you connect with the camera is really different. In a film, you don’t have to think about multiple cameras capturing everything at once like you do on a live show.

I adjusted my performance, focusing more on subtlety and the overall mood. Film is definitely a director-driven art form, and truly grasping their vision is a unique challenge. It’s very rewarding, but a different experience than other types of acting.

Let’s talk about directors. Chris, you started working with people like Mike Leigh – I remember you were in Vera Drake – fairly early in your career. What do you remember about your first experiences on a film set?

I was lucky early in my career, getting to work with really creative people like Mike Leigh and Christopher Guest. It made me expect that kind of collaborative, exploratory process on every project, but that’s definitely not the case! It was a bit spoiling, honestly.

Working on films like ‘Vera Drake’ was amazing because it really encouraged us to deeply inhabit our characters. Even with a smaller part, it took about three months of exploration to fully understand who my character was, and that’s because we didn’t have a traditional script to rely on. It definitely pushed me to think creatively and develop the character myself, which honestly made me a much more proactive storyteller than I would have been otherwise.

I realized I was overacting after working with many theatre directors. Like Julia, I had to remember to be more subtle – I was performing as if I needed to project to the very back of the theatre!

Working on a sitcom is a unique experience. Both of us have done some comedy, and it’s tricky figuring out how to perform – you want to connect with the viewers, but the cameras capture something different. It took me a moment to realize I was overacting and coming across as if I was yelling at everyone.

And I was just reminded, weirdly, I did a sitcom, and the first week of it, we watched Seinfeld.

JL-D: Oh, you did?

Initially, the creator spent at least three or four days, working four to five hours each day, completely focused on the project. They were really captivated by how it was developing. It was a unique show, but still appealed to a similar audience.

JL-D: No s**t?

CO’D: Yeah. Which is really interesting and incredible.

Both of you starred in very successful sitcoms that people still enjoy today. How do you think being part of such a popular show influences the types of roles you’re interested in, and the kinds of roles you get offered?

As an actor, it’s really up to you to break free from any typecasting the industry tries to put on you. It can be challenging, but it’s something you have to actively work on.

If you’re curious and driven to explore new avenues, you should definitely go for it. Success isn’t guaranteed, but it’s important to keep experimenting and avoid getting stuck in a rut – even within something like comedy itself.

I’ve always thought that truly funny people are also naturally good at serious acting. It’s because they have a strong sense of what feels real and genuine.

You’ve both done a lot of voice work throughout your careers. What excites you about voicing characters in a movie like this one?

I really appreciate the relaxed dress code at work – it’s great not to worry about what I’m wearing. It allows me to focus all my energy on doing my job well.

I’ve realized I’m like the person who just plays the triangle in an orchestra, and honestly, it’s kind of nice. I’m going to really focus on and enjoy playing that triangle!

That seems to be everything. Now I can focus solely on bringing this character to life through their voice, and it’s actually quite liberating.

I really enjoy the freedom of doing voice work without having to spend time on hair and makeup. It might surprise you, but getting ready like that can take hours!

CO’D: It’s worth it.

Thanks so much, that’s really nice of you to say! I’ve actually been here for ages – I’m just exaggerating, but still…

As a film buff, I’ve always been fascinated by voice acting. The biggest hurdle, it seems, is making your voice become the character – it has to carry everything your body language would normally convey. But something I discovered while experimenting with recording is really cool: even though you’re just using your voice, being physically active while you record actually changes how it sounds. It adds a whole new layer of texture and believability, which I find amazing.

When you focus solely on someone’s voice, you notice subtle details and emotional cues that might be missed when observing their full body language. It’s amazing how much can be revealed just by listening closely.

The process also allows performers to really push their vocal performance without worrying about how it looks. For example, while recording in a booth, they can use exaggerated physical movements to achieve the right sound – movements that would appear strange on camera. Essentially, a lot of the performance happens ‘under the surface,’ focusing on vocal delivery rather than visual presentation.

The Sheep Detectives is now showing in UK cinemas.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona writes about films for TopMob, covering new releases in theaters and on streaming services. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed all kinds of movies.

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2026-05-08 16:06