Before her face was ever known, her voice had already traveled the globe. Millions carried it in their pockets, spoke to it in kitchens, cars, and offices — sometimes in frustration, sometimes in curiosity, often in awe. And yet, for years, no one knew her name.
Susan Bennett, the original voice of Apple Inc.’s Siri, has been many things in her life: a singer, a seasoned voiceover artist, and a warm storyteller with an unmistakable laugh. But her journey into becoming one of the most recognizable voices on the planet began in the quiet, unseen world of voice work.
“In voiceover, you immerse yourself so completely into the character you’re portraying that, for a moment, you forget yourself entirely,” Bennett says. “Not being known for my face and only for my voice feels natural to me — it’s simply part of the job.”
For years before Siri, she was already speaking into microphones for airlines, commercials, and corporations — often uncredited. That anonymity never really bothered her. “Sure, there are moments when you wish people knew,” she admits, “but I understood early on that being a voice artist often means your work speaks for you — literally.”
When Siri was first released, there were moments of surreal recognition. “I’d hear Siri and think, ‘That’s my voice,’” she laughs. “But Siri is a device. Everyone knows Siri — they don’t necessarily need to know me.”
If Apple Inc. had put her name in the credits? “Absolutely, life would have been different,” she grins. “I’d be richer, more famous — dramatically different. But that’s not what drives me.”
Her identity eventually surfaced thanks to a reporter’s curiosity. “When the news came out, I felt relieved,” she recalls. “But even if it hadn’t happened, I’d made peace with keeping it quiet. I’m just grateful I got some recognition.”
Over time, the novelty of hearing herself in unexpected places has shifted from odd to amusing. “Siri says things I’d never say — and sometimes she can be a bit… sassy,” Bennett chuckles. “People use Siri for all kinds of things. Some of them are… let’s just say, interesting. But it doesn’t bother me anymore.”
Despite working in an era when AI was still in its infancy, Bennett has never felt she lost ownership of her voice. “Siri is just one project — a big one, yes — but not the whole of who I am,” she says. She still sings, still lends her voice to projects like the announcements at Atlanta Airport, and still believes in the value of good storytelling.
If a young voice artist asked whether they should lend their voice to technology, Bennett’s answer is simple: “If you’re credited, paid fairly, and it makes you happy — absolutely. Technology is the future.”
And what do people overlook most about her story? “That I’m a real person,” she says. “Not just Siri. I value honesty, kindness, and doing the right thing.”
Her hope for her legacy is refreshingly human: “I’d like to be remembered as a kind person who gave her all, and as someone who was human — not just a voice inside a device.”
As for whether she ever greets Siri herself? She bursts out laughing. “Never! That would be like saying hi to myself — weird!”
After an hour in Susan Bennett’s company, one thing becomes clear: the woman behind Siri isn’t just a voice. She’s a warm, grounded, and remarkably positive person who knows the rare joy of being both everywhere and happily unseen — and who has learned that sometimes, the greatest recognition comes from the people who matter most.