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Abbey McBride, the voice of Ling-Ling from the Comedy Central cartoon Drawn Together.

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Abbey McBride was born and raised in Champaign, Ill. She moved to Los Angeles in 1999 to pursue a career as an actress. Since she has been there, she has done many on-camera spots for Jimmy Kimmel, including playing a drunk Tara Reid in "The Carson Daly Bash," as well as creating and starring in her own sketch comedy pilot for Showtime. The animated series Drawn Together marks Abbey's first job doing voiceover work and her first time playing a little Asian battle monster. You can see her in the movie Southland Tales next to Sarah Michelle Gellar, which will be coming out before the end of the year.

Like all big Hollywood stars, you grew up in central Illinois. When did you know that you wanted to pursue acting, and how did you wind up in L.A.? How did you get connected withDrawn Together

I knew that I wanted to pursue acting when I was in the second grade. That was when I started doing theater at the U of I's Krannert Center. My first performance was The Sound Of Music where

I played little Gretel. After that show, I became that kid that they brought in whenever the play called for a child actress. I also did a bunch of theater at the Station Theater in Urbana, a couple shows at the Virginia Theater and of course a lot at Champaign Central High School. After graduating from high school, I decided to pursue the career and I went to Denver and Chicago to do theater and try to work professionally. After a year in Chicago, I learned that L.A. is where I need to be to get the most out of my pursuit. So, at the ripe age of 19, I headed for Hollywood.

I got connected with Drawn Together a couple different ways. I worked at The Man Show as a producers' assistant and that is where I first met and became friends with the creators of the show. A few years later, I was performing with a sketch group called "The Mechanicals." Two of the characters that I played were a gibberish-speaking drunk and an Asian woman. When the creators came to see the show, they thought perhaps I could mix the two and create Ling-Ling with them. So we did. And that was how Ling-Ling was created.

To be honest, before I met you I had never watched Drawn Together, mostly because I think the commercials do not accurately depict the humor of the show. Turns out, the comedy is irreverent, sarcastic, and, especially with your character, bordering on the offensive - which I love. How much does your character reflect your own comedic style, and how much artistic direction do you have with "Ling-Ling"?

I think Ling-Ling definitely reflects my comedic style. In fact, the whole show really does.

I love the humor. I love being shocked and burned every time I watch. So fun!

More about you personally, what drives you and inspires you? Who are your influences in your art and work, and what do you hope to accomplish?

I'm inspired by anything that makes me laugh, cry or just feel. The things that do, inspire me. I love the escape that entertainment gives you. That is what drives me. Wow ... my influences, huh? I have way too many. I think all my talented friends out here influence me. They are the ones that make me laugh the most. Oh, and I'm obsessed with late night reruns of the Roseanne show. That totally inspires me.

You are friends with John Di Maggio, the voice of "Bender" on Futurama; Futurama seems to be a show that has achieved a Family Guy-esque level of cult following. Do you see Drawn Together along those lines, and if so, how does it feel to be involved with an underground sensation?

I definitely see Drawn Together as a show that can achieve the level of cult following as all those shows. At least we hope. I love being a part of it. So far, out ratings have been pretty good, but we could always use more . so keep watching, people. This third season only gets better.

Do you prefer voice acting or live acting, or do they fulfill different aesthetic needs for you? Do you want to stay in comedy?

Drawn Together was my first V.O. gig. I've always done on-camera stuff and do prefer that. However, I hope to continue to do V.O. work on the side. It really is a ton of fun. My job consists of me coming in for a few hours a week and screaming gibberish into a mic. It really doesn't get better than that.

What is on the horizon next?

I am in Rich Kelly's (writer/director of Donnie Darko) next film called Southland Tales. I play Sheeena Gee, a porn star friend of Krista Now, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar. It should be out in select theater before the end of the year.

Final interview questions are always lame. Mine is no different. Give me three words that do not describe you.

Boring, conservative and angry.