A few months back we introduced you to one of our voice talents Steve Winfield. Steve suddenly skyrocketed to fame and controversy when it was revealed that CBS news had used an actor with a fake Arabic accent as the voice of Saddam Hussein's interpreter in a landmark interview with Dan Rather.

That actor was our very own Steve Winfield. Now Steve's back in the news after doing an impression of the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger in a recent Democratic campaign ad that ran on New York radio stations. The ad, for a local NJ democratic candidate, caused a political uproar, which reached all the way to the West Coast. Mike Vallante, California Republic Party COO, issued a statement denouncing the "unauthorized use of Governor-elect Schwarzenegger's image". What does Steve Winfield have to say about all of this?

Steve:
It demonstrates that when the spoken word is spoken well the candidate wins. Not only that, but in the post-election coverage a number of major newspapers – including The New York Times – cited the commercial as a factor in the overwhelming Democratic victory in the New Jersey elections.

How did you develop your Schwarzenegger impression?

Steve:
“Ahnold” and the Rather-Hussein interpreter are just the tip of my Voiceberg.

It’s not really something I developed. I just do it. I’ve found that I can make almost any voice or accent that goes into my ears come out of my mouth.

It began when I was a kid. I mimicked all the relatives. Then, as I got older I started impersonating people on TV.

Eventually, I discovered people would pay me to do it – and a career was born. As an actor, I’ve been doing celebrity impressionations, regular voiceovers in regional and foreign accents, foreign languages and regular English for all kinds of companies, organizations, television programs and entertainment media – and for winning candidates from both sides of the political fence -- for years.

Have you ever met Arnold?

Steve:
No, but I would like to. He’s an amazing man and I’m a big fan of his.

Do you know if he heard your ad?

Steve:
I really don’t know. However, since the California GOP issued a press release about it, I suspect he has.

Both the Saddam interview and this political ad have brought you (your face, not just your voice) into the spotlight. Are you being recognized when you go out in public?

Steve:
I’ve gotten a few “do I know you?” looks out on the street since the article came out, but no one has asked for an autograph -- yet. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t mind being mobbed by fans. (If any TV or movie producers are reading this… I’m available.)

These two jobs have also brought attention to the fact that you are an extremely talented voice actor (not that we didn't know that already). Tell us a little bit about the languages you speak

Steve:
In advertising circles, I’ve become known as “that language guy.” In addition to dozens of foreign and regional accents in English, I speak a half a dozen languages fluently and do voice-overs in Spanish, French, Italian and German. Because of my talent for mimicry, I can do them in a manner which most native speakers of those languages would consider unaccented, so I’m constantly in demand for voice-overs in those languages.

Speaking all those languages has other advantages, too. If I ever meet Arnold, I can speak to him in his native German. Ich komme wieder! (I’ll be back!)