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  Imagine being caught in a life where you are perpetually 10 years old. These are the golden years where society at large pretty much accepts that you're not old enough to be responsible for the carnage that follows in your wake. It is also the age that is the paradise before hormones screw everything up. This is the life that Nancy Cartwright has pretty much lived for almost two-decades. Most of us know her as the voice of the precocious (and sometimes felonious, cartoon icon) Bart Simpson.



  Though most of us know what Bart is all about, far fewer are familiar with the person behind her "eat my shorts" persona. Nancy gave us the opportunity to talk to her about her life behind her famous persona as well as her annual charity Monte Carlo Night.



LaunchPoker: First of all thank you for taking the time to speak with us Nancy. Let's start off with you telling us about your charity Monte Carlo Night event.

Nancy Cartwright: On September 20th it will be our third annual Monte Carlo fundraiser.



LP: Along with doing the fundraiser, you are also the honorary mayor?

NC: I am. In fact, I am about to be installed for my fourth year as honorary Mayor in Northridge California.



LP: I live near Detroit; do you think you could do a better job than our Mayor?

NC: (laughs) Um, No comment. I would have to know more about that. In my case this is a PR position really. I have a great time doing it. I get involved in my community and the fundraiser that we do here is actually to put a youth center into the community, because like most communities all throughout the country, there's trouble: I don't know if you noticed it or not, but there is kinda a lot of problems out there. We have a lot of kids in my neighborhood that are at risk and they're kind of borderline gang members. So we offer a program after school for boxing, and there's a tutoring program, and they get to go on excursions that they wouldn't ever get the opportunity to go on without the help of this program, the Police Activities League. That's the main organization that is sponsoring the building of the youth center. So as honorary mayor I have sort of stepped in to help with the fundraising for that.



To be honest with you I get so much out of it by doing what I'm doing because I know that it's not just helping the kids, but it's helping the whole community. It really creates good effects and the kids really appreciate it, and it just makes me feel so good.



LP: It sounds like it's been effective so far.

NC: Well, we're doing really, really well. Of course the longer it takes to do it somehow the budget keeps changing. We've raised close to 2.5 million dollars. We hope to break ground this year, but we still have to complete the construction of the inside. We have to do the gym. There's going to be a boxing ring. We still need all the administrative things: the desks, and the files, and all the equipment for the kids. We need computers; we need to staff it. So we are looking at getting some grants and anyway this all takes time. So far it's all been volunteer work. Some really terrific people, especially with the Police Activities League supporters and the Devonshire district, they've really stepped up to the plate. This is their thing. There are just a lot of people who have helped out in the community.



LP: Last year you seemed to attract a number of big named poker players to your Monte Carlo night.

NC: I know! This year Jamie Gold is co-hosting it with me. He won last year. We're pulling in some other guys as well: Nguyen "The Master" and Todd Brunson, Jennifer Harman.



LP: What made you go with a Monte Carlo Night instead of a gold tournament or something of that nature?

NC: Well, to be honest with you it's because I have a lot of friends in Hollywood and to them poker is just a fun game. It's a fun game to play. With my connections in terms of being a voice artist and a lot friends that I have, it's just a fun way to do it.



From what I understand a lot of people in the poker community, they get very involved and they've got big hearts and they like to contribute and do a lot of poker fundraisers, but they're mostly done at the casinos. This one is quite unique because it is done at my house. It's not just going to a casino, playing poker, and the money goes toward charity. It's actually a big party! There's a huge auction, and rubbing elbows with celebrities that come and play, and the poker players that come and play; it's a way for the neighborhood to get a little taste of some glitz and glamour right in their own backyard. It's also fun for all the players and for everyone who is doing it because it's not a casino environment: it's my home and it's outside and it's beautiful. We have magicians and there's all sort of entertainment: dancing, gourmet food. It's just a lot of fun for everyone.



LP: Are you a poker player or is this a one time a year thing for you?

NC: Well, I play poker but it's tough to do when it's at my house. I kind of flit around because I'm the hostess. Last year we had Tom Kenny, who's the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. He was so, so funny and had everyone laughing. We raised a good percentage of the money through the auction. I get a lot of the studios to ante up quite a bit, and again with the people who are connected the way they are connected we get some pretty good things to auction. So it's all good.



LP: So, what sort of poker player would Bart be?

NC: (laughs) Let's see, I don't know if I can answer the question. I don't know, what do you think he would do?



LP: I think he would be an absolute cheater actually.

NC: He would probably have an Ace up his sleeve, another one up his shorts, and another one in his shoe!



LP: Truthfully, you cannot believe how big of a Simpsons fan I am. I think my favorite episode had one of the most demented things I have ever seen, in a good way of course - it was the "Screamapillar?"

NC: Oh really? My favorite episode was the take-off of Mary Poppins.



LP: I remember that one! I loved how it ended.

NC: Yeah, when she got sucked into the jet airplane (laughs). That was hilarious. I also liked the one where Nelson Muntz sings that songs that's a take-off on Yentl (at this point she broke into the Nelson voice and started singing the song).



LP: Did you ever think that the Simpsons would go this long?

NC: No, nobody did. We are negotiating now for another four years. Can you believe that?



LP: Actually I can because after almost two decades I still watch it. Are there any other charities you work with?

NC: There are several of them. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is one that I have helped out quite a bit over the years. I'm also the national spokesperson for "The Way to Happiness". And I have a non-profit organization called "Happy House". We teach seminars to people about how to build better families.



I just sent out like a million of these booklets. It's just based on a little booklet by L. Ron Hubbard called "The Way to Happiness." Although his name is associated with religion, I believe it is the only common sense guide toward better living. That's something that's really needed, wouldn't you agree?



LP: With common sense living? Oh my God, yes. Like I said, I live near Detroit.

NC: Well it's a troubled world, and people need help. Parents especially need help in raising kids.



LP: Finally, you have written a book called "My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy". How has that done?

NC: It became an LA Times Bestseller, and I'm working on some more children's books right now. It did pretty good for a first time out.



  We would like to thank Nancy for her time. It was truly a pleasure to speak with her. We hear all the time about celebrities and how they want to give back to the community, well Ms. Cartwright puts her money, time, talents, and home where her mouth is in regards to charitable efforts. We will follow up with Nancy as her Monte Carlo Night draws closer.