Maaya Sakamoto (坂本真綾 Sakamoto Ma'aya, born March 31, 1980) is a Japanese seiyu (voice-actor) and singer who made her debut in 1996 as the voice of Hitomi Kanzaki in the hit anime series The Vision of Escaflowne.
In addition, she sang the opening song "Yakusoku wa Iranai" and the movie closing song "Yubiwa". She has since teamed up with composer Yoko Kanno and has had many subsequent voice roles in anime such as Record of Lodoss War, Kanon, RahXephon, Gundam SEED Destiny, .hack//SIGN, and others. She also has had voice roles in video games such as Panzer Dragoon Saga, Kingdom Hearts, and Napple Tale. She also does the voice of Padmé Amidala in the Japanese dub of Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III and Max in the television series Dark Angel. She plays the role of Eponine in the Japanese production of Les Misérables.
Albums
Notable voice roles
- .hack//Legend of the Twilight: Aura
- .hack//SIGN: Aura
- Cardcaptor Sakura: The Sealed Card (2nd Movie}: The Nothing card
- Cowboy Bebop: Stella (episode 8)
- El Hazard: Qawoor Towles
- Escaflowne (movie): Hitomi Kanzaki
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children: Aerith Gainsborough
- Gunbuster 2: Raruku
- Gundam SEED Destiny: Lunamaria Hawke and Mayu Asuka
- Kanon: Mishio Amano
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Little Motoko (Episode 25)
- Nightwalker: Riho Yamazaki
- Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety: Moe Katsuragi
- RahXephon: Reika Mishima and main title vocals
- Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight (TV): Leaf
- Tsubasa Chronicle: Princess Tomoyo
- The Vision of Escaflowne: Hitomi Kanzaki
- Wolf's Rain: Mew
- Risky Safety: Moe Katsuragi
Games
- .hack (video games): Aura and Natsume
- Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball: Lisa
- Dead or Alive 4: Lisa
- Kanon: Mishio Amano
- Kingdom Hearts/2: Aerith Gainsborough (Coincidentally, Mandy Moore, Aerith's voice actor in the American/Final Mix versions is also a singer.)
- Napple Tale: Pochi/Arsia
- Panzer Dragoon Saga: Azel