Siri, the voice assistant that comes pre-installed on every iPhone, is a household name. For years, people have been using Siri’s voice to schedule appointments, check the weather, and even ask philosophical questions. However, many people might not know whose voice actually makes up Siri’s persona.

The voice of Siri belongs to Susan Bennett, a voice actress and singer from Atlanta, Georgia. Bennett first started her career in the ’70s as a backup singer for bands like Burt Bacharach and Roy Orbison. She later transitioned to voiceover work and has since lent her voice to countless commercials, TV shows, and movies.

In 2005, Bennett was approached by a company called ScanSoft to record phrases for a new project, which eventually became Siri. The recordings took four hours a day, five days a week, for the entire month of July 2005. Bennett said she had no idea what the recordings were going to be used for, and only found out years later that she was the voice behind Siri.

Bennett’s voice was used for the original Siri, which debuted in 2011 with the release of the iPhone 4S. Bennett’s voice was used for the American English version of Siri, while other voice actors were used for other languages.

However, Bennett almost didn’t become the voice of Siri. According to an interview with CNN, the original voice of Siri was actually supposed to be a British man, but the developers ultimately decided to switch to a female voice. Bennett’s voice was chosen because of its warm, clear, and professional tone.

In addition to being the voice of Siri, Bennett continues to work as a voiceover artist and singer. She has lent her voice to various brands and organizations, including Delta Airlines, McDonald’s, and Coca-Cola.

Bennett’s voice has become iconic, recognized by millions of people around the world. It’s a testament to her talent and skill as a voice actor and singer. While Siri’s voice technology has advanced since Bennett recorded her phrases in 2005, her voice remains an integral part of the iPhone experience.