A voice coil actuator (50) includes a magnetic flux conductive material core (52, 52'), having a backplate (53) and a magnet (54), and an electrical current conductive coil (56, 56'). The core (52, 52') has a first surface (58, 58', 58'') and a continuous channel (60) disposed in said first surface (58, 58', 58''). The channel (60) has a pair of opposing walls (62, 64). The magnet (54) is disposed in intimate contact with a first one of said walls (62, 64) and spaced from a second one of said walls (62, 64) so that a gap remains between the magnet (54) and the second one of the walls (62, 64). The magnet (54) has a first face (94) of a first magnetic polarity facing the first one of the walls (62, 64) and a second face (96) of a second, opposite magnetic polarity facing the gap. The magnet (54) is further spaced from a bottom (76) of the channel (60) so that magnetic flux is substantially normal from the second face (96) across said gap to the second one of the walls (62, 64).