There’s never been a better time to learn how to become a video game voice actor in the UK. Firstly, it’s a huge market. As the fourth-largest exporter of computer games in the world, the UK boasts over 2,500 active games businesses supporting around 75,000 jobs.
Secondly, British accents are increasingly sought after. “The gaming industry’s appetite for diversity in voice acting has grown, and British accents are increasingly sought after for their versatility and global appeal,” says video game voice actor (VA) James Fowler.
Finally – and perhaps best of all for newcomers – popular indie games are creating opportunities outside AAA gaming (titles produced by larger studios).
“Video games such as Phasmophobia have become overnight successes with only a sole developer on the project,” says SOVAS award–nominated voice actor Sara Secora. “That means you don’t need to be a voice actor in AAA gaming to become notable and base a voiceover career in gaming.”
How do you break into this exciting industry? Let’s find out!
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1. Work on your acting.
VAs need more than a unique voice. The ability to understand and develop complex characters with a realistic emotional range is fundamental to the craft, and movement and facial expressions play a huge role in recording. (Check out these Halo 3 voice actors to see what we mean.) The growing prevalence of motion capture only underlines the importance of full-body acting.
“Be an actor first,” advises successful VA Nolan North (Uncharted, The Last of Us). “I meet a lot of people who say they want to be a voice actor. Don’t limit yourself. Do plays, do improv, take classes!”
Although you don’t need to be a motion-capture actor to voice video game characters, “what we’re actually doing is full-on acting,” Marios Gavrilis (Indiana Jones and The Great Circle) told the BBC. “It’s the entire body; it’s the entire performance that’s being captured.”
2. Understand gaming.
Familiarity with the gaming medium will help. All it takes is watching playthroughs on YouTube or playing games yourself to appreciate the storytelling and analyse the vocal performances in different genres and styles.
It’s an approach valued by Kim Hurdon, voice director for franchises such as Far Cry, Ghost Recon, Watchdogs, and Assassin’s Creed.
“If it’s a shoot-em-up game, what does that sound like?” Hurdon asks. “What does an NPC [non-player character] sound like in that game…because there’s an awful lot of work in NPCs. You don’t have to necessarily play it, but make sure you listen to the genre.”
3. Train your voice.
If there’s one thing VAs need, it’s range. Jennifer English voiced leads in Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but also contributed “about 70 characters” for Divinity: Original Sin II. Branching narratives and player-driven choices can create sprawling scripts, and time constraints often require VAs to switch among characters and emotional states at the drop of a hat.
“Two pages a day, I think, is average for a big-budget film,” English told Dan Allen Gaming. “We would do that in seconds.… You’re moving so quickly.”
Find voice-acting classes either online or in person to develop the fundamentals of voice control, and then work on portraying different accents and emotions alongside various pitches, cadences, and tones. Record yourself, play it back, and refine your vocal control.
4. Record a demo reel.
Established video game VAs may have their own equipment, but aspiring VAs should consider booking a nearby studio. You’ll get professional equipment and typically a sound engineer for less than you may expect. Spotlight’s Central London location, for example, is £70 per hour.
Now you can record a demo reel, which is essentially what everyone hoping to become a voice actor in the UK uses as a kind of audio CV. “Your aim should be a concise, 60- to 90-second demo reel that’s absolutely packed with your best work,” voice actor and producer Guy Michaels wrote for Voice Reel.
You should pay attention to diction, pronunciation, and vocal techniques; showcase different characters (such as a hero, monster, and love interest) and emotional states to avoid being typecast; focus on your own talents rather than imitating other VAs; and practise and refine before recording starts.
Finished reels should be hosted on your personal website, added to your online profiles, and shared via links on your social media accounts.
5. Search for work.
Everyone starts somewhere. Your first video game VA work may not feel glamorous or pay well, but those early credits form the foundation of your career and lead to better voice-acting salaries down the road.
Zero in on video game voice-acting roles by:
- Joining online casting platforms: They collate job and audition notices, and, with a membership, you can apply directly.
- Joining indie communities: Keep your ear to the ground for upcoming opportunities by searching IndieDev or VoiceActing on X; joining r/gameDev and r/VoiceActing on Reddit; finding game-development Discord servers; and following small indie devs via their social media profiles.
- Reaching out directly: Some indie developers post casting calls on social media, but you may want to reach out directly through a DM or email, politely and professionally asking about future roles and linking to your demo reel.
- Finding representation: With a few credits under your belt, look for a voice-acting agent who can connect you with studios and casting directors, manage negotiations, and promote your career.
6. Network.
“Voiceover artistry is a real strong group – a real tight-knit community of people who genuinely root for each other,” North says.
Making inroads with that community should bear fruit over time in the form of job recommendations, industry connections, and valuable advice. To get a foot in the door, attend industry events, such as To the Moon Expo and Comic Con; join online VA communities on sites such as Facebook and Discord, and connect with game developers and other video game VAs on social media.
Voice actor and coach Arianna Ratner (Diablo IV, Fallout 76, The Elder Scrolls) offers the following advice for nailing auditions:
- Check out the style of acting in the developer’s previous games.
- Screenshot your character arc and look at it while recording (check out Ratner’s example of using character art to inform her performance).
- Reduce your character archetype down to one sentence.
- Decide on your character’s external and internal objectives.
- Consider how each line advances the story.
Speak at a steady pace without going too fast, and don’t fear going big and bold. Video games are all about emotion and action.
“Don’t be discouraged by rejection,” Michaels says. “Keep refining your skills, attending workshops, and staying up to date with industry trends. With dedication and perseverance, you can make your dream of becoming a video game actor a reality.”
Credit: DFree/HMP-Berlin/Jamie Lamor Thompson/Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
- Troy Baker: Joel (The Last of Us), Samuel Drake (Uncharted), and Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones and the Great Circle)
- Nolan North: Nathan Drake (Uncharted), Desmond Miles (Assassin’s Creed), and Dr. Edward Richtofen (Call of Duty)
- Terrence C. Carson: Kratos (God of War) and Mace Windu (Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga)
- Jennifer Hale: Commander Shepard (Mass Effect), Ashe (Overwatch), and Kronika (Mortal Kombat 11)
- Neil Newbon: Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3), Zeon (Xenoblade Chronicles 3), and Karl Heisenberg (Resident Evil Village)
- Alix Wilton Regan: Aya (Assassin’s Creed), Samantha Traynor (Mass Effect 3), and Calista (The Last Story)
- Cara Theobold: Nepheli Loux (Elden Ring) and Tracer (Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, and Overwatch 2)
- Masako Nozawa: Merryweather (Kingdom Hearts), Wukong (League of Legends), and Son Goku (Dragonball)
- Matthew Mercer: Cole Cassidy (Overwatch), Jack Cooper (Titanfall), and Ganondorf (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom)
- Kimberly Brooks: Storm (Marvel Powers United VR), Daisy Fitzroy (BioShock Infinite), and Ashley Williams (Mass Effect)