In the realms of video games and animation, Jennifer Hale is one of the most iconic names within the acting community; there’s a very high chance you’ll have heard her voice countless times. Jennifer is perhaps best known for playing Commander Shepard, aka FemShep, in BioWare’s Mass Effect series, aka FemShep, also bringing to life Bastila Shan in both Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games and Jean Grey in X-Men ‘97.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with the actor at MCM Comic Con London to talk about her illustrious career, touching upon Mass Effect, the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake, and stepping into the recasted role of Bayonetta in 2022’s Bayonetta 3.
Jennifer’s career began with the modest Flipper in 1991, based on the popular children’s animated series from the 1960s. Obviously, video games have come a long way over the last three decades or so.
“It was wildly different from anything I was accustomed to, you know. I was used to animation, which is like radio play, where everybody has a turn. And a video game is a one-person show for the entire session. It's very different,” Jennifer told me.
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“In animation, theatre, and film, you get your script ahead of time, and you learn your lines. You have context. But in a game, normally, when we get the script ahead of time, it's cold reading. You go in, you see a line, and you record. We also work out of context. I might start with a line that's a third of the way into the game, then do one from the end, then pop back to the beginning.”
Arguably, the first major video game that Jennifer starred in is the PlayStation classic Metal Gear Solid, released in 1998. Jennifer played the role of Dr Naomi Hunter of FOXHOUND, a close ally of Solid Snake (David Hayter). She also played Emma Emmerich in 2001’s Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
Without giving too much away, Naomi Hunter is a very complex character who has a strong emotional attachment to Solid Snake. Some of the scenes between the two characters are some of the most emotional in the entire series, especially in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. I asked Jennifer about her process in such cases.
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“Every actor works differently,” she began. “The way I work is bringing in real-life experiences, and I have a vast library of those. Some scenes can be very emotional, and there can be a bit of a transition at times, but I try to leave work at work. And I allow myself some transition space, and also, it's very clear to me that none of this is about me, and whatever emotional fallout I have from work is my responsibility. I need to get on with it, because we have a project to do.”
Breaking Barriers With Strong Female Leads
Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I’ve witnessed the shift in representation in video games, and it’s great to see more leading female characters surfacing over the years. However, as one of the most respected female actors in the industry, Jennifer has perhaps more insight than most.
“I think it's been great to be part of the evolution of women in games and how women are portrayed in the opportunities we have, and to kick down a couple of barriers, and shatter a couple of glass ceilings. However, I look forward to the time when we don't even think about gender, we think about people,” said Jennifer.
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“We think about the variety of people who could play these roles, and we're still in the middle of that process. I don't think we can rush it. It's just the way that it goes. Just as we're opening up every ethnicity and ethnic background to roles, it's nice to see it coming, and I can't wait to see more of it.”
Mass Effect Is A Cultural Phenomenon
Without question, Commander Shepard of BioWare’s Mass Effect series is one of the most iconic video game characters of all-time, whether players choose to play as MaleShep or FemShep. For me, I always felt a stronger connection with FemShep. I’m not sure why, but I had the right person to ask in front of me. Jennifer’s response caught me a little off guard when I enquired why she thought myself and others might feel that way.
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“I don't know. I almost want to turn that question back to you since you play the game, because I suck at playing them,” she joked. “What do you think it is about FemShep that pulls people in?”
In my humble opinion, even at the time of Mass Effect’s release, strong female characters weren't as prominent as they could have been, despite the Lara Crofts, Jill Valentines, and Joanna Darks of the world. I feel that’s why I gravitate more towards FemShep.
“That’s nice,” Jennifer replied. “I think people were hungry for a long time, not only to have a strong female role that offers so many choices for the player, but a character that everyone enjoys. She’s something different, you know? She's not overly feminised at all, by any stretch. Her character's dialogue is nearly identical to the male character's. I love that.”
The Bayonetta 3 Casting Controversy
Before the release of Bayonetta 3 on the Nintendo Switch in October 2022, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the recasting of the lead character, Bayonetta. Jennifer replaced Hellena Taylor, who had been the voice of the character up until then. With regards to the third game, Hellena Taylor claimed to have been offered too low of a fee to reprise the role by PlatinumGames, although it later came to light that Taylor was offered a higher fee than publicised.
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Amidst this storm, Jennifer was drafted into the role with a job to do, and I was curious to find out whether it would affect her interest in portraying Bayonetta again.
“I'd love to play Bayonetta again. But I definitely got thrown under the bus by that whole thing, and I was unable to speak on my own behalf because I was under not one but two NDAs. Eventually, I was allowed to make a statement, which I appreciated, and I was able to present the facts,” Jennifer said.
“There were some things said [that were] presented as facts, but were false. I would have never taken a role otherwise. Before I accepted the audition, I checked everything thoroughly, and I trust the director. Thankfully, playing Bayonetta was so much fun, and the community was so welcoming to me, especially after the fiasco had passed and the facts came out. But it was not fun getting thrown under the bus like I had, but I was happy to come out on the other side.”
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Remake in Limbo
In 2021, during a PlayStation Showcase, a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake was announced. In the years since, the project has yet to surface again in a meaningful way. It’s been passed around studios, seemingly finding itself stuck in developmental hell. Jennifer played Bastila Shan in the original BioWare game and its sequel from Obsidian Entertainment, and she was set to reprise the role in the remake.
I asked Jennifer what she could say on the project’s status: “That’s way above my pay grade. I’m not allowed to say anything. Even if I could, it’s a need-to-know basis, and I don't know anything yet.”
Building Communities and Finding Joy
With plenty of learnings to pass on, with a group of both friends and colleagues, Jennifer founded SkillsHub, a platform designed to help budding actors wanting to get into the industry or for those more experienced to fine-tune their skills.
Jennifer outlined the origins of the initiative to me: “I said to my sister during the COVID pandemic, ‘I’m so tired of auditioning by myself. I just want 10 minutes with someone that I trust.’ Most coaching companies have an hour with this person or an hour with that person, and my sister said, ‘I have an idea.’ She invited her friend, Bill, who is a developer and programmer, to a barbecue, and the three of us started this company. It was initially just to help people in my position.”
She continued, “We soon discovered there are loads of people who began a career in voice acting and just got lost. They may have taken classes, but after that, there wasn't much direction.
“I know how to help build careers, and I have all the information and instructions on our website to help those who need it. It's direct access to the people you want to work with and for. It's priced in ways that people can afford, and it is one of the most amazing communities I've ever seen. We have people who have forged incredible friendships. It’s beautiful.”
Reflecting on her life over the last 12 months, I concluded our conversation by asking Jennifer what has given her the most joy.
“Parenting,” she replied. “I love my kid, he’s great.”
“I am always present to the fact that so much of what we do is transient. People don't remember what you did, but they remember how you made them feel, so I like to be a good person, the best person I can be,” she added.
“I’m not always 100%, you know? We all have hit-and-miss days. But my friendships, relationships, parenting, and my family are the most important things to me. I also love being outside. I live in an extraordinary place on Vancouver Island. Being outside with nature, that’s my happy place.”
Topics: Capcom, Features, Interview, Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid, Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, Bioware