For gamers, there have been a whole host of major titles released throughout the past 12 months to keep us entertained. Some of them have been better than others, and one of the best things about each are the performances made by the actors who lend their voices (and sometimes their bodies) to the games’ lead characters.
In particular, four women have done incredibly well to bring their roles to life, enveloping all those playing within the story thanks to their faultless performances.
Here are our nominees and of course our winner for Video Game Performance of the Year at The Female First Awards 2020…
Ashley Johnson as Ellie in The Last of Us Part II
It was a long time coming, but when we finally got the sequel to the original Last of Us game, we couldn’t take our eyes off the screen as the shocking events of the game moved forward. Whether or not you agreed with the direction the story went in, the passion that went into bringing Ellie to life once more by Ashley Johnson was undeniable.
Laura Bailey as Abby in The Last of Us Part II
Ashley Johnson wasn’t the only one who put her all into making her Last of Us Part II character one that would go down in history; Laura Bailey did the same with the introduction of her own character, Abby. Though there are many fans of the series who would argue against her being an essential part of the plot, she was integral to the storyline that the team behind the game wanted to tell.
Bailey did an impeccable job of taking her script and elevating it to that next level, evoking all sorts of emotional reaction from millions of players across the globe in doing so. She must be commended for her part in telling this tale.
Cecilie Stenspil as Eivor in Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Following the success of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, where players were able to take on the male or female role of the protagonist, the choice was presented once more with this year’s offering, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It was one of the best aspects of gameplay that Ubisoft could have continued. Their next huge decision was exactly who should play lead character Eivor… They couldn’t have been more spot-on with their choice of Cecilie Stenspil.
Though this is her first role in a video game, she excels throughout, bringing a real sense of enticement to Eivor. Many would assume playing a male viking is the best option in a game of this type but, giving Stenspil a chance would likely change their minds. She’s absolutely phenomenal.
Ozioma Akagha as Alyx Vance in Half-Life: Alyx
Virtual reality games may not have seen as much of a taking off as some would have predicted, but there’s undoubtedly still a thirst for fresh and exciting adventures to enjoy. One of those came in the form of a much-anticipated Half-Life sequel, putting VR players in the shoes of Alyx.
Ozioma Akagha lends her voice to the character, bringing her to life in a way even VR wouldn’t allow! With such a tricky medium to traverse as a voice actor, Akagha does an amazing job of keeping you intensely focused throughout your gameplay.
And the winner is…
Laura Bailey!
Just when we thought we may have an understanding of where The Last of Us was going, writers went and stunned us all. Bailey not only gave the performance of a lifetime as Abby, but dealt with relentless trolls due to her figure and the character’s actions. She must be commended because of that; her bravery in the face of adversary coupled with her talent is a major win. Congratulations, Laura!
MORE: The nominees for Movie of the Year are…
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