Q & A with. . .
Vanessa Marshall

MGC = Metal Gear Confidential
VM = Vanessa Marshall

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MGC: Would you briefly introduce yourself and your background in reference to voice acting?

VM: My name is Vanessa Marshall. I have been working in the field of voiceover since 1998. I trained as an actress at NYU, where I earned a Masters Degree in Acting. I am also a stand up comic, a model, and an avid hockey fan!

MGC: We are interested in how you came to consider the role of Olga Gurlukovich. What got you interested?

VM: I had studied dialects at NYU and never had the opportunity to use them. MGS2 was such an opportunity.
MGC: You've got a healthy background in games with a lot of genre diversity between them. What influences the roles you pick in video games?

VM: I enjoy all of them. Each one creates such an awesome fantasy world that is always fun to step into! So I don't really pick, I am honored to participate in all of them!

MGC: Are you aware of Metal Gear Solid 3 and its purportedly Russian backdrop? Knowing this, do you think you would try for another role considering your prior experience?
VM: I would love to but I don't think they would do that. Many of the actresses who played ancillary characters in MGS were not asked back to participate in MGS 2. BELIEVE ME, THEY WANTED TO!!! For whatever reason, Konami went with new women. I fear that they will do the same for MGS 3! BUMMER!"

MGC: On a less serious note, if I dare say it, your picture on the main page of your site could be said to have a fair resemblance to the character you play. Any thoughts on this?

VM: Totally random! I do look like her! But that is a total coincidence! She was already drawn when I auditioned for the part. So I just happened to look like her! Strange, huh!?

MGC: Not to make you choose sides or anything but tell us: Raiden or Solid Snake? Why?

VM: Solid Snake! Just cuz! I can't help it! :)

MGC: How did you and the other voice actors get along with each other? Did you ever sense any bad vibes between the cast?

VM: NEVER! We had a great time. No bad vibes at all!

MGC: Can you tell us about your working relationship to Kris Zimmerman and Mr. Kojima?
VM: Kris and Mr. Kojima were in another room and I only ever heard Kris give me directions. I assume that someone was translating between them! Sometimes the script was translated very literally from Japanese to English and just didn't sound right. So we had to rewrite certain phrases to make the ideas flow better and make the scenes believable and contemporary. Their personalities came off as hard-working, jovial, creative types! Kris is a hoot and I know her from an animated series I do on Cartoon Network, Grim and Evil, in which I play a little black boy named Irwin. So I got along GREAT with Kris. I never really got a chance to connect with anyone else, but they were all very kind and polite.
MGC: Are you a frequent net surfer? If so, ever browsed any of the Metal Gear fansites?

VM: I don't surf as much as I would like to. I am usually working and not able to chill out and check stuff out. But I am so impressed with all the fan sites I have seen! Yours ROCKS!!! It is truly amazing what so many people have done!! I just got back from Comic Con in San Diego and it was so refreshing to see so many gaming fans in one place. I kept wondering if any of them were MGS fan site builders. I guess I will never know!

"...it was so refreshing to see so many gaming fans in one place. I kept wondering if any of them were MGS fan site builders. "
MGC: What has been the greatest benefit for you personally about being involved with MGS2?

VM: Hearing from my friends who play the game how hard it is to kill me! No seriously, it has been an honor to be a part of something so huge!

MGC: Can you reveal for us a funny behind-the-scenes moment had while working on this project?

VM: I kept trying to get David to reveal Xmen 2 plot points He never did. He is so honorable!
MGC: Have you made any efforts to keep in touch with the other voice actors you worked with

VM: I am in touch with Quinton Flynn, Kevin Michael Richardson and Jennifer Hale.

MGC: Tell us about any upcoming projects you may have and what we can expect from Vanessa Marshall next.

VM: I just finished SOCOM II, Lineage II, Wrath, and Black 9, and Disney's "The Haunted Mansion."

MGC: Finally, to end on a lighter note, what's your take on Olga's hairy pits?

VM: Get a razor!

Metal Gear Confidential would like to extend many thanks to Vanessa for her patience and cooperation in helping bring this interview together for this site. Without her caring outlook towards her fans this would not be possible. Thanks, Vanessa! This interview is © Metal Gear Confidential 2003. Do not republish or plagiarize content for any other site without the written consent of webmaster.