Laura Bailey

Bailey was born in Mississippi{{Citation|title=Between the Sheets: Laura Bailey|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjuSZYsuP-I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/kjuSZYsuP-I |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=July 29, 2021}}{{cbignore}} on May 28, 1981. She has an older sister named Jenny. Her father was in the Air Force, causing the family to move around frequently. They lived in Oklahoma before moving to San Antonio, Texas, and then moved throughout North Texas, all before Bailey was six years old. They eventually settled in Allen, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. She had a passing interest in acting and performed in school plays, but was planning to become a biologist. She did not realize she could make a career out of acting until she watched a Dawson's Creek behind-the-scenes special in which Katie Holmes was interviewed.{{cite journal| url = https://www.virtualonlineeditions.com/publication/?i=67918&p=38| title = Laura Bailey: Superhero| journal = Plano Profile| date = May 2011| last = Darrow| first = Heather| pages = 36–38| access-date = February 17, 2022| archive-date = March 4, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210304183455/https://www.virtualonlineeditions.com/publication/?i=67918&p=38| url-status = live}}{{cite web |url=https://g33ksauce.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/interview-with-laura-bailey-voice-actor/ |title=Interview with Laura Bailey (Voice Actor) " g33ksauce |publisher=G33ksauce.wordpress.com |date=September 28, 2010 |access-date=May 4, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004916/https://g33ksauce.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/interview-with-laura-bailey-voice-actor/ |url-status=live }} She attended the theatre program at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas, where she participated in productions of the plays Suburbia, Through a Glass Onion, and Don't Rock the Jukebox.{{cite web |url=https://www.collintheatrecenter.com/HallOfFame/LauraBailey/Main.html |title=Laura Bailey |publisher=Collintheatrecenter.com |access-date=May 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308223958/https://www.collintheatrecenter.com/HallOfFame/LauraBailey/Main.html |archive-date=March 8, 2014}}

File:Laura Bailey at WonderCon 2017 (cropped).jpg

Voice actor Kent Williams spotted Bailey at one of her college plays and invited her to audition for Funimation while they were working on Dragon Ball Z.{{cite web|last=Ferreira| first = Mike |url=https://www.animeherald.com/2012/07/26/interview-laura-bailey/ |title=Interview: Laura Bailey |work=Anime Herald |date=July 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203083243/https://www.animeherald.com/2012/07/26/interview-laura-bailey/ | archive-date=December 3, 2013 | url-status=dead}} original article {{cite web|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120304093828/https://animedream.com/ad/interviews/view/2514 | url=https://animedream.com/ad/interviews/view/2514 | archive-date = March 4, 2012 | url-status=dead |title=Informal And Intriguing: An Interview With Laura Bailey|last=Ferreira|first=Mike|publisher=Anime Dream|date=May 23, 2009 | publication-date=May 31, 2009 |access-date=October 31, 2011}} Her first major role on Dragon Ball Z was Kid Trunks, which she portrayed with a raspy voice.{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOe2duv6nqc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/gOe2duv6nqc |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Interview with Laura Bailey at 2009 New York Anime Festival | author = Japan Society | format=YouTube |date=April 22, 2012 |access-date=May 4, 2013}}{{cbignore}} Bailey initially tried to do the role alongside her college career, but stopped attending on the advice of her lecturer to focus on voice acting.{{cite book |last1=Marsham |first1=Liz |title=The World of Critical Role |collaboration=Cast of Critical Role |date=October 20, 2020 |publisher=Ten Speed Press |isbn=9780593157435 |pages=27–108}} She voiced the starring character Marlene Angel in Blue Gender, which was the first project Funimation did outside of the Dragon Ball world, and Keiko Yukimura in Yu Yu Hakusho, which ran on Cartoon Network.

Bailey was cast for the starring role of Tohru Honda in the anime Fruits Basket. She said that Tohru's character has helped her be more positive: "I was so inspired by her character by her, joy, and outlook on life that, you know, you wanna emulate that." She later voiced Lust, one of the villains in Fullmetal Alchemist, and Sana Kurata in Kodocha.{{cite web|first1=Matthew|last1=Anderson |first2=Stephanie|last2=Costello|interviewer = Matthew Anderson and Stephanie Costello | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232818/https://www.dvdvisionjapan.com/kodochainter.html | archive-date = December 2, 2013 | url-status=dead | url=https://www.dvdvisionjapan.com/kodochainter.html |title=Exclusive Interview with Laura Bailey & Colleen Clinkenbeard at DVD Vision Japan |work=DVJ 2.0 | publisher = DVD Vision Japan |date=June 15, 2005 |access-date=May 4, 2013}}

Bailey had been working with Funimation for about four years before she started ADR directing. She worked on Blue Gender: The Warrior and some episodes of Case Closed. Her first major ADR directing project was Gunslinger Girl, in which she also voices Henrietta. She also co-directed parts of Kodocha. She became a line producer for the Funimation dub of Shin-Chan and also voiced the title character.

File:Laura Bailey SDCC 2019 (48378674272) (further cropped).jpg

Bailey's video game voice roles include Rayne in the BloodRayne franchise,{{Cite web|url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/78173/20150820/interview-laura-bailey.htm|title=Interview: Laura Bailey Discusses Video Game Voice Acting: "The first video game I ever did was BloodRayne".|last=Burks|first=Robin|date=August 20, 2015|website=Tech Times|language=en|access-date=December 20, 2019|archive-date=July 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704020526/https://www.techtimes.com/articles/78173/20150820/interview-laura-bailey.htm|url-status=live}} Jaina Proudmoore in World of Warcraft, Rise Kujikawa in Persona 4, the Female Protagonist in Persona 3 Portable, Chun-Li in Street Fighter, Serah Farron in Final Fantasy XIII, Blaze the Cat in Sonic the Hedgehog, the title role in Catherine, Serana in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Dawnguard, multiple characters in Fallout: New Vegas, Lucina in Fire Emblem Awakening, Abigail "Fetch" Walker in Infamous Second Son and First Light, Fiona in Tales from the Borderlands, Spartan Olympia Vale in Halo 5: Guardians, Nadine Ross in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and The Lost Legacy, and Kait Diaz in Gears of War.{{cite web|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131017005729/https://www.sabotencon.com/guests/item/8-laura-bailey | archive-date = October 17, 2013 | url-status=dead | url=https://www.sabotencon.com/guests/item/8-laura-bailey |title=Laura Bailey |publisher=Saboten Con |date=February 26, 2013 |access-date=November 27, 2013}}

In 2020, Bailey starred as Abby Anderson in the video game The Last of Us Part II, a role which won her the BAFTA Video Games Award for Best Performer in a Leading Role and the Best Performance award at The Game Awards 2020, despite receiving death threats in response to the game's divisive character choices and plot twists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-56528581|title=Bafta Games Awards 2021: Hades takes Best Game|date=March 26, 2021|website=BBC News|language=en|access-date=March 31, 2021|archive-date=March 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329141106/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-56528581|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-55272359|title=Last of Us 2 wins big at The Game Awards|date=December 11, 2020|website=BBC News|language=en|access-date=March 31, 2021|archive-date=May 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507131551/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-55272359|url-status=live}} In 2022, Bailey was nominated for Best VA Performance (EN) at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards.{{cite web|title=Crunchyroll Announces Nominees for 6th Annual Anime Awards|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2022-01-18/crunchyroll-announces-nominees-for-6th-annual-anime-awards/.181663|website=Anime News Network|last=Loveridge|first=Lynzee|date=January 18, 2022|access-date=January 18, 2022|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118212940/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2022-01-18/crunchyroll-announces-nominees-for-6th-annual-anime-awards/.181663|url-status=live}}

In addition to her voice over roles, Bailey has also appeared in several live action productions. In 2001, she played a minor role in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger (titled "Saturday Night") as the daughter of a club owner (Frank Stallone Jr.) with ties to the Mafia. She later had a brief appearance in an episode of One Tree Hill ("It gets worse at night"), which was filmed in Texas. She has appeared in the films Mr. Brooks, Ruffian, and The Staircase Murders.

Bailey is also a cast member of the popular Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role, where she played Vex'ahlia ("Vex") in Campaign One, Jester Lavorre in Campaign Two, and Imogen Temult Campaign Three.{{cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |title=Critical Role Team, After Record-Breaking Fan Crowdfunding Response, Vows to Make 'The Best Goddamn Cartoon Anyone Has Ever Seen' |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/critical-role-record-breaking-kickstarter-vox-machina-1203158561/ |access-date=May 11, 2019 |work=Variety |date=March 8, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329151728/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/critical-role-record-breaking-kickstarter-vox-machina-1203158561/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|last=Duncan|first=Emily A.|date=March 9, 2021|title=An Introduction to Critical Role: Prepare Your Emotions|url=https://www.tor.com/2021/03/09/an-introduction-to-critical-role-podcast/|access-date=June 12, 2021|website=Tor.com|language=en-US|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008183914/https://www.tor.com/2021/03/09/an-introduction-to-critical-role-podcast/|url-status=live}} Critical Role was both the Webby Winner and the People's Voice Winner in the "Games (Video Series & Channels)" category at the 2019 Webby Awards;{{Cite web|title=Critical Role|url=https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2019/video/video-series-channels/games/critical-role/|access-date=April 23, 2019|publisher=The Webby Awards|archive-date=April 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423155028/https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2019/video/video-series-channels/games/critical-role/|url-status=live}} the show was also both a Finalist and the Audience Honor Winner at the 2019 Shorty Awards.{{Cite web|title=Critical Role - The Shorty Awards|url=https://shortyawards.com/11th/critical-role|access-date=May 6, 2019|website=ShortyAwards.com|archive-date=May 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506005947/https://shortyawards.com/11th/critical-role|url-status=live}} After becoming hugely successful, the Critical Role cast left the Geek & Sundry network in early 2018 and set up their own production company, Critical Role Productions.{{Cite web|date=September 12, 2020|title=Why Critical Role's D&D Streams Are So Popular|url=https://screenrant.com/critical-role-dungeons-dragons-campaign-dnd-matt-mercer/|access-date=June 11, 2021|website=Screen Rant|language=en-US|archive-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801053809/https://screenrant.com/critical-role-dungeons-dragons-campaign-dnd-matt-mercer/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=June 18, 2018|title=Critical Role Teases New Content With Opening of New Studio, Twitch and Youtube Channel|website=ComicBook.com|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/06/18/critical-role-new-studio-content/|accessdate=August 14, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813162432/https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/06/18/critical-role-new-studio-content|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Jevon|date=November 6, 2019|title=They started out playing Dungeons & Dragons. Now they're coming to Amazon Prime|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-11-06/amazon-prime-critical-role-vox-machina|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119050025/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-11-06/amazon-prime-critical-role-vox-machina|archive-date=November 19, 2019|access-date=June 27, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Whitten|first=Sarah|date=March 14, 2020|title=How Critical Role helped spark a Dungeons & Dragons renaissance|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/14/critical-role-helped-spark-a-dungeons-dragons-renaissance.html|access-date=June 30, 2020|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812013515/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/14/critical-role-helped-spark-a-dungeons-dragons-renaissance.html|url-status=live}} Soon after, they aimed to raise $750,000 on Kickstarter to create an animated series of their first campaign, but ended up raising over $11 million.{{Cite web|last=Whitten|first=Sarah|date=April 19, 2019|title='Dungeons and Dragons' Kickstarter breaks record with $11.3 million campaign|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/19/critical-role-vox-machina-kickstarter-ends-with-11-million-in-funding.html|access-date=June 11, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008183913/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/19/critical-role-vox-machina-kickstarter-ends-with-11-million-in-funding.html|url-status=live}} In November 2019, Amazon Prime Video announced that they had acquired the streaming rights to this animated series, now titled The Legend of Vox Machina;{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=November 5, 2019|title=Amazon Orders Two Seasons of Critical Role's Animated D&D Series|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/critical-role-amazon-prime-video-legend-of-vox-machina-1203388522/|work=Variety|accessdate=November 5, 2019|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103130959/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/critical-role-amazon-prime-video-legend-of-vox-machina-1203388522/|url-status=live}} Bailey reprises her role as Vex.{{Cite web|last=Burton|first=Bonnie|date=March 7, 2019|title=New Dungeons & Dragons animated series breaks Kickstarter record|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/new-critical-role-dungeons-and-dragons-animated-series-breaks-kickstarter-record/|access-date=June 11, 2021|website=CNET|language=en|archive-date=August 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827204825/https://www.cnet.com/news/new-critical-role-dungeons-and-dragons-animated-series-breaks-kickstarter-record/|url-status=live}} Bailey is also one of the narrators for the audiobook edition of the novel Critical Role: Vox Machina – Kith & Kin (2021).{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=November 16, 2021|title=Read an excerpt from the first Critical Role novel, Vox Machina — Kith & Kin|url=https://www.polygon.com/22783813/critical-role-vox-machina-kith-and-kin-book-excerpt|access-date=November 22, 2021|website=Polygon|language=en-US|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130104738/https://www.polygon.com/22783813/critical-role-vox-machina-kith-and-kin-book-excerpt|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Critical Role: Vox Machina–Kith & Kin by Marieke Nijkamp|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617856/critical-role-vox-machina--kith-and-kin-by-marieke-nijkamp/|access-date=November 22, 2021|website=Penguin Random House|language=en-US|type=Product page|archive-date=December 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217014139/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617856/critical-role-vox-machina--kith-and-kin-by-marieke-nijkamp/|url-status=live}}

Bailey made an appearance in the season finale of HBO's live-action adaptation of The Last of Us in a cameo role as a Firefly nurse, a character she voiced in the original game.{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/tv/the-last-of-us-finale-laura-bailey-cameo/ | title='The Last of Us' finale has a hidden cameo from a major game star | magazine=Entertainment Weekly }}

File:Travis Willingham and Laura Bailey, New York Anime Festival 2009.jpg in September 2009]]

Bailey has partial Filipino ancestry.{{cite web |author=Critical Role|date=February 6, 2025 |title=Campaign 3 Tale Gate! |time=43:30 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_JPpInvaAo |website=Youtube |access-date=February 7, 2025}} She was voice actress Colleen Clinkenbeard's roommate while the two worked at Funimation in the late 1990s and early 2000s.{{cite web|url=https://www.mania.com/being-brief-discussion-anime-dubs-colleen-clinkenbeard-special-edition_article_84176.html |title=Being a Brief Discussion of Anime Dubs: Colleen Clinkenbeard Special Edition |publisher=Mania.com |access-date=May 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222128/https://www.mania.com/being-brief-discussion-anime-dubs-colleen-clinkenbeard-special-edition_article_84176.html |archive-date=December 2, 2013}}

On September 25, 2011, Bailey married voice actor Travis Willingham in Camarillo, California.{{cite web |url=https://animesuperhero.com/nyaf2009-toon-zone-interviews-soul-eater-laura-bailey-amp-travis-willingham/ |title=NYAF2009: Toon Zone Interviews "Soul Easter"'s Laura Bailey & Travis Willingham |last=Liu |first=Ed |publisher=Toon Zone |date=October 15, 2009 |access-date=September 27, 2016 |archive-date=October 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020224500/https://www.toonzone.net/nyaf2009-toon-zone-interviews-soul-eater-laura-bailey-amp-travis-willingham/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news|title=Travis and Laura Wedding Photobooth at mebophoto|url=https://www.mebophoto.com/2011/09/25/travis-laura-wedding-photobooth/|date=September 25, 2011|access-date=October 3, 2011|archive-date=October 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003154637/https://www.mebophoto.com/2011/09/25/travis-laura-wedding-photobooth/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=May 2, 2020|title=Fullmetal Alchemist: 10 Cool Facts You Didn't Know About Lust|url=https://www.cbr.com/fullmetal-alchemist-10-cool-facts-you-didnt-know-about-lust/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729031509/https://www.cbr.com/fullmetal-alchemist-10-cool-facts-you-didnt-know-about-lust/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Warnock|first=Caroline|date=July 4, 2020|title=Laura Bailey: 'The Last of Us 2' Voice Actor Reveals Death Threats on Twitter|url=https://heavy.com/news/2020/07/laura-bailey-death-threats/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Heavy.com|language=en-US|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729031512/https://heavy.com/news/2020/07/laura-bailey-death-threats/|url-status=live}} Having briefly dated when they were younger, they reconnected years later. Both have done voice work together in various projects. They currently live in Los Angeles{{cite web |url = https://www.gamefront.com/voice-actor-laura-bailey-interview-notoriety-could-hurt-an-actors-career/ |title = Voice Actor Laura Bailey Interview: Notoriety Can Hurt an Actor's Career |last = Owen |first = Phil |work = Game Front |date = June 7, 2013 |access-date = February 17, 2022 |archive-date = June 29, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180629183045/https://www.gamefront.com/voice-actor-laura-bailey-interview-notoriety-could-hurt-an-actors-career/ |url-status = live }} and have a son born on June 28, 2018.{{cite tweet |last=Willingham |first=Travis |author-link=Travis Willingham |user=WillingBlam |number=1013170728915439616 |date=June 30, 2018 |title=Our hearts are so incredibly full. Little Ronin had enough waiting and joined us at 3:40 on Thursday afternoon, and our worlds have never been brighter. He's perfect. https://t.co/HbLB06Zr5a |language=en |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017205745/https://twitter.com/WillingBlam/status/1013170728915439616 |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |url-status=live}}

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{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web | url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Laura-Bailey/ | title=Laura Bailey (visual voices guide) | work=Behind the Voice Actors | access-date=March 28, 2016 | type= A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information | archive-date=March 28, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328000217/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Laura-Bailey/ | url-status=live }}

{{cite tweet |number=1133582870390247425 |title=I am OVERWHELMED by all the birthday wishes today!! |last=Bailey |first=Laura |user=LauraBaileyVO |date=May 28, 2019 |accessdate=February 19, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704012639/https://twitter.com/LauraBaileyVO/status/1133582870390247425 |archivedate=July 4, 2020 |url-status=live }}

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• {{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YX_daEhlnbsC | title = Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 | edition=2d | first=Vincent |last=Terrace | isbn = 9780786486410 | publisher = McFarland | year = 2008 }}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://www.laurabaileyvo.com/}}
• {{AnimeCons name|id=61|name=Laura Bailey}}
• {{Anime News Network|people|1389|Laura Bailey}}
• {{IMDb name|1154161|Laura Bailey}}

{{Critical Role}}

{{British Academy Games Award for Performer}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Laura}}

Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:Actresses from Mississippi

Category:Actual play performers

Category:American actresses of Filipino descent

Category:American television actresses

Category:American video game actresses

Category:American voice actresses

Category:American voice directors

Category:American web series actresses

Category:American women television producers

Category:BAFTA winners (people)

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:The Game Awards winners

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