Our first ever Female First Awards continues today with the celebration of female voiceover artists in the world of video games! Whether you enjoy a good superhero adventure, or one where you go up against other real-life people in competitive play, the titles we all enjoy wouldn't be half as good without some of the most talented actors in the business. Here, we celebrate five of them in particular, and crown one as our Video Game Performer of the Year.

Nominee: Jennifer Hale in Overwatch

Photo Credit: Blizzard

Though Ashe has only been playable in Overwatch for little over a month, Jennifer Hale's incredible performance as the gun-slinging feminist hero is one that's left a lasting impression. As soon as we heard the character screech "BOB! DO SOMETHING!", we fell in love with her.

With developers consistently bringing new updates to the title, we imagine we're right at the start of seeing and hearing what Hale has to offer in the role. She went over extremely well with fans at this year's BlizzCon event, delivering her lines with perfection during a live panel. As more voice lines, emotes and the like are added to the game, we're sure our adoration for Ashe will only grow stronger.

Nominee: Melissanthi Mahut in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Photo Credit: Ubisoft

Some of the voice work in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey has caused controversy, but something all players can agree on is the brilliant work put in by Melissanthi Mahut in the leading role of Kassandra. Those who choose to tackle the game from a female perspective are without a doubt given the best experience, and a huge part of that is down to Mahut's performance.

Much of what we see Kassandra go through is something developers caught with motion capture, and Mahut is able to convey the emotions of her character impeccably. We imagine the future is incredibly bright for this rising star.

Nominee: Laura Bailey in Marvel's Spider-Man

Photo Credit: Sony

Marvel's Spider-Man is without a doubt one of the most exciting and infectious games of the year. The performances by everybody involved are something to be celebrated, but it is Laura Bailey as Mary-Jane Watson who stands out amongst the crowd. Whether you're taking charge of the character and maneuvering your way around a museum, or listening to her communicating with Peter Parker as he swings across New York City, she's a passionate and likeable young woman.

Many would use MJ as a device to simply prop up Parker; an on/off girlfriend to the hero that is around simply to stroke Spidey's ego. Fortunately, the writers here have put together some fantastic material for the character, and Bailey brings it to life in a way we're not sure anybody else would have been able to do so well.

Nominee: Camilla Luddington in Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Photo Credit: Square Enix

As the final instalment to the latest Tomb Raider trilogy, Shadow of the Tomb Raider had a lot to live up to. Camilla Luddington would return to finish off what she started, and we couldn't have been happier to hear she was making a comeback. As Lara Croft she is truly at home, and when the protagonist returns in the future for another new series, we hope she'll be back on board.

Croft has never been a more believable character than when Luddington has voiced her. Though the star has hinted this may well be the final time she takes on the role, we hope developers can convince her to stick around.

Nominee: Valorie Curry in Detroit: Become Human

Photo Credit: Sony

Butterfly effect is a gameplay element implemented in more and more video games of the modern day to ensure replayability and a more personal aspect to titles. This was something done by developers Quantic Dream with one of this year's most impressive games, Detroit: Become Human. Players take on three roles throughout their adventure, but it is Valorie Curry's performance as the android Kara that will stick with you for months after you finish up the game.

Becoming emotionally sentient, Kara's destructive life as the help to a physically and verbally abusive father is flipped upside down when she is forced to take action and defend the young girl in her household. Curry's brilliance in the role is one that allows gamers to become extremely attached to the character, which is something to be celebrated.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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