Laura Bailey
A versatile vocal chameleon who gave life to anime heroines, video game warriors, and beloved Dungeons & Dragons characters with equal passion.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American voice actress·Birthday: May 28·Millennials
Biography
Laura Bailey (b. 1981) voiced Tohru Honda in the English dub of "Fruits Basket" and established herself among anime fans for roles balancing warmth and toughness. She moved into video games as Spartan Nina in "Gears of War" and as vampire hunter Serana in "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim," earning a BAFTA nomination for the latter. In 2015, she joined "Critical Role," a live-streamed Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Playing the tiefling cleric Jester Lavorre, Bailey displayed improvisational comedy and emotional range that attracted millions of viewers to the show. The series expanded into an animated adaptation, a publishing imprint, and a comic book line. Bailey's performances on the stream won a BTVA award and helped transform tabletop role-playing from a niche hobby into a recognized performance medium. Her range spans anime protagonists, video game warriors, and a trickster goddess in a game played before a live audience.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Laura was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Laura Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Laura's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the BAFTA Games Award for Best Performer in a Leading Role for her work as Kait Diaz in 'Gears 5.'
- Voiced major characters in landmark video games including 'The Last of Us Part II,' 'World of Warcraft,' and 'Marvel's Spider-Man.'
- Is a founding cast member of Critical Role, a production that revolutionized live-play tabletop gaming and spawned a multi-media company.
Did You Know?
She is married to fellow voice actor and Critical Role cast member Travis Willingham.
Bailey provided the voice for the female version of the player character 'The Boss' in 'Saints Row: The Third' and its sequel.
She originally studied to be a forensic pathologist before pursuing voice acting.
Her performance as Jester Lavorre on Critical Role popularized the phrase 'The Traveler' and a love for pastries.
“I think the best characters are the ones that are flawed.”
